The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-12-25

quite Il successful newsboy himself, he
could afford to ''have his family with
him." as he said Pete was his family.
There were only those two, and neither
could remember when there had been
any one else in the family circle. 1t did
not cost very much to live at the home,
for the charge each day was five cents for
supper, six for lodging and six for break
fast, which for both boys would amount
to not quite two dollars and half
week, and find yer own lunch.
But first it must be explained that the
home is a place where neWsboys who
have no other place to live can sleep
comfortably and get their breakfasts and
suppers besides, if they wish, for the
small sums mentioned above. It's object
is not only to give them good places to
sleep, but to help them in other ways.
1t furnishes its inmates with schooling,
books to read and baths, free. 1t gives
them a chance to save their pennies by
affording each a place in the bank-a
great table whose top is full OF numbered
slits-and offering q reward for the boy
who has saved the largest amount when
the bank is opened at the end of each
month. It also makes them keep good
hours by refusing admittance to all who
come very late at night. A 'holne"
isn't the worst place in the world for
boy who has no parents. In fact. it Is
pretty good place.
But to come back to Pete. He staid
at the lodging house most of the time,
because Patsey was afraid to have 'sech
4 little chap" on the streets. and the ma
iron. Mrs. Brown, was very good to
him. She allowed him to remain with
| her during the day, and gave him his
dinner when she took hers, because she
said he was real help to her, SO he
was" in her work. He was quiet lit
tie fellow and very sweet tempered.
| The newsboys all loved him, and many
a lad remembered to bring Pete flower
| or a bit of fruit at night. Newsboys are
rough in speech and action, but many a
| one has q kinder heart than beats under
a fine jacket.
Patsey. rs | have said, supported him
se:f and Pete; but You must not think 1t
.:,s an easy task. In order to do this
and put pennies away in the bank he
had to work early and late. He sold late
| papers because there were not so many
newsboys on the streets then and not so
much competition. Sometimes he did
not come in until little Pete, who went
| to bed directly after he had his supper,
had been asleep for hours in his little
bunk with its neat white pillow and
blue coverlet. The great dormitory had
rows and rows of beds, built one over
| he oh nj HOY
the word Bed" was spoken on the stroke
of Q in the room where many of the boys
spent their evenings reading, all had to
go. and those out much later were fined.
Indeed, no boy was allowed to come in
after H. and Patsey was a real hero to
stav out after that time SO that all his
papers might be sold. and then sleep
anywhere he could find a place. Mrs.
Brown knew why he staid. and was sure
he did not hang around the streets until
II Just for a lark, as the boys sometimes
did; but the rule was strict, and she
could not set it aside for one boy. How.
ever. Patsey was bright and good na;-
ured. and quite favorite with certain
set of people who used to buy his papers
pretty regularly. and he was not often
| teIC WIFI any Oh MS 1atS do L.
1t was nearing Christmas time, and
great We're the calculations which Pat
sey was making about a 'ChrisInus:
treat fur little Pete" He talked it Over
with the matron one night, just after
the announcement had been made thai
the banks in the big table would b
opened on the sd of December, instead
of compelling the boys to wait until III,
I first Of the month. as WIS the rule.
. Amt it jolly. Mrs Brown" said Pat
sey. Il believe thereu be a couple O
dollars III my bank, and I'll spend ever.
; red cent of it fur Pete. It's kinder tough
] on a little chap like him not TO have an.
: folks when Chris1nuss comes ash Civ
b inn presents an turkey an all the thing
that everybody has then. But I'll maxi
it up ter him as we'll as kin, you bet
He's a-goin' ter hang up his stochn', ar
; I'm a-goin' ter take him out fur tipto
grub ter one of them eatin' houses-res
tyurants, as the swell folks calls EN-, az