Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-28

sibly have been long enough for Paddy, and
had they been so, he would have outgrown
them in a month
Paddy had been playing ball on Boston
Common. The game was over, and his side
had won. 1t always did. When Paddy
pitched nobody else on his nine but the catch
er ever had anything to do. The outfielders
usually sat down on the grass and smoked
clay pipes while they waited for three n en-
to strike out.
After the game Paddy also lit pipe and
sat down on the grass. Immediately he
was aware of a thick-set young man, whose
clothes were as sharply differentiated from
Paddy's as the sartorial art permits. The dis
tinction between such garments and his
own had been driven into Paddys skull
even at his early age. II consisted in the
fact that such clothes had money in their
pockets, while his had none.
Reasoning thus. Paddy was about to ask
when the conversation was taken out of his
mouth.
my name is Bangs" said the thick-set
Patrick O'Toole. Have youse got der
price"
Have you ever been to SCHOOL," asked
Bangs, interrupting.
1--WE been to school, I don't think" said
Paddy, staring. Have youse got"
Would you like to have an education?"
Come again."
do you want to go to school? Have you
any desire to learn?
II dunno" said Paddy, but I've got a
thirst that"
Eyes, you do know. You want to amount
to something. You don't want to go on this
way. Now look here. I've taken a fancy
to you. I've got more money than know
what to do with, and I'm willing to spend
some of 1t on Paddy O'Toole If YOU will
put yourself in my hands ri educate YOU
and pay all your expenses from this day
until you graduate from college. Come.
This is the chance of your life. Will you
take what heaven sends your
PADDY drODDed his nine on the ground
Then he propped his meager body up with
his preternaturally long arms, and sat
there in the attitude of one who has been
knocked down by blow in the face.
Are youse stringin' me?" he gasped
Il mean every word 1 say. What should
I gain by deceiving your
you couldn't get nothin' out O. me-
Then believe what 1 tell you. and come
with me-"
Say" said Paddy. "I'n have to go you.
don't catch on to the game but it looks
easy. What do youse want me to do first?"
Come with me and talk 1t over"
Let her go. It's a bargain. I'm wild
Paddy got I'D and stretched his long
limbs. He looked around at the familiar
trees. and the monument on the hill He
wanted to see whether they were all there
1t seemed more probable to him that they
would be absent, and that he would find
himself in bed somewhere and just waking
from a dream.
But the common looked no different from
It's ordinary. The trees were waving gently
under the blue sky. His late companions
in the game were scattered about on the
grass. And before him stood a person
whom he vaguely suspected to be the boss
of the ward-the highest dignitary with
whose office he was familiar-who wanted
to give him lot of money just for going
to school.
1t looked like a good thing. Paddy re-
Elected with Joy that the schools were all
closed and that his work could not begin
till he had had a taste of his wages.
The sudden surprise had accumulated the
dryness in Paddy's thoat.
IF yer got the price o. two beers" he
began.
mo. sir" said Bangs. I'll attend to the
outside of you first. It's more conspicuous
The hrst thing you need most is a suit Of
clothes"
OF that first day Of his new life Paddy re-
tains most confused recollection. He re-
members bath somewhere in a place that