Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-19

TOO. She smiled the queer boys rags all round
ana looked up in his face. Can any one tell
how Piccina, the fastidious King Charles, the
exacting Susan Barker, knew that the shabby
6rAH Boy was neither a tramp nor q beggar?
Her nose smoothed down and she growied no
more, but swept her tail from side to side with
dignined recognition Of the boys claim to her
confidence and respect. And her new acquaint-
snce smiled slow, twinkling smile, which
drew his thin white lips across his smooth teeth
shifted his hat into one hand and stopped twirl-
ing 1t for moment, while he bent down and
patted the spaniels head
Now this was q liberty. and the King Charles
felt 1t so; she shrank a bit and looked doubt
ingiy at the grimy hand. small, and shapely
wlthal, looked inquiringly in the boys face
again, and then Piccina, with her own little,
stately grace licked the hand with the tip Of
ner rose-leaf tongue. and walked back to her
Tender post, to watch the fire, languidy waving
her plumy tail in tranquil satisfaction.
In the gaze between The STAR boy and the
spaniel, lasting friendship was formed, closed
and sealed by that lick and that pat relation
ship in which the ladies were included.
Later, Tom ate good supper. Piccina sitting
on chair beside him, evidently wondering
how he could dispose of such big pieces so
quickly. When he was quite done, he looked
so lntently at the few bits left that the ladies
asked him of what he was thinking '.Sure of
how Patsey would laugh" he answered, ''if
ne q cut OF that same corn bread. with but
ter, and potato for his supper" He showed
no dread OF the storm, a few moments later
but dashed into it bravely after accepting an
invitation to breakfast next morning his deep
pockets well lined with Patseys supper The
STAR boy was on hand at breakfast time, but
the nights sleep had not restored him, and it
was plain to see that the little fellow was suf-
fering from a long strain at overwork and
'underfeeding." warm corner was given
him to rest in, while the ladies went to find his
nome and to learn what else they could of his
story.
What a walk they had down the muddy ex-
cavations by the Potomac; and the hut Tom
lived in-what place, when they found it at
last! clapboard howell just as Tom had
described it, about fifteen feet square and six
feet high.
The door was locked for it held all the
orphans. Patsey and Tom A poor woman of
the neighborhood, who was friendly to the
poys and glad to gossip about them, fetched a
key which unlocked the door.
-, The hut had a chimney and hearth, and
there were few Goals; near by an old kettle.
frying-pan and a toasting fork. A wretched
bed with scanty coverlid was neatly spread on
the damp, clay floor, in one corner; three
wooden boxes served for table and chairs, and
on a rude shelf were two tin cups and plates,
ing to see the boyish attempts to have this
meager home decent and orderly. Some stray
prints play bills. and the like, were nailed to
the boarded sides, the dismal little room was
swept and cleanly, and an old hod and broken
trowei, some bits of straps, pasteboards and
pile Of unsold newspapers told the trades of
the little occupants
=, The woman, who kept shop near by, said
the boys had lived there four years, quite by
themselves, for having found the hut deserted,
they moved in from the street after their
mother died. "All these comforts" they had
gathered since then, she added; "for their
mothers belongings were sold to pay her fu-
neral The neighDor was glad to tell how the
chlidren had lived on alone, industrious,
honest, 0bllging lads, never begging, and al
ways willing to lend helping hand. ~ love
them indeed, next to my own" the woman
said, land L often mend their clothes and give
them my cold coffee grounds and let them hate
them over on my own stove, for the comfort Of
The ladies decided, without hesitation, to
ask The STAR Boy to come and live with them;
proposition he took kindly to- after they had
also found home for Patsey.
When Toms old velveteen coat was pulled
on, and rolled up together with his STAR Boys
outnt, preparatory to his transfer into clothing
OF different sort he asked to be allowed to
keep It to give to boy he knew much poorer
than himself and the request was granted
Before many days no one would have recog-
nized Tom the STAR Boy in the trim little man,
who waited on those ladies' ran errands for
them, and took Piccina to walk. Plenty of bread
and milk, apples and gingerbread, had quite
transformed his looks. Fitted with new clothes,
red stockings, and house-shoes, his hair we'll
barbered and shampooed. one could not see
falrer, smarter boy in town. He was naturally
an orderly fellow, and now with a pretty little
room quite by himself, he took real pride in
keeping 1t neat and every thing in its place.
Tom would seem to have forgotten his pre-
vfous calling in all his new interests of school
books and pleasant occupation, but sometimes
in his blue eyes. not explained until despair
ing echo Of "Stdh yah!'' was heard and then
Toms mischievous chuckle to himself, "stuck
on his STARs," proved to him that it was good
joke.
Toms rough little life had brough him many
experiences, for he had tried other trades be-
fore he struck the successful one OF STAR-sellinp
He had been canal driver, . rag picker and a
sweep, all with more or less profit and now the
descriptions he gave Of his adventures were
novel and interesting; those of his career as
newsboy were, OF course. oftenest thought Of
Seeing bill poster one day representing
"Davy Crocket," he exclaimed: "Ah, thar's a
quare gentleman; he lives day and night at the
thayater and tries to make out he's somebody
else"
What do you mean, Tom?" asked one of the
well, ma'am, tits this way it was: Onst I
went to the thayater an I sat in the front row
OF the peanut gallery. It was night but the
place was all lighted as bright as day an filed
up with people. There was music and clappin
VI hohus OIL Oh AuJuu COulu anu ROln on the
stage an a-givin it to everybody.
Thin rolled of the seat and went to sleep
on the floor, for was tired with selling nv
STARS. An whin walked up, would you believe
1t, the loights was put out an the people was
gone. but gintleman in his own clothes was
walkin' up and down on the stage a-scoldin'
and a-giYin it to the others just as the Injun
had done. Then 1 walked out Of the thayater
and met another STAR boy on the steps.
"'Who is that 9intleman?' seq l.
"'What gintleman?' SEE he.
1.-THE gintleman a-walkin' up and down in
side, SEE l, and actin like wild Injun?'
"'Why, you duffer,' SEE he. it's MIR. Marks
a-practicin' for the show tonight.
"To-nightT seq l. What toim o'day is it?'
1.-Two O'clock SEE the boy; lust toim for
the second edition. and thin 1 knew I'd silent
all night and caught that gintleman working at
the thayater in the day time a-practicin' to
pretind to be some man that he isn't at noight!''
His outlook on the world from his hut and
post Of newsboy often gave him clear insight
into motives and sometimes queer views of men
and things.
Have you ever seen the Congress, ma'am.
where they makes the laws of liberty for the
land?' he asked one day.
20 yes! often" said she. Haven't you2n
"No, ma'am, though I've tried it's often and
often's the time; but somehow 1 never could
get to see it.
"Why, how is that? Newsboys are admitted
to the galleries at the Capitol?'
20 yes! an welcome, ma'am if they behave.
and they keep row of seats all to themselves.
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