South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-01-16
THElNTELL,GENCEn
FRIDAY. JANUARY Is. 1891.
MRS. BRIGGS Gle aK.

4
boy, with little jacket, the sleeves
OF which crept half way up has arms,
and hat that rss NJ shtns but q
biim, and when she saw him lie was
ealing crust out of the gutter. She
wac only . poor Old wor11- who kept
little shop for candy sod trim uings
and poor enough Itself, heaven knew
bot, she ssidy be looked a little like
what her Tom might IL be bad grown
up and been neglected. and she couldn',
stand it. She called to him:
| Come here sonny she said, and
The boy obeyed.
Before abe could speak again, be
said:
i didn't do it. Til take my oath
on anything. / didn't do 1t. I ain't
80 mean
Didn't do whatp' said the pleasan,
old woman.
Break your winder,' said the boy,
holding his head toward . shattered
pane.
Why. / broke that my self, with my
shutter last night, said the old
woman. i Amt strong enough to
lift them. that's The fact. I'm get
Ting Old
III Pm around here when you shut
up, I'll do II for you said the boy.
I'D just rs soon. What was that you
wanted me for 2
Il want to know what You was
eating that dry crust oct Of the gutter
for?' was the reply.
Hungry he saih. 'pgs tried to
get job all day. I'm going to sleep
In an area over there, after it's too
dark for policeman TO see, end you
cant have q good nights sleep with
out some supper, if it is q littls
dirty
III give you some that's clean,
said the old woman.
That will be begging be said.
No, she said, you can sweep the
store and pavement, and pu. up The
shutters for it,
Very welI.' he said. .Tbaukee.
then. n 1 sweep up 6rst, I'll feel
better
Accordingly che brought him q
broom, and he did the work well.
Aflerward be ate his supper with a
relish. That night he slept, not in
the area, but under the old woman's
counter.
He had told her his. story. His
name was Dick he was IL years old.
ard h.s father, whom be bad never
seen sober. was in prison for l:fe.
The antecodents we're not eleyatiBg,
bur the boy seemed good. The next
morning the old woman engaged n
clerk for her small establishment.
The terms were simple 'hls living
aud bed under the counter
When the neghbors heard Of it they
were shocked. A street boy, whom
no one knew. Did Mrs. Briggs re-
ally want To be murdered Ia her bel?
But Mrs. Briggs felt quite safe. She
had so much time now that she in.
tended to take in sewing. Dick at.
tended TO The chop altogether. he
kept 1t in fne order, and increased tbs
business by introducing candies and
chewing gum. Pennies came in as
they never came ia before. since he
had painted signs in red and blue lax
TO the effect that tue real old molass-
es candy was TO be got there. and
that this was the place for pesnuts.
A5d In the evening after the shop
Was shut up sue begsn TO take him
into her confidence.
Her great dream was to buy here
self into the home for the aged. Il
would cost her 800. She was say.
ing for It, She had been saving for
three years. and had $l5 OF it. But
it cost so much to 1--we, with tea %
cents per quarter aud loaves so small !,
and she had been sick, aud there was
the doctor and Mrs. Joses' Maria
Jane TO be paid for minding her and
the shop.
After this Dick took the greatest
interest ia the savings and the winter
months increased them as though be
had brought blessing. One night
in the spring she took the bag from
under the pillow, and counted what Il
had. Il was $50.
Add I'll begin TO make kites to-
morrow, Mrs. Briggss said the boy,
and you'll see the custom II will
BRING. II q little shaver see the kites
he'll spend all be has for EN-, and
then he'll coax BIS mother for more to
tuy the stick darts aud chewing. gum.
l know boys.'
. cure q clever boy yourself, said
the old woman. ard patted his hand
Il Vas a p!umpeT hand than Is bad
been when IL picked the crust out Of
Ihe gutter, and he wore clean, whole
clothes, though they we're made Of
very coarse cloth.
How wrong al the neigbbors
we're y she said. That bog is The
comfort Of my lifs.'
so she went 20 bel With the treas.
ure under her pillow, snd slept. Fsr
on in the night she s7oke. The
room Was utterly dark there was
not a ray Of light but che heard a
step upon the 0oor.
Who is thal,G she cried.
There Tas no answer, but she felt
thas there vas sone one leaning over
th bed than a sand slasped her
.hroat md aeld her ioWn, and drag.
GO CO ne bag, IS, abe Has released
Haif JuGocated, she FOR . moment
fO1nO herself mcSionlesa and bayild-