The morning call., 1894-12-17
PATSIE RETIRED.
He Really Never Had a
Chance.
Only Seven Years Old, but He Has
Been Run In" No Less Than
Eight Times.

'He's only been out week." said Frank
Holbrook. with sigh. land here he is
arrested again. Patsie, do you know
what tough record you have down at
the City Rall?"
Patsle replied with sweet smile and
gentle scraping of his shoes against the top
rung of the chair on which he was sitting
in the nffice of the Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Children. He was too
small for his feet to reach any lower. and
his little arms were extended almost at
right angles, for his elbows to rest with
suggestion of comforts bic ease on the
on the arms of his cnair.
Anything more unlike a-hardened GRIM
inal it would have been impossible to
imagine than the blue-eyed little fellow,
with two rivers distinctly marked on his
cheeks where the tears had run down,
and yet as youthful offender against the
laws of his country Patsie is unique in
his way and has a record at the City
Prison that many an older offender night
not care TO own.
eve have just brought him from The
City Prison." said Mr.. Holbrook. "How
manv times have you been there, Pa sic ?"
I've been took 10 der City Prison by
the police five times for sealIn' an you've
arrested me three times BESIDES" replied
the little fellow, who had rubbed away
MS tears alter being rescued by the society
from durance vile and was now looking at
his questloner with pretty baby smile.
"How old are you Patsie?" was asked.
II seven," replied the child, who
scarcely looked his age. Then he added,
with confidential air. Father died six
years ago. an me an my brudders lived
with mother ever since. l never got ar
rested till year ago, and then they took
me up for stealin' pair o. boots"
81 have known that family for thirteen
years." said Charles Hobrook. who hap
pened to be standing by, land during that
slime there has not been a week that some
of them have not been in trouble wi the
police. Whenever the children are sent to
homes or orphan asyiums the m other an
ages to beg them off. PatsIe, my boy, You
are going TO San Rafael to stay this time"
That's all right" replied Patsie, care
lessly. Then he took his elbows off the
arms of the chair and added with an en-
gaging air, Couldn't you. send me to
Boyd's" This. it appears, is the vernacu-
lar for the Boys and Girls Aid Society,
to which Patsie had been sent for a few
days on divers occasions. He proceeded
to explain his admiration for Boyd's by
saying, ut amt bad Twin there, an you
don't have nofin TO do" 1t was explained
to the youthful offender that his years were
too tender for him 10 be sent permanently
to "Boyd's, whereupon he resigned him.
self to the orphanage across the bay with
the calm indifference of philosopher.
1t is hoped by the Society for the Preven-
ton of Cruelty to Children, that a pro-
longed sojourn at the San. Rafael institu
ton may make the notorious little offender
a reformed member of society. Patsie is
a perfectly charming child 10 meet in
social way. only he will smile at you in his
baby way. and yet be meditating how he
can rob you. The poor little fellow has
been dragged up in the midst of gang of
hoodlums, and so far he has not had
chance.