The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-23
The "Cnder Boots"
(Rv Grace DuHleld Goodwii

| (By Grace Duffield Goodwin
| We had arrived late in the afternoon,
| at the small English inn, and our various
| bags, bundles, and yalises had been pi ed
! I'm indiscrimlnate confusion on the of1ce
! floor. The few walters OF which the
| Sutton Arms could boast were engaged
/ in carving cold joints which were TO be
seen in cherries nakedneSS through the
! open door OF the conee-room.
| The young woman I'm the ONCE rang
| the bell violently a second time for a
porter, who should convey our most
English-lOOkng luggage TO its appointed
resting place in No. Il. Suddenly the
mass began to move. and We We're able
10 discern. as the locomotive power.
small and grimy figure. At the door of
our room the figure dropped the encum-
blances, and Strengthened itself up INTO
the sembiance OF small boy. with
large, sOlled apron tied about his waist
ana unmlStakeable marks OF his PROBES
sion adjoining his features. lie pulled ms
fOreloCk,-waS this hail.
II was, and | gave him the looked
FOR eoppers asking with a smile, Are
you the BOots?"
No, sir, pulling the useful foreock;
the hunder Boots
The "Unrer Boots at the Sutton Arms"
AS such We knew INN during our
brief stay-wds visible only twice 1
hdq a way when 1 wanted my boots To
look particularly well, or dropping three
pence IN the toe. and THIS small outlay
resulted In the most ailuring shines"
out II proved the rock on which Door mt.
tle Under Boots very nearly came TO
grief lie tod me OF 1t himself. ana
perhaps that Is one reason why among
ali the remembered chIld faces i'm nv
mlnd, snail always carry the honest
tear-Stained countenance that | one dav
encountered In the hall.
No one enjoys seeing children cry and |
my Involuntary question, wei. little |
BOOTS. what's the matter?" was most
natural. The lad looked up and. squeeze |
ing IN himself against the wall. endeavored |
nv 1t
On MS arm. Suddenly he burst into such |
passion or tears that 1 drew him into /
i Ivy room, away from curious eyes He |
ho 1891 -, LJftiecty Woebegone, and the tears
nAd made White channels on his grirny /
, ,s. once more put the question. and |
LIZ o"inS himself on the floor he buried
ms race on a footstool.
on. sir" he sobbed, Il never did such
d thing before I stole"
stole what, my boy?"
"Ihrippence."
From whom
IRON the Boots, please, sir"
How did that happen"
d9aet"een the sobs, he replied:
icons " 1his way sir Mother. she
sister, she's sick most haH the time ana
'he Wahtel Dun-you know the KIND sur
me penny ones not the little ones Tor
IA penny, but the kind with piurns i'm =
ana she KEEP haskin' for il. and we'aJ |
no money at all. one day-you'U mini |
ne day, sir-I was gatherin' boots In the
cleaned. |
ma thfippence rolled out OF one OF |
ours. knowed IL were a-meant for |
ooots, but thought about the plum-bun
n took 1t; an wen Boots e SAYS
W ereS the thrippence? | said as low
mere weren't none"
lie had stolen, and he had He'd ana
Happy.
| had listened in silence to his story. )
'WeIlT' 49, anu '"''' ! ?
Il aVen't no thrippence to give i'm i"
w nat DO you think you ought to do?'
snail ! tell I'm as 'ow / took IL and !
II give II back wen | can?"
Don't you think that would be the /
light thing?"
Little Boots lifted his head, and slowly
OF up 10 60. |
Yes, sir; please, sir. I'll tell i'm"
should give the lad the three pence /
mn which TO right his wrong? Al first
thought ] would. but wiser counsels
REVEALED. He Was fighting his own bat
IT,. Some one had taught him well. and
heirs ought 10 be the praise il the
ict0ry followed | let him 60 8
TWO days after. we met again in the ( i,
All. ana he came up TO me. pulling the ! o
Jrelock respectfully. n
please, SIR he hegan shyly J.
"Ges-Nell. what did YOU do about ito' =,
asked, wondering in myself Whv 1 n
ired 50 much about his ansWerN g
Il told i'm ABOUT IT," he said "and ii
IN 10 give it back We'en get paid neXt. :,
licked me. too. COS 'e's biggeru me: ii
az that weren't nothlnk. | told mother h
,O"-WindmeTe. England "a