The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-01
THEY MET AGAIN.
old Man Smith Tails Of this 6sys He
startsd On the Right Road.

Olu MAn 9nnttn TeIlS NJ sno @Sy ~
startsd On the Right RoAd.
Once In = while you meet q man like old
Dan Smith, Of Sixteenth street, the rich
landlord. who al his lifs has engaged him-
self In tho glad duty Of notwithstanding moral
lessons to all the boys In the nsiRhbofhood,
says the New York Recorder.
at ID 10 pleasant," he said The other day
10 We raj down together on the atcop. ITO
think that. IA the result OF something you
or ] may have done, We have act some Of tho
boys right"
Dyes, indeed, Mr.. smith," ! replied, not
knowing exactly what to SAY.
"All my life" said Smith, putting away
at his pipe, II have made II the rule 70 look
after the boys in the ~neighb0rhood. il n
Of 'em stole applsa from the corner grocer
lecture on the evil Of his way. and he has
generally lived to bless me. II aonas boy
threw stones at my dog / spoke to him
gently and kindly, and II was ten to n
that no never did II again"
Nothing like moral suasion."
"Yes, indeed. As the years pass on, IL Ia
very pleasant now to meet, sometimes, some
Of the old boys. and hear their words of
praise. toll you, sir, 1t did m heart good
to nave a carriage roll mp here yesterday
and have a man with diamond rings on his
finger get out: come up to the house. ring
bAO OOklVO h1 " lDO aAAN CNys $500
/ have travelled 5000 miles to grasp your
hand. / nm Billy Bounce and used to be
tho meanest boy in your block. l used to
stay out all night, run away from school.
chew tobacco. swear. steal apples, and
throw bricks at old Widow Hobson's cats;
way q; reformed. went west. was elected
alderman OF Dead Mans City, Idaho, and
now run the town, with an even million IN
my own name. God bless you, Mr.. smith,
Heaven will no doubt reward you.".. l
was saying, as tho old man dried q falling
tear.
Then again., went On Mr.. Smith, ITO
have some old widow come tottering along
looking for your house, and when she finds
it grasp your hand and say, IT 1t wasn't
for you. Mr.. Smith, l would have died i'll
the p%oorhouse; y.ou placed the life insur,
mystsriously a week later from an overdose
OF pudding. / can never reward you, Mr..
Smith. but my prayers shall always be
While we were talking, along came an
old tramp, who asked for a nickel to buy
"Ah,' chuckled Mr.. Smith, "here ia my
chanue; see me give this fellow a good les
son."
II am tired" said the tramp.
You are too lazy and good. for nothing
said Mr.. Smith. g way! / don't want
to have anything to do with you; you ought
to hang"
Did we ever meet before?" said the
1--WE never did. and SO much the worse
for you" said Mr.. Smith.
did Won know Charlie Rogers?" said
the tramp.
.Indeed I did, said Smith, warming up.
"Charlis was . terror; but he took my nd
vice and quit matching pennies and drink
ing beer, and to-day he is worth a million
and lives in a brown stone house on Fifth
avenue"
did 0 know Pete SlavinT' said the
tramp, gulping Down q deep sigh.
Indeed I did. Peter is now mayor of
Toledo, Ohio. and runs = steam saw mill; is
and has a pair Of twins, wEile his
money is placed as high as half a
million"
"Did you know Willie Cavern" asked the
stranger, changing his tomato can uneasily
from one hand to the other.
Indeed, sir; William went over to Eng
land, quit playing the races as / advised,
into Queen Victoria's family, and
is now the head of a famous company of
dragons. Git out, you dirty tramp!"
"That's right said tho tramp, signing
helped all the boys in the neighborhood;
used to live around here and I oughter
know; I am your son Tommie, and you ulster
lick me so hard that I ruiined
away ter sea on a brig bound
for the diamond mines; didn't strike
in this world; so l jest come back ter tell
you that while you was making millionaires
of the other boys you was lettin' mo 20 to
the dogs; you WAS 80 busy with other folks
affairs that you didn't have time ter say
even a kind word ter me-, an jest wanter
shake yer by the hand and say tnat your
system is a grand success, old man. Papa.
YOU know me?" @. |