The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-21

A Christmas Sketch Of Low Life in
Boston.

biCCu lcdNtb Vi "a DOOE IIbAC &ClaHlisu tEI6
began life as q plant under circumstances
quite the reverse of favorable.
Jim Mulligsn had picked it out from
the waste barrel in front of q fine house.
The evening before it had shown resplen-
dent with other flowers and performed
we'll it's decorative mission. Now it scarcely
held the breath of life in it.
maybe it will grow" observed Jim
critically and picking off the most wilted
of the leaves. Nv never had u posy, and
I'm 2-goin to try"
So he carried 1T home, planted it in an
old tin car and worked and watched and
waited as people do who nave only one
treasure to see 1t thrive. At last it began
to grow and send out green leaves over it's
bare stem: then Jim was radiant indeed!
The other boys living in Ra; -inuGin
court made no end of fun of hin and Lis
flower. threatening to demolish by a stone
some fine night this work of months.
you do that and Tl smash you,'' gave
back Jim.
His fists being as well developed as a
prize fighters, and his word always good in
that direction, the stone was not thrown,
the boys satisfying themselves by scream
ing, "Girl-giri-so she should nave posies!'
whenever he showed his head among them.
ANt'SAS AOAbocy 4 a ECHCMCu pcIJIuhIlt1
he chung to his one treasure.
At last a spike made its appearance,
crowned with u cluster of brilliant scarlet
flowers. Then Mrs. Mulligan's little room
seemed all ablaze with light.
Il didn't think you could do it, jimmy
she said, her face equaling it in hue. tits
pretty as ever anything | see in my life"
Jim swelled up aud down the room, wild
with pride, but he said nothing.
"You could get fifty cents for that flow
err" said Mrs. Mulligan thriftily, and
viewing her boy askance.
Il amt a-goin to sell it," said Jim
shortly and not stopping in his walk.
maybe a dollar" limited Mrs. Mulligan.
''That would be splendid. My! 1 most
know 'twould fetch that. Christmas makes
flowers so dear"
II wouldn't sell it for $780, said Jim
magnificently, and approaching his moth
err to enforce his decision by a resound-
ing clap of one brown hand upon another,
80 there amt no use talkin."
"You act like a goose" declared Mrs.
Mulligan, out of all patience, "talkin as il
you was worth a million an struttin up
an down as if your boots was whole, for all
the world. Get out, dol'
So Jim got out, but fiattened his nose
sA2biAoo Nv ohtoANO VI UhO DdDC, WLlCEC liz
stared at his possession to his hearts con-
tent.
1t was the day before Christmas. Hav-
ing no presents to purchase and nothing
on his mind Jim could 20 down Broadway
and the side streets in a beatific state,
which he did bright and early and all day
long and into the evening. Hands In his
pockets he strolled on, whistling to keep
warm, reyeling in the brilliancy Of the
shops and the happiness of the streams Of
purchasers. He spent millions in these
hours, taking in Imagination the place Of
the pretty girl getting out of her carriage,
armed with papa's new bank notes for the
Christmas shopping, or the well scondi-
toned merchant doing his purchasing by
himself, or the mother on whose indul-
gent heart hung n flock of expectant little
ones. And he did the work well too.
There was no indecision on his part. Jim
knew perfectly well, from thorough study
ing of each window and his own inner
boy, precisely what he would order were
he in front of the counter. And he strolled
and whistled and fingered and stared, and
had the best time of any one in all that
Christmas furry.
He didn't forget his three meals, being
home to dinner, but he took the p%recaution
to thrust his supper in his jacket pocket.
THAT'S %supposin shouldn't want to go
home for it," he said to himself. "It's 60
in to be lively l bet tonight, an I've got to
spend lots to keep up to EN-" He laughed,
and paused the last thing to nod and smile
at his flower, shining at him a bright flame
of color AS far as he could see down the
court. He Rugged himself in glee at it
and then ran out into the street to catch
the early afternoon purchasers.
1t was somewhere about 9 o'clock Of this
Christmas eve when Jim turned into the
court, not wishing a scolding from head
quarters for being out late. He hurried
up the crooked stairs and flung the door
wide open, his mind full of the brilliant
scenes in whose midst he had been.
"There has been mischief here since you
was away" WAS Mrs. M~ulligan's greeting,
and pointing to the window where the
geranium stood. II come in an see it that
way. an the glass is broke" Jim's eyes
dilated wish a sudden horror. He darted
forward and caught up the spike, broken
nearly short off, and trailing its gay cluster
in detection on the old window sill. His
sturdy little right hand clinched itself so
that he could scarcely help the blossom up,
endeavoring to make 1t stand straight
When he saw that it was really broken, so
ChdU us pretty III Wdo ONSii va PaSaAOh
knew no bounds.
'It's Ted Williams" he shrieked. turn
ing back to his mother with blazing eyes.
81 know; he said he'd bust it some day
with a stone. Now IIl bust him!"
Jim, JiIn," called Mrs. Mulligan sharp
ly, but as well try to stop the north wind.
Jim was over the stairs by this time, and
Mrs. Mulligan, easily rejecting that one
fight more could make no difference in her
boys life, was getting a cup of tea to re-
fresh her tired bones after a long walk car
rying home clean clothes.
Jim sped, wild for vengeance, to Ted
Williams door. On rapping and inquir-
ing for him his mother announced that he
had gone out 10 see the sights of the sea-
son, and she didn't know when he would
be home and she didn't care. With that
she slammed the door smartly and left
Jim free to run on down the court.
See the sightsl l guess he'll see stars,
too, before / get through with him." he
muttered. "He's got to come up this way;
now I'll just get behind here an wait for
him."
Here was an ash barrel in a dark an
gle, behind which Jim crept and patiently
brooded. AT last the destroyer of his peace
came whistling up the street, turned into
the court and drew perilously near. Jim
held his breath and made his fists ready.
None too soon did he spoil all, but in just
tha RIGHT fraction of n minute. in which all