Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-04-04
AT A NEwseos's FUNERAL.
How His Companions, Remembered Hin
and His Mother Also.

How His Companions, Remembered Him
and His Mother Also.
1t was ono of tho SOLEMN days
along the alley, foranother newsbov
had died
He had not bcCn.a prominent mem.
Der of tho push" and had earned
no title. If he had achieved distinc-
ton III any way, no might have been
called Rubber Neck, Hot Foot"
or Sleep Out"
They had known him as Freddie
He had boon accustomed to stand in
limo rather mcokly and endure more
than his share of tho pushing and
scutiiing. His bundle of papers was
never very large, and as no wasn't
tall enough to talk loudly and
boss" around he was mover prop
crly respected in tho alloy until he
died
Then heavy grief settled on the
colony, and "Bootsy" Thompson
won't about with n wrinkled brow
and was ready to chaStiso any young
stor who seemed to DO cheerful.
1t was suddenly remembered that
Freddie had always been ION the
square,, that he had mover gono
camping on another kids" corner,
and some recalled tho affecting cir
cumstancc that he dropped in his
last "nick" 20 help buy flowers
when fanny" was killed by the ca
bio car.
They had seen him around only q
week before, and it was within the
last two days they had heard that
no was worry sick
When n ncwSbOy dies, his COM
rades hold u meeting. Instead of i'm
itating tho conspicuous example of
their elders and passing resolutions,
they go down into their pockets and
mako up u fund
They hold Il meeting at 3 80 in the
afternoon. After the spokesman had
announced tho nCws of Freddio's
death he said that every kid"
would be expected to como down.
Then the hats were passed, and there
was steady Jingle of red and white
coin. A committee to count up re-
ported that $7.13 had been contrib
utcd, ut which some of tho thought
less ones wero inclined to yell, for
getting that the occasion was one of
sorrow. "Ovcrcoat, Hawkey" and
"Cocoanut Charley" were appointed
to buy tho floral tribute and take it
to Frcddic'S homo on tho West Side
Next morning the three members
of tho committee and large box
wrapped in white paper camo into
the Office of the man who was re-
gardcd rs tho supreme authority of
the newsboy army. He was the
court of last resort in all scraps, "
and good man to be next to. " So
they brought tho tribute around to
show it to him
Hounticd the string and lifted the
lid. Within the box was "a huge clus-
ter of pink roses with waXen leaves
and wire stems, wrcathcd about by
stiff hand painted leaves.
"Why, these arc artificial flow
ers, said he, and he began to laugh
The committee was silent and ap
parcntly offended. Then "Hawkey"
spoke up: "Wc got fake flowers be-
cause dcy was cheaper, but deere all
right, and dc kid wouldn' know dc
difference We fought dey was
purity enough"
What makes this peculiar smell?"
The flowers gavo out n peculiar alco-
holic odor
Oats perfumery Fake flowers
amt got no smell, so wc sprinkled q
little perfumery on.
If the man ut tho desk had follow
ed his inclinatiOns, he would have
roarcd with laughter But he had
too much feeling.
That's very nice, boys, said he,
replacing the lid. "Freddie's mother
will be glad that you remembered
him That's right. You give her the
money that's loft Don't sprinkle
any moro cologne on tho flowers
They have enough now"
Then he followed them to tho win
dow and smiled to see them trot
happily away.
After al" he said, lit doesn' t
make any difference.
In tho afternoon, when the Cll"y
delegation saw the hearse drive away
from the little house, the waxen flow
ors with the wire stems lay on the
top of the coffin. Record
Robert Louis and His Dog.