The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-16
HOEORING THE GENERAL.

Little Phil was cripple. and poor, and he
kept a newsstand on Eleventh street, the
profits of which barely kept him alive. But
he had big heart and tender one, and he
could never forget that he had been
christened after the gallant general whose
daring and dash had won many battle Tor
his country. He talked to the boys about
il sometimes. until his eyes flashed and bis
thin cheeks flushed with glow that made
his homely face seem almost beautiful
All New York was in slush and discom-
fort that day. People who stopped to buy
papers stamped their feet and wished the
weather was in Guinea, or the rain would
go TO Spain, or somewhere else, and no one
seemed TO think of anything to look pleas
ant about. But little Phil did. II was the
birthday of his great nameSake, and the
thought filed his heart with patriotic pride.
He looked into the faces or the people who
splashed along through the cold, wet snow.
to see If they were not thinking about the
great hero. and he watched the CITY Hail
and the PostOffice to see II the flags would
so down 10 half-maSt, but either the cords
must have become frozen Stih or else all the
people of that great city had forgotten about
the man who rode on the black steed 10
Winchester thirty miles away.
Hey, Blllp' he called 10 3 DewSbOy who
had been selling papers on the street,
whose picture is IN the window to-day p
Not yours, Limpy," answered back the
Il know. but amt you seen no picture of
any general With the StaT-Spangled banner
around the frame, like on Washinston's
birthday@
Nav" said Bill "Who Is hop"
Then two hot tears stood in the eyes Of the
hey at the thought that in all that great city
no one had remembered his general or put
his portrait in the window. framed in the
national cOlors. as they did Washington's
and Grants, but that the pictures OF the
play actors should be there.
"l'll do ii myself, then, the best can,"
be resolved, Il WAS ashamed to before
cause il would lock so cheap and mean the
best l could get. Say. Bill" he called again
to the newsy, come and mind my stand
minute while | 60 out"
Across the street hobbled the little fellow,
with nearly all the change from his drawer
in his pocket. Patiently, and, with many
slips and JoStlings, he made his way to the
nearest Statloner's, and inquired for the
picture of General Sheridan.
General Sheridan?' said the man; I'VE
have none. You might 20 to the picture
store down on the corner"
To the picture-store on the corner he
made his way through the throng.
Yes. we've one a. $3.50. said the sales
man, impatiently. "No, nothing cheaper;
we don't deal in prints"
Z he door Changed behind Phil and he
wandered farther down the street.
III can't get the picture, then I'll have
to 10 the best l can" he said to himself
So he went into another stationer's and
bought a slate and then stopped in at
another place aud bought two small flags.
There was one Of the boys who could
draw pretty pictures and he had some kind
OF Wild fancy that in some way picture
OF the dead general could be gotten up, but
more thought convinced him that, while he
remem beTed just how his hero looked the
last time he had marched down the streets
Of New York at the head of the grand re-
view, II would not be possible for him to tell
the boy who could draw. And so he set to
work himself with a crayon, and this was
the result IN bold letters on the slate: Gal
liant General Philip Henry Sheridan's Birth
day" Below this he fest0Oned the flags.
and the whole was placed in the most con.
spicu Gus place in front of his stand.
And many a passerby on that cold dis
agreeable OH of March stopped TO look at
the simple but touching symbol Of respect
Tor dead but seemingly forgotten hero,
and by aud by little knot gathered around
the place 10 talk and wonder.
'Hurrah for General Sheridan 70 sug-
gested Bill, the newsbov, to another after
they had spelled out the writing on the
slate.
Hin. hip, hurr hi"
The boys took ND the cry and some of the
men Joined in. and hats went off and there
of the raw air and slushy streets.
Here, WHAT'S all this about?" de-
manded the big Irish policeman, coming
toward the crowd. Move on, move on !"
It's blocking the pavement you are Cen
eral Sheridan is it. shure? It's in honor OF
General Sheridan's birthday" he explained
TO the driver Of the handsome carriage
when had been stopped by the little throng.
ANA the driver explained to the inmates
OF the carriage, and the next minute was
ordered to stop longer while the gentleman
inside looked curiously through the plate
glass at the slate before he was driven on.
Drive to City Hail. he commanded.
sharply. And on the way another pair of
eyes than PhiPs scanned the store windows
and the flagstaff. and there were Quick
commands and active bustling In the places
where this mans word was law and soon
the stars and stripes were floating at half
mast over the City Hail.
A little crippled newsboy had taught a
great city how to honor one of its nations
GREATEST clieftains-The Pres hvtarfan