The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-25

W and as he was
quite a 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 a
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 chance to save their pennies by
affording each place in the bank-a
great table whose top is full of numbered
slits-and Offering a reward for the boy
who has saved the largest amount when
the bank is opened at the end of each
month. 1t also makes them keep good
hours by refusing admittance to all who
come very late at night. A "home"
isn't the worst place in the world for a
boy who has no parents. In fact, it is a
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
little chap" on the streets, and the ma
tron, Mrs. Brown, was very good TO
him. She allowed him TO remain with
Ser during the day, ard 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
lad remembered to bring Pete a flower
or bit of fruit at night. Newsboys are
rough in speech and action, but many
one has kinder heart than beats under
4 fine jacket.
Patsey, as have said, supported HIM
Il
was 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
another, like berths in ships, and when
the word BED" was spoken on the stroke
of 0 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 II, and Patsey was a real hero to
stay out after that time 30 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 Lark. as the boys sometimes
did; but the rule was strict, and she
could not set il aside for one boy. How
ever. Patsey was bright and good nat
ured. and quite favor1te with a certain
set of people who used TO buy his papers
pretty regularly, and he was not often
left with any on his hands as late as IL.
1t was nearing Christmas time, and
great were the calculations which Pat
sey was making about a "Chrismuss
treat fur little Pete" He talked it over
with the matron one night, just after
the announcement had been made that
the banks in the big table would be
opened on the 23d of December, instead
of compelling the boys TO wait until the
first of the month, as was the rule.
Amt it Jolly, Mrs, Brown said Pat
sew. IL believe there'n be a couple of
dollars in my bank. and I'll spend every
red cent of it fur Pete. It's kinder tough
on little chap like him not TO have any
folks when Chrismuss comes ASH give
i'm presents an turkey an all the things
that everybody has then. But I'll make
it MP ter him as well as kin, you bet.
He's a-goin' ter hang up his stocldn', an
i III d-f-Olu btl AoAS 4AA4A Ohe III NAktoP
grub ter one Of them eatin' houses-res-
tyurants, as the swell folks calls EN-, an
we're a-goin' ter have turkey an mince
pie, Mrs. Brown. What dye say 10
THAR And Patsey stopped from sheer
want of breath.
II don't think Pete need mind want
ing frinds, Patsey Mccall. Isn't it your
self that is good enough friend to him
ter make up for all the rest? What more
does he want than what You have
planned? Nothing but tree. and may
be we can fix him up With one; who
Knows
Il could git a tree, but there'd be
nothin' to put on it," said Patsey.
Never mind. Patsey," replied Mrs.
Brown mysteriously; You find the tree,
and / will see what we can find to put
on it,"
She was thinking of pair of bright
red mittens she was herself knitting for
the express purpose of keeping Pete's
hands warm when he went ont. And
visions of scalloped cakes she meant
to have baked for the little chap and the
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