The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-05-26

<A he was eating a
" Crust out of the
gutter. She was only poor old
woman who kept little shop for
candy and trimmings, and poor
enough itself, heaven knew; but, she
said he looked a little like what her
Tom might if he had grown up and
been neglected, and she couldn't
stand it. She called to him:
"Come here, sonny" she said; and
the boy obeyed.
Before she could speak again, he
said:
Il didn't do it. I'll take my oath
on anything. l didn't do it. I amt
so mean.''
"Didn't do what? said the pleasant
old woman.
Break your winder," said the boy
nodding his head toward ashattered
pane:
"Why, I broke that myself, with
my shutter last night" said the old
woman. II amt strong enough to
lift them, that's the fact. I'm get
ting DID,"
"If Pm around here when you shut
up I'll do it for you said the boy.
STD just as soon. What was that
you wanted me for?'
II want to know what you was
eating that dry crust out of the gut
ter for?'' was the reply.
Hungry" he said. "I've tried to
get job all day. Pm going to sleep
in an area over there. after it's too
dark for policeman to see, and you
can't have a good nights sleep with
out some supper, if it is little dir
ty." b:
''I'll give you some that's clean,'
said the old woman.
That will be begging" he said.
NO." she said, "you can sweep the
store and pavement, and put up the
shutters for it. -
Every WE'LL" he said. "Thankee,
then. If l sweep up first, I'll feel bet
ter"
Accordingly she brought him a
broom, and he did the work we'll.
Afterward he ate his supper with
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,
and his father, whom he had never
seen sober, was in prison for life.
The antecedents were not elevat-
ing, but the boy seemed good. The
next morning the old woman en-
gagged clerk for her small esta bl;sh-
ment. The terms were simple-"his
living and bed under the counter"
When the neighbors heard of it
they were shocked. A street boy,
whom no one knew. Did Mrs. Briggs
really want to be murdered in her
bed? But Mrs. Briggs felt quite safe.
She had SO much time now that she
was going to take in sewing. Dick
attended to the shop altogether. He
kept it in fine order, and increased
the business by introducing candies
and chewing gum. Pennies came in
as they never came in before. since he
had painted signs inred and blue ink
to the effect that the real old molas-
ses candy was to be got there, and
that this was the place for peanuts.
And in the evening after the shop
was shut up she began to take him
into her confidence.
Hergreat dream was to buy herself
into home for the aged. Tt would
cost her 500. She was saying for
it. She had been saving for three
years, and had SIS of it. But it cost
80 much to live, with tea Is cents per
quarter and loaves so small; and she
had been sick, and there was the doc
tor and Mrs. Jones' Maria j ane to be
paid for minding her and the shop.
After this Dick took the greatest
interest in the savings, and the win
termonths increased them, as though
he had brought a blessing. One
night in the spring she took the bag
from under the pillow, and counted
what it had. 1t was $50.
"And I'll begin to make kites to-
morrow, Mrs. Briggs said the boy,
"and you'll see the custom it will
. bring. If q little shaver sees the