The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-07-13
miscellaneous.
A BRAVE REVENGE.

2T&l9IGlldIlSul
A BRAVE REVENGE.
John Thomas" said a beautiful
young lady, as she threw up the sash
of the window at which she was stand
ing, tell that dirty boy to get off the
stoop at once"
John Thomas, the liveried footman,
who was arranging the mats in an
elegant coupe before the door, at once
moved toward the boy in obedience
to his lovely mistress command.
But the boy, evidently a bootblack,
spared him the trouble by rising at
once and walking slowly away.
He was a poor, emaciated, forlorn-
looking fellow. with his clothes hang
ing about him in tatters, and his bare
toes peeping through the wide cracks
in his ill-mated shoes, but he had as
much pride in his humble way us the
fair lady at the plate-glass window
had in hers, and there was an unmis-
taxable look of wounded dignity on
his begrimmed face as he turned for
an instant in the direction of the
speaker.
"I'n not soil their stoop with my
rags again." he thought, as the clear
cutting tones ceased, and the window
slid softly down to the sill.
But having reached the next pave
ment beyond, he paused and again
turned his eyes to the lady'S face.
She was extremely beautiful, re-
minding him of one of the bright
prints he had been wont to admire at
a downtown booksellers, and for
some moments he feasted his eyes on
the charming picture before him.
"a cat may look at I; king was
his inward comment, and leaning
against IL neighboring lamp-post, he
watched until she descended the broad
stoop, entered the carriage, and was
driven away. Then, with sigh and
shiver, for it was a cold, windy morn
ing, he slowly shutied away.
1t was some years ago, before boys
lodging-houses or other hospitable re-
treats were thought of, and like many
other boot blacks and newsboyS of
the period, when without means, he
was compelled to find food and shelter
as best he could.
On this morning he had arisen with
aching bones from the interior of an
empty hogshead, where he had man
aged to pass the night, and after tax
ing Il long look at the rolls and coffee
he could not buy, had wandered, he
scarcely knew how or why, into the
present aristocratic locality.
Hungry, tired and cold, he scarcely
had the spirit to look about for an
other job but midway down the
block he espied two gentlemen engag-
ed in conversation, and with an effort
he quicked his steps toward them.
Have shine, sir?' he asked,
CHANGING up at the elder of the two, n
stout old gentleman, faultlessly dress
ed, and carrying a gold headed cane.
But a cool ''clear out ~ accompanied
with a wave of the gold-crested stick.
was the only reply.
'"Those young rascals ought to be
suppressed by the police as nui-
sance," he heard him remark to his
companion as he turned away.
At another time he would have re-
turned the old gentleman's opinion
with sarcasm as cutting as his own,
but now he was too discouraged and
miserable to reply, and sitting down
this time on the curbstone, gave him
s0lf up to his own bitter thoughts.
Might have know'd better'n ter
c&lpe over here among the swells,
anyway was his inward comment,
but it went no further, for he was now
accosted by u big countryman, who,
in his home-spun rig, looked fully as
out of place on the avenue as the boot
black himself.
That's a boot-blackin' arrange
ment, amt it % said the man, nod
ding at the box and brush.
The boy nodded in return.
"Well then, bub, you up and gloss
my shoes, will you -
This, bub was only to glad to do.
faint smile fitted over his face the
while.
Ina few minutes the ''cowhides"
were as the owner declared, 'all
right" and surveying them compla-
Gently, he fumbled into the depths of
his great coat pockets for the change.
YOU'RE what they call profess
shunal boot-black, hain't you?' ~
'"Zactly-"
"Then, by Jimmy. Yer a poor spec
linen of the craft look as though you
hadn't tasted COW flesh in Il month"
Eyer right there, boss; no more |
have"
Thought so was the reioinrler,
land here's fifteen cents fur to buy
yer breakfast"
You are IA bully cove" was the
boys reply as he pocketed the money;
when you come this way again I'll
shine you up for nothing"
Fifteen cents at such IL time was as
good as a fortune, and away sped the
boy to purchase breakfast.
There is nothing which reflects so
directly on the entire system as good
breakfast, particularly when there is
strong northeast wind sending its
icy breath to the very marrow of ones
bones.
And so the knight of the backing
brush found it on that chill November
morning, all his former spirits return
ing as the last morsel went ravenously
down his throat.
With bound he was off down the
street, and was soon, as luck would
have it, turning in the pennies as fast
as he could reasonably desire,
K
1t was near eight o'clock that same
evening, and our young friend, stand
ing beneath the light of street lamp,
was turning over in his mind whether
he had best spend portion of his
earnings in theatre ticket, or save it
for the morrow, when some one light
ly touched him on the shoulder.
Turning suddenly, he beheld the
ebony visage of young colored wait
er, with whom he was slightly ac-
quainted.
How are yer, Sambo ?'' he asked
patronizingly.
"Oh, berry well, tank'o, but Use in
powerful hurry, and l cum ober dis
way to hunt some pusson to do me
favor"
"All right, Shady. Then I'm the
one yer arter. How much yer going
ter guy p
Just one shillin', and its only to
tote a note to young colored lady
dat Ibis wild some white folks piece