The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-03-21
A LITTLE BIO BLACK.
<
How He Sought to Provide for His
Mother, and the Sequel. !
- 49, e..
I.Black your boots, sir?n !,

Mother, and the Sequel +,
Black your boots, sirpn
It was childish voice, sweet and
pleading, most unlike the usual shriil,
half impudent tone Of the -beet-bfack
army, andS George Meredith looked
down to see the speaker. Being tall
man, over six feet. and somewhat port.
", with fifty-five years of life, mostly
ofprosperity, he looked quite dis
lance downward before he> saw the
little fellow who spoke. Such a very
little fellow! He did not look more
than six years old, and had close clus2
tering curls Of fair hair, and big blue
eyes like baby. But the small face
was pale and thin, the limbs, but
scantily clad, wero far too slender, and
the low, sweet voice had an unchild-
like pathos in its tone.
No said Mr.. Meredith, before
tho look yes, you may! he
added afterward. What's your
namep" he asked, presently.
George Scout.
Him. Orphanpa
mo, sir. Mother Is living, but she
slipped on the ice about tive weeks age
!. and broke her arrn.4;-She. did not think
Iwas big enough TO work before that,
but she haa.tolet me try then. / don't
make out very we'll. Gentlemen think
I'm too fittle But / can make boots
shine. can't IP"
you have certainly made that one
shine, was the reply, while Mr. Mere
dith thought Here is something rare,
indeed, a boot black who talks correct
English. Has he stepped out of a
novelp"
In a moment he spoke again. =zzHz9saa1 i
What work did your mother dopn
he asked.
"Embroider for fancy store. She
couldn't work very fast, because she
isn't@yery strong; but we don't eat a
great deal; that's one comfort -
Sorry comfortn muttered the gen.
tleman. ANY brothers or sisterspn
'sAll dead, sir. Mamie was the last
'eept me, and she died in consumption.
ShetMas sixteen and helped mamma
sew and keep the rooms in order Oh,
dearr'
ut was just child's sigh, coming
from a full heart to answer the look OF
interest and sympathytin the gentle
mans face. =
Do YOU like backing bootsp" was
the next question. ~
mo, sir!'' "a
Would you HE to RUB @rapdspn
II think I should. 81 ~ ,Tg Z
How much can yoy make day
nowp"
'srhe most ever made was forty
cents This is my first job to-day"
Can you read p' wa
Why, yes, sir. | am ten years
old! ~
You come tomorrow morning to
the address on this card, and l will try
you for, an errand boy. 7"
Then giving the lad a fifty-cent piece
and refusing to wait until he went to
get change for it, George Meredith
strolled off to his hotel, his solitary
dinner and bachelor apartments.
Odd" he thought, how much that
boy reminds me of some one, Ican't
think who It Isl Some enc who had
just such big blue eyes, at once shy
and frank, dropping most Of the times
Z but candid and truthful when they did
meet your own. HIM; it is very vague,
but somebody / once knew had just
such eyes. Poor little chap! I'll give
him decent suit of clothes, and pay
him enough to live on, until his mother
gets we'll. 1t won't ruin mel"
And considering that the speaker
counted his money by hundreds .ofthea-
sands, 1t seemed likely it would not.
The little eager lad who walked into.
the rich lawyers office the next day
was an improved edition of the boot
black OF the night before. He had on.
his best suit wells worn, but whole.
and his linen was white, his hair nice
ly brushed, and his boots shining.
Mother betterpn asked Mr.. Mere
dith.
NO, sir was the sad, quiet answer,
''she couldn't get over to the dispen-
1 sary this morning to have her arm
dressed. Shewas SO dizzy she had to
lie down. "
That's @badl Suppesesyou me
wherap yons Live par4ss
NO II Merriam Court, sir, back
OF 49, street, -.
HIN! Well, I'll give you your first
errand: HEEf. EBKkN H. i
He wrote q note, directed it to cdr.
James Turner" added the address, and
gave it to the boy. .- ~
..Am to wait for an answer, STRIP
mo! Leave it, If the doctor is not
at home" ia
Now he thought. Il shall know
ifshe Is an impostor. at any rate. BY
Jover he exclaimed aloud. sits Agnes
Wellden!n
Then clients and friends came IN.
and the business OF the day coinmenced.
But the boy was not forgotten. Er-
rands that We're not too far away to
tax his strength were provided, a
-. . ~ 80 - AZ