Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-06-03
A BOX OF BON B0NS.

A BOX OF BON BONS.
There never was O more tempting
sight than that shop window. There
were mimic castles, all of sugar, glitter
ing like frost in the bright gas light,
jars of candied fruit, and loaves of
frosted bride cake decorated with sugar
flowers, one or two of the loaves cut to
show the richness of their hearts; tum-
blers of jelly as yellow as sunlight, great
clusters of purple and white grapes
with a frosty bloom on them, dish of
bouncing yellow oranges, and another
of apples as red as q country girls
cheeks, and looking as if they would
break their plump sides open if they
had tried to grow any bigger, and
around and amidst everything, arranged
IN the most attractive way, though in
seeming confusion, new bon bons of
every kind, Bon bons in jars, and cho-
colate and cream bon bons, cordial
drops and jelly drops, sugared almonds
and kisses.
Dick stopped and looked in at the
window with greedy eyes. He had h ad
his first days experience as newsboy,
and it had been a very discouraging
one. The older newsboys jostled and
pushed him out of the way, and scream
ed their wares so Justify that they COM
pletely drowned his weak, piping little
voice. So in the whole day he had
only sold three papers. If he had
moderately good success, Dick had de-
termined to buy little candy that
night. 1t was so long since he and
Lena had had taste of candy! For his
mother was very poor; she had to
support them by sewing, and as she
was very often ill that was hard to do.
II it had not been, she would not let
Dick, so young as he was, 60 out into
the streets to sell newspapers.
Dick had been wondering, for week
before hand, if it would be very extrav-
agant for him to spend five cents for
candy, provided he should make twelve
cents on this, his first days trade. This
morning he had been so hopeful that
he even decided exactly what he should
buy; one stick of barley candy and an
ounce OF chocolate cream drops; Lena
liked chocolate cream drops, and John
ny Riley had told him where they could
be bought for four cents an ounce
But that did not matter to him now; he
could not buy any, and his heart ached
so with disappointment that he could
not keep the tears back.
The store was crowed with people,
and they all acted as if they had so
much money that they didn't know
what to do with it.
"Ain't you gone homo yet, Dick Hal
stead?" called out Johnny Riley, paus-
ing moment in his screaming as ho
went by with great bundle of papers
under his arm. You might as we'll;
business is awful poor"
A gentleman who was just going into
the store turned around and looked at
Dick as johnny Riley spoke.
rs your name Dick Halstead?" he
asked in surprised tone.
"Yes, sir" answered Dick, surprised
also. MY real name is Richard, but
they call me Dick"
We'll, wait here minute, will you,
my boy? l want to speak to you, the
gentleman said, kindly.
He went into the store followed by
boy who was with him and who seemed
to be an errand boy. Dick saw him
buy box of bon bons; one of those
that were closed so that the beautiful
pictures on the covers could be seen.
And then he came out to the door.
You are to carry this to No. 35
Blank street, to Miss Lily Douglas
stay, III write the name on the wrap
pei" he said to the boy. You may
ring the bell and leave it on the steps.
l don't want them to see you because
L don't want them to know who sends
it."
He went back into the store to finish
his purchases, and the errand boy went
up the street with the box.
A temptation assailed Dick, sudden,
sharp and conquering. He ran after
the boy, swiftly but slyly, lodging be.
hind people, and now and then into a
store door or an alley way, so that the
boy need not by any chance see that
he was following him. When they
passed off the crowded thoroughfares
into the more quiet streets where the
private residences were he had to be
more careful still. His heart beat so
that he fancied the boy must hear it;
but ne was evidently in hurry to get
home, and had no thought but to get
the box safely delivered.
He ran up the steps of an elegant
L, q
the box down carefully, jerked the bell
furiously, and was off down the street
like deer.
Swiftly and noiselessly Dick stole up
the steps, with his heart beating like a
drum in his ears, caught the box, and
was far down the street with it in his
hands before the door opened.
lie felt as if all the policemen in the
city were in pursuit of him, and as if
distant onrnl ha booul xro. - o,,,