Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-31
PETEY'S CALL.

Petey sat half asleep on the little bench
set apart for the messenger boys thinking
if his drowsy installations could be dignified
by that term-thinking of the long tramps
he had been on and the probability of nm
other one when the manager next looked
his way. 1t was raining outside, and the
streets were in that mushy state suggestive
of chocolate pudding, with no hint about
them of the heavy downfall of beautiful
snow which had preceded the rain.
Petey didn't relish the idea Of going out
again-he was not n regular" and had nei-
Their uniform nor rubber coat. He had been
taken in as special during the holiday week
and wasn't quite sure yet whether he would
be retained or not. As matter of fact, in
his present drowsy condition he didn't care
much what happened to him as long rs he
wasn't disturbed
Just when his meditatious were assum-
ing a chaotic mixture in which the actual
and the fancied We're strangely combined
the cry of Next was called, and the boy
ish form Strengthened up, the brown eyes
were vigorously rubbed by two very dirty
knuckles, which operation did not tend to
beautify his countenance by any means, and
a very detected figure presented itself at
the desk in answer to the call.
Here, you, what's your number"
"Eighty-siX," drawled Petey, still almost
too sleepy to answer.
This call is from 6l7 North Blank street.
Do you know where it is?"
YES, sir" said Petey, whose rare knowl-
edge of the city had helped him materially
in securing the place.
We'll, here's your car fare; don't forget
the tariff; get out"
Clapping his hat on his towsled head,
which resembled nothing so much as a
floor mop, the boy waited for no second in
vitation, but shot out of the door like a
flash, only to drop into a gentle saunter
when he was out of sight of the office
Taking his card out of his hat he solilo-
quized as he walked along: swell neigh
borhood! l suppose they want me to go to
de caterers or de florists Dem nabobs Rllus
has some such job like dat for us poor fell
lers. y messenger boys life amt no snap,
l kin tell you, he remarked sagely to HIM
self As he stopped to watch n fight between
yellow dog and n stub tailed cat that had
Just run ont of the alley adjoining n print
ing office. When tabby had vanquished,
her enemy Petey proceeded ON his way,
and after several encounters with sundry
street gamins and parley with an apple
woman about the price of her wares he
surreptitiously mounted the steps of a
northward bound street car, cautiously
avoiding the eyes of the driver, and settled
himself for good time with a thrilling
tale OF the plains. winch ne drew from his
pocket and the two apples which he had
hulldozed from the woman for the price of
| one.
Somehow the adventure of Mark, the
! Cowboy" failed to interest him today, the
| jingle of the bells, the steady drip, drip of
/ the rain and the ever increasing number of
| passengers necessitating his jumping on
and off at almost every square did not tend
to the undisturbed enjoyment of his men
~ l. a. =
| own thoughts for company, and viewed in
| detail his life since he had entered the serv-
| ice of the a. II. t. He smiled grimly as
he thought of the baby which he had held
| for two mortal hours while its mother
shopped from one department to another.
1t wasn't a good baby, and he had been
| obliged to walk up and down with it-trot
| and sing to it. He had slapped it once-at
| this thought the smile broadened into n
/ fiendish grin.
Some one passing by had suggested that
| it was hungry, another thought that a pin
was sticking into it and a third was certain
| that it had the collie. Petey knew that it
was nothing but temper, but what could he
| do but walk, trot and sing, and when that
mother returned was it not unkind of her to
snatch the infant from his arms, and ex-
claim in a voice for all to hear, What did
the naughty little boy do to mothers
| angelo while the miserable angel" with
! look of unholy satisfaction, cuddled down
/ in the woman's arms and never shed an
other tear?
He thought it all over again, the day
that he went for the undertaken; the maid
en- lady he escorted to the theater, as she
was quite too young to so to a place of
amusement without a chaperon; the bun
dies that he had carried; the candy that he
had DO lGht and the notes he had delivered,
and he came to the conclusion that school
life wasn't so bad after all.
The car by this time was nearing the
neighborhood where he wished to alight, so
he swung off with that easy grace that the
children of the streets are quick to acquire
and sauntered leisurely along the pave
mcnt. 1t was very elegant section that
he found himself in. y great square in the
center and large, substantial looking stone
houses facing it on each side. 4 few chill
dren with their nurses were playing in the
park, and at several doors well appointed
carriages were in waiting. No. CIT was a
corner house as handsome as those about
it, and with a wing built out on side
street, which was evidently conservatory.
Petey took all this in at glance and as he
ran up the broad steps and peeped in
through the silken vestibule curtains he
murmured, Here's richness"
\ trim little maid with snowy cap and
apron opened the door and told him to
wait in the hall while she informed her
mistress of his arrival. Left alone, Petey
took in the details of the BEAUTIFUL house.
The wide hall was fitted up as a sitting
room, cheerful fire blazed in the open fire
place and fur rugs lay about ON the polished
floor. Palms were set in every conceivable
niche, and the fragrance of flowers pervaded
the air. Through the heavy curtains which
hung between the hall and the room be
yond Petey caught glimpse of a large
picture hanging over the mantelpiece. II
represented very pretty young lady in
bridal costume, and when a moment later
a swish of silk made Petey look around he
knew that the original of the picture WI.
before him.
How long you have beenr' was the frs
greeting that he received from the lady
who, despite her youth and rich attir,
! looked anything but happy. Il suppos
, you loitered on the way. Messenger boy
always do. There is not one fit to be in til
service, not one, and if / had my way the
all should be discharged. Here l hav
waited nearly an hour for you and rung u
the office a dozen times"
Il came as soon as l could" apologize
Petey. Its a long ways from de offus.
a He didn't think it necessary to tell of Il
Z stolen ride or the saunterings prior to it,.
We'll, l suppose you did, smiled IL
lady, showing the loveliest teeth and cut
= little dimples in that one heeting burst ,
: sunshine, but needed you so much tn,
presume it seemed longer than it real
r was. You are very small, . she remarke
o abruptly, sizing up the little figure befo
her.
d I'm going on H." answered Petey, T
d senting the implied youthfnlness of his a
r pearance.
s Maybe it is as we'll. Now, do you thin
d YOU could do something very importan
& something that l would trust to no OIL
3 else, and something for which, IL YOU a
s successful, will pay YOU, say, Sl0t''