Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-12
FINNY's TOBOGGAN SLIDE.
When Snow Failed He Stole Tub of Butt
to Make the Going Good.

When Snow Failed He Stole a Tub of Butte,
to Make the Going Good.
From the New York Sun.
There is a low, sloping roof near where nine
year-old Jimmy Walsh lives at SIS Washington
street. When the snow fell on the roof Jimmy
| invited his friend Alphonse Costello, who ii
two years older than he, to come over anc
slide They slid-on barrel staves-and said Il
was tout Of sight" Young Costello, who il
known to the other members of the "Happy
Home gang of Washington street as "Finny,
is Of a reflective turn Of mind.
Jimmy" said he, this SHOWS goin' ter
melt. never seen snow yet wot didn't melt
just when yer didn't wanter have it, Wot tn
hell good II our slide be them"
Jimmy didn't know.
"well, I'll tell yer. then" pursued Finny.
''Wot's the matter wild butter fer a slide:
Grease up your roof an yer pants and there
yer is"
The ideas of the "Happy Homes regarding
the ownership and requirement Of property are
vague. On the day following that on which
Finnys brilliant idea struck HIM tub of butter
was stolen from a delivery wagon standing on
Washington street. The man in charge Of the
wagon informed the police that just before the
butter was stolen he had seen "a shmal handy
legged Eyetalian an a rid-headed divil about
half a size bigger foolin' around the place. ~
the robbery, but, alas, their trousers we're but
tered. Moreover, they were buttered in the
place where it would do the most good in re-
ducing friction to a minimum when sliding
The boys were taken to jefferson Market court
where Judge Ryan was on the bench. When
they saw him the boys knees shook.
''Hully sufferin', smokin' gee"' suffered
Jimmy. "It's his whiskerenes.
Justice Ryan looked at the two BOYS. "You,
boy with the black eve, have you ever been ar
rested before?" said he.
"On'y oncet, yer honor" replied Finny,
meekly. IL was up before yer honor. 1t was
when Jim Shea's oyster scow was broke into
swimmin' there an the cop nabbed me- / was
honorably discharged by yer honor
Agent Dentert of the Gerry Society inter-
posed to remark that the oyster scow in ques-
ton was robbed at midnight, when Costello or
any other boy was not likely to be in swim
ming, and, moreover, that Costello was arrested
on the scow and was let off merely on account
of his youth. Justice Ryan then expressed a
desire to know where and under what circum-
stances he had experienced the pleasure of
Jimmy Walshs acquaintance.
'''Twasn't my fault, yer honor" whimpered
Jimmy. How'd l know tn priest WAS comm
along just then; wot did dey leave tn bloomin'
tin wash boiler in tn winder fer; how'n hell
cd tell tn bleedin' boiler was goin' t. smash
his jaw wen it fell out; did know was goin'
ter trip up an fall agin it? Judge, criss-cross
m heart, g help me Gawd. / never touched tn
damn boiler, any way
This is the boy" explained Agent Denbert.
"who threw a wash boiler out Of a window in
Washington street at priest who was passing
by and hit him on the head. That was about
two months ago. He was discharged because
he said it was an accident"
Ibid you steal this butter?'' asked Justice
Ryan.
"No, sir" said both boys at once "Some
bigger fellers swiped it. Then they done US
dirt by putin it on our pantses"
well, you're hard characters, anyway" said
the justice. In commit you both to the
Catholic Protectory."