Connecticut western news., 1891-12-17
IN RAGAMUFFIN COURT.
A CHRISTMAS SKETCH OF LOW LIFE
 IN BOSTON,

Jim aIulligan's Posy and It's Destruction. The Punishment Meted Out to It's Sup posed Destroyer The Tooth of Re- mnrse-It Was the Cat.
 For months the third story back window of a dingy building decidedly the worse for wear had framed the slowly growing green leaves of poor little geranium that began life plant under circumstances quite the reverse of favorable.
 Jim Mulligan had picked it out from the waste barrel in front of a fine house. The evening before it had shown resplen- dent with other flowers and performed well 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. ''I've never had posy. and Pm a-goin to try"
 So he carried it home, planted it in an old tin can and worked and watched and waited as people do who have only one treasure to see it 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 Ragamuffin court made no end of fun of him and his flower. threatening to dcmolish by stone some fine night this work of months.
 "You do that and I'll smash you," gave back Jim.
 His fists being as we'll developed as 8 prize fighters, and his word always good ir that direction. the stone was not thrown the boys satisfying themselves by scream ing, "Girl-grl-sos she should have posiesI whenever he showed his head among them. Nevertheless, with a renewed pertinacity he chung to his one treasure.
 At last q spike made it's appearance crowned with cluster of brilliant scarlet flowers. Then Mrs Mulligan's little room seemed all ablaze with light.
 ''I didn't think you could do it, Jimmy she said, her face equaling it ill hue. "lt's pretty as ever anything see in my ife."
 Jim swelled up and down the room, wilo with pride, but he said nothing.
 "You could get fifty cents for that flow viewing her boy askance.
 "I ain't a-goin to sell it," said Jim shortly and not stopping in his walk
 Maybe dollar," hinted Mrs. Mulligan. That would be splendid. My I most know 'twould fetch that. Christmas makes flowers so dear"
 "I wouldn't sell it for S5OO," said Jin, magnihcently, and approaching his moth. CT to enforce his decision by resound. ing clap of one brown hand upon another, ESQ there ain't DO use talkin."
 "You act like a goose." declared Mrs Mulligan, out of all patience. "talkin as If you was worth a million an struttin uI an down as if your boots was whole, for al. the world. Get out. doP'
 So Jim got out, but fattened his nos, against the outside of the pane, where ht stared at his possession to bis hearts con tent.
 It was the day before Christmas. Hav ing no presents to purchase and nothing on his mind Jim could go down Broadway and the side streets in a beatifc state which he did bright and early and all day long and into the evening. Hands in hi. pockets he strolled on, whistlinK to keef warm, reveling in the brilliancy of the shops and the happiness of the streams 0: purchasers. He spent millions in thest hours, taking in imagination the place o: the pretty girl getting out of her carriage armed with papas new bank notes for tht Christmas shopping, or the we'll condi tioned merchant doing his purchasing by himself, or the mother on whose indul gent heart hung q flock of expectant little ones. And he did the work well too There was no indecision on his part Jin knew perfectly we'll, from thorough study
 
 boy, precisely what lie would order wert he in front of the counter. And he strolleo and whistled and fingered and stared, ano had the best time of any one in all that Christmas furry.
 He didn't forget his three meals, being Eome to dinner, but he took the precautior to thrust his supper in his jacket pocket.
 That's supposin shouldn't want to gt home for it," he said to himself. Its go ill to be lively bet tonight, an I've got tt spend lots to keep up tp 'en" He laughed and paused the last thing to nod and smi. at his flower, shining at him q bright fam. of color far be could see down tn. court. He hugged himself Ill gIee at i, and then ran out into the street to catch the early afternoon purchasers.
 It was somewhere about 9 o'clock of this Christmas eve when Jim turned into tn. 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. Muliigln'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 with a sudden horror. He darteG forward and caught up the spike, broker nearly short off, and trailing it's gay cluster in dejection on the old window sill His sturdy little right hand clinched itself SC that he could scarcely help the blossom up, endeavoring to make it stand straight. When he saw that it was really broken SC that it's pretty life was over, his DasSiol