The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-11-29
A NEW GALLEGHER.
The Newsboy Who Got There
nY HARRIET cARYL cox.

DY HARRIET cARYL cox.
Joe was no saint. In fact he was as
dirty, mischievous, sly and look-out-for-
number-one youngster as you could find
anywhere in the streets of Boston.
He had a round, bright little face when
it was clean enough to be seen, an ener-
getic little body, and enough genuine
Yankee spunk and cuteness for man oi
40 ; aud he was only II.
And he knew, dear me. he knew as
much of the world, rs shadows particu.
larly, as any man, and the amount oi
facts and information he had managed to
stow away in his head was truly remark
able.
Joe was an Omnivor0us reader. No
othe- word half expresses it, for every
thing in the shape of printed matter that
came benea n his quick brown eyes he
devoured, regardless of his age or subject.
And so his mind was a curious mixture
Of facts and falsities, gathered from all
sources, from patent medicine almanacs
to tracts on The Drunkard's Fate" and
"Why Workmen Should Vote for Prohi-
bition," not to mention standard litera-
ture.
He didn't patronize the Public Libra
~ and the Atheneum to be sure, but he
had library of his own, a small, select,
yet very genuine library, packed away in
a big shoe box in the corner of the attic
which he with six congenial spirits hired
for dollar week, where they kept
"kept house"
There was in his library all the liteTa-
tuTe he had ever possessed. Several paper
covered novels he had picked up at rail
way stations, q lot of pamphlets adver-
tising quack medicines several copies OF
the Union Signal and Woman's Journal,
more Of the Police Gazette and Fireside
Companion, three copies Of the Twen-
tieth Century, book On the Care ofthe
Teeth, one Of the fve-cent editions OF
Pickwick Papers, Robinson Crusoe, vol
ume OF Our Dumb Animals, Paradise
Lost, several pages from the Psalms, a
half ofa Franklinis Fifth Reader, some
ragged copies from Harper's, Scribner's
and Babylan copy of the Forum,
countless dailies, box Of clippings, or
rather tearings, for their ragged edges
betoken no contact with the shears, and
spart from the Others, carefully covered
by a bit Of fclean calico, prettily bound
copy Of Dickens Christmas Carol. This
of all his library, Joe priced most, though
there were some stories in Harper's and
Scribner's be was never weary Of reading
and then telling to his room mates in his
own manner.
And the boys, though they made fun
Of Joe's literary taste, always looked out
for any additions, they might make to
the library, for Joe was willing almost
any time to forgo his supper for vol
ume, or his weekly turn on the only mat
tress the room afforded, if the book were
very desirable one.
Joe was not an ideal book-worm nor
an ideal anything, but he managed to
get along pretty well.
Joe wanted to be newspaper man
ne was already ne eEsboy-and he hung
about the buildings along newspaper row
gave valuable information to the report
ersas they rushed in and out, and in fact
he felt himself quite an important part
ofthe machinery,
His pet paper was the Planet" and
about the Planet Building, on the side
walk outside, on the steps, or in the lob
by he was familiar figure.
There was one Planet" reporter in
particular whom Joe had singled ont for
his admiration. He was 3 young man,
just entering journalism and very much
in love with it, and determined to rise.
At various times he had given Joe odd
pennies, once nickel and once quarter
for his suggestions of and information
about a certain subject that he had work
ed up as a two column special. Joe him.
self had figured in it, to his great salts
faction ana since tnat day he had been
the reporters devoted slave.
Then Joe had another protege, a young
woman on the "Daily Describer." She
was little thing, girlish in appearance,
but bright and successful in her work.
"She's got spunk enough for man !" was
the way Joe put it,
He found it out the secopd day she was
there.
She had come in from the sidewalk
hurTiedly, but found the stairs blocked
by no less than six newsboys and boot
blacks, engaged in most interesting
discussion.
She had hesitsted q moment waiting
for them TO move, but they were q solid
phalanx and entirely stopped the way.
Il want to pass" she said in quick,
decided voice-but not boy moved.
She just looked at them, slipped her
note book into her pocket. and before
they imagined what she was about,
caught two of them by the collar and
with aquick movement Landed them very
emphatically at one side Of the narrow
passage, and walked up stains. Bat not
before joe had caught he. eye, and
shouted out. "Bully for you, old gal,
at ihe same time rubbing his head which
had come in contact with The wall.
And since then the tso haye been pref,
ty good friends
Joe" said she one afternoon ss sh'