The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-15
''WHAT TIL Ell RID GAVE q

''DOn,G go, Joey. "&4&@tt# E&s8.&E t
s. The little face looked up from its
mass Of sunny cur1s, and small,
hand reached out as if to detain him,
joey threw her a quick kiss, slung
nis blacking-kit over his shoulder,
and started for the door,
..P'ease don't go, joey the sweet
little voice called. .'Me so af'aid.'''
The little fellow turned and saw
his baby sister sitting up in bed with
two great tears shining in her eyes;
He went quickly back to her, gave
her first an old picture card, then a
tender kiss, and the next moment he
was feeling his way down the long,
dark, rickety stairs. g.
Tot looked longingly after her
brother as he passed out the door,
then, with half a sob, half a sigh,
gave her attention to the crumpled,
greasy card he had given her.. -
Little Joe Collins was an old man
for his years. He had seen much of
the world, or, rather, of the worlds
experience. and had received from it
a good many hard knocks without be-
ing able to hit back. If any one
asked him how old he was he would
answer, Thirteen when nanny
died." But as only one person in the
world knew when this unfortunate
event occurred, no one who had ever
been interested enough to ask ever
found out just how much boy and
how much man there was to the lit
tie fellow. And a great many did
ask Joey this question, for there was
something in his face that prompted
interest.
But it was his answer that turned
this interest to sympathy; and then
came more questions. In this way
nearly all the business men who were
accustomed to pass the corner where
Joey stood, every morning knew
that he had neither father nor
mother, and that he had to work
pretty hard to make money enough
to pay for his one little room at
Nanny Gibson's, and buy bread and
milk for his little sister. But Joey's
business had grown, for he was a
good boot black and an intelligent
talker, and men liked to hear about
the grand boot-black emporium" he
meant some day to establish, and the
fine house he would then build for
his dear little Tot. So Joey worked
on, day after day, making nickels to
save few every now and then, but
more than paying for them in long.
hours of hard and weary toll Yet
he did not complain, for it was all
for Tot, whom he loved better than
his very life.
The room at Nanny Gibson's was
a small. dingy affair, but it furnished
them a comfortable shelter, and,
what was very great consideration
with Joey, the old lady charged only
fifty cents week. Nanny Gibson,
however, was very fond of her little
dodgers, and for this weekly rental
she not only gave them the room,
but provided for it a cot bed, two
chairs and a table, and went in every
morning to put the room in order
and give Tot her breakfast. And
they, too, were very fond of her; for,
though her skin was black, her heart
was white and that was the
only color line Joey ever recog-
nized. Besides, it was she who took
care of his mother when the latter
was sick, and the old woman always
protested when he brought her dol
lar or two to go toward paying the
funeral expenses which had been adj
vanced from the bounty of Nanny
Gibson's purse.
It was a bright morning near the
end of March when Joey left his lit
tie sister so hurriedly, for he had
oversight and he feared if he did not
reach his corner by 6 o'clock he
would disappoint some of his regular
customers, and perhaps lose their
trade. Tot was at first inclined to
feel hurt at his abrupt departure,
but when she looked at the picture
card he had given her she forgot her
disappointment and began to prattle
to it as if it were a thing of life.
1t may have been an hour since
Joey left. when the door opened
slowly and a large black face APP
peared. It was Nanny Gibson's.
She looked about the room for mo-
ment, then stepped in, and seeing
that Tot did not notice her, quietly
approached the bed. She bent over
! the little figure and looked at the
card, then smiled a broad, good ma
tured smile, which finally developed
into a hearty chuckle. Tot turned,
half frightened, half surprised, but
when she saw it was only Nanny
Gibson a gleeful little laugh escaped
her, and she held out her arms to be
taken up. s.. PHI. i:=s5 81
oval, wal, honey, good mawnin'.' .
said Nanny, taking the child in her
arms. '.How's yer feelin' dis mawn.
in pr s#S q. It'll 0
..Pitty WE'LL said Tot ..see!'
and she held the card up toward
Mammy's face. s..sss. ...s...s :s
TO de Lawd sakes!'' exclaimed
the old woman, '.Whar yer. git it
| honey?'' .1s5 I. 5s=s..z
Joey" said the child, laug Ching al
Nanny surprise.
An wizard he git it?'''
Tot shook. her curly head. She