The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-14
TENDER HEARTED GAMlNS.
An Illustration of the Better Side of
Their Rough, Rugged Life.

An Illustration of the Better Side of
Their Rough, Rugged Life.
Tuo street gamins of the tuffboy per
suasion were whistling along the street and
putting cigarette smoke in each others
faces. Their days work was over and they
were happy, for each had done good bust
ness and was rafting the money in his
pocket.
Pm purity tired; guess I'll ride" said
one, sneaking toward the rear step Of a
passing car.
'Goin' ter take de car, JIMMY" asked
the other with apparent interest.
Nav; de cars goin' ter take me. OATS
aLnuder joke-see2"
And both urchins, chuckiing with mirth,
| froze to the tail end of the ear while the
conductor vas inside ringing up fares, and
rode two blocks before they we're kicked off.
But, full Of undiluted deviltry as the
street urchin is, there is another and redeem
ing side TO his nature, trait that goes far
toward the making of true gentleman. He
would not know what 20 call it, ne would
probably deny any insinuation of possess
ing it, but if there was a fight between
dogs or boys at unfair Odds 6e would rush
in at risk to himself to the support of the
weaker combatant. He would probably
stand up and take black eye without a
murmur while rescuing from tormenting
boys a stray kitten upon which he had
''sicked" dog an hour before, and if he
saw any one in real trouble would "shell
out" till his pockets were empty. 1t is this
chivalrous spirit that has bread in the
heart of the observer an abiding respect for
the small boy of the pavement.
1t was just as the throngs were beginning
to gather at the doors of the theatres on a
recent evening. A little wizened, bowed
and shriveled up old woman had been
tramping the street oil day grinding a
squeaky, dGbilitated Crganette. Through
some defect in the apparatus more than
half the bars of the tunes attempted were
silent, and the people greatly Tejoiced
thereat, while the poor woman ground
stolidly away without seeming to realize
the difference. She had gathered few
coppers from people upon whom her music
had been afflicted, and now sat in demon
allied heap on the extreme edge Of the side
walk, grinding the organ in the shade Of a
lamp post.
A"high roller" came along, nearly STUN
bled over the shapeless object and then,
discovering its nature, with his patent
feathers and a cOntemptuous snort, showed
old woman, organ and all into the gutter,
while her tin cup was overturned and the
coppers rolled in every direction The old
woman, who appeared to be in a dazed con-
dition, lay helpless in the gutter, while
cries of "Shamel Shamer' went up from
bystanders, and the high sport disspps AIRED
in neighOoring saloon.
But two newsboys who had seen the oc-
currence and joined in the indignant out
burst Of all who witnessed it, were the first
TO the old woman's assistance. One Of
them righted her up, speaking consoling
words meanwhile and the other searched
the gutter for her lost pennies. Then the
one who had helped her up, to the crowd
of gamins that had gathered at signs of
something unusual, essayed a speech.
"Fellers," be said, heres poor old granny
dat grinds a han origin, and a big. dirty
bloke Jest kicked her inter de gutter an
split her pennies Who's agoin' ter chip
in fer de old LADY,"
In a shamefaced way, as II they would
prefer 70 be seen riding in The patrol wagon.
every one Of those urchins who had any
wealth in his clothes came up and deposited
from one to five cents in the tin cup. Then
the crowd. melted by the newsboy's manner
and speech, also Clipped in, and the old
woman, who undoubtedly was an inveter-
ate beggar, without the slightest claim 70
public sympathy, hobbled away with q
cupful of cash a. a result OF the gamin's
chivalrous generosity. Syracuse Journal