The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-29
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A LAWYERS STORY.
Atlanta Constitutions.

Sitting in my Office one hot July
morning, intensely absorbed in case,
neither heard steps on my stair mol
knock at my door, so I was startled
when boys clear voice said: 'Mis.
ter, would you like to have your room
cleaned up?"
Looking up I saw a small boy of II
or IL years old standing in my door.
"What is it you want, my little
MANI"
Would you like to have your room
cleaned?"
"Why is it not clean2' I asked
looking around.
'sNo, sir, answered the lad; "look
at the windows; you can't see through
'em, and the floor is powerful dirty. u
We'll, go ahead, I said. s"The
windows .re dirty,sbut do mot talk 70
me: I am very busy"
The little worker was very quiet
The splash of water and the souno Of
scrubbing reached me occasionally.
After awhile I looked up and the boy
asked: ''What time do you go to din
ner?''
"Dinner2 Why, 7 guess tits time
"Well, I will scrub the floor while
you are gone to dinner. I did not
want to bother you moving things"
When I returned to my Office every
thing was clean and bright and shin
ing. s.,I.gaves the boy 50,cents.for the
Job and. was going to, my work when ]
noticed a troubled look on the lad s
face.
els that not enough for the job?'
I asked in some surprise.
ooh, yes, sir; but would you just
as leave give mea recommend as the
money!"
"Awhat?' Iasked, notunderstand-
ing him.
ia recommend just bit Of paper
saying, This boy knows how to clean
up, with your name signed to the bot
tom of it. .
"Ohla Recommendation I said,
laughing. "Are you stranger in
town.
Yes, sir; came this morning, and !
want jobs. J f,~ sss.
I gave the bit of paper Sand he
thanked me as he laid the money
down.
Keep the money, too," I said.
ssY Yopearned.it.1' se.s - &aa
'asllo; sn, answered semphatical-
ly ,sI dosnot take double spaysf for.one
lob and this paper is worth more to
Enie esthanthe money. 80 80
ST Thesbdil dinggin whichsT had my
Office was soon transformed into sthe
house cleanliness if not satbe house
ibeautifulss ssssSoap, water @andaa small
boy went from room to room, leaving
their shining marks behind them.
ssMy recommend," !" as the lad called it,
chad been his. open sesame. .
/ could not help feeling interested
in the boy. He had such an honest
face and such firm, resolute mouth
that he looked as if he intended to
conquer the world. So, meeting him
on the stairs one morning, I asked him
where he stayed at night.
"Weli, I mostly sleep in the park.
The policemen there is good fellow,
and he said he did not mind little
chap like me sleeping on the benches.
When it is raining climb into some
barn and sleep on the hay, but 1 never
feel like it is right, sleeping in folks
barnes without asking EN-, but if you
do ask 'em they mostly says no."
But, my boy" Inquired, edo you
not make money enough to rent a
ROOM?
Yes, sir; makes enough, but i
have to save it. | have. a family to
support. !" ),
ed in surprise. 50 &
just so, sir. A little brother and
sister, and 1 saves my money for
them.
ssIs your father dead?p Fasked. scs
"Wofse than dead, sira he is aidruhk-
ard, tie child Said sadly. sf II
And yoar mothags s8s ssss
;. The hoyss eyes dlled8ithatears, but
he said nothing, and I naturally sup
posed the mother dead.
I could not work that day. / was
haunted by thespictnreyofa a little boy
sleeping on the hard benches of the
park, of a little boys climbing into a
barn when, it .rained, and having his
conscienoe .troub bling him forstrespass-
ing.z ssssThe,foxsszhave sholes,'ands sthe
birds Of air have nests, but the son Of
man has nowhere to lay his head
kept going through my head like an
old song thatswillnot be stilled: I. One
Of Gods little ones was, evensssihis
Master, with no place, to lay his head.
I went from Office to Office that day
telling the story simply as the child
had told it to me. Many rough old
lawyers eyes-flled with tears as he
thought Of his own little ones at home,
we'll fed and we'll housed, while this
little one lived, as the birds, out Of
doors. Many miser's hand went in
to his pocket that day; grumblingly
the hands master gave his money,
but the quiTer Of the hard lip showed
that he was glad to give.
Before night we had fitted up an
old lumber room in our building with
bed, bedding, chairs, groceries, wash
ing utensils, etc. I hardly thought
the boy in need of the groceries, but
L. said if he would cook his own meals
it would be cheaper than buying them.
On this economical hint "our dude
bought the child an oil stove for cook
ing. ~
Have you ever seen plain, freckle-
faced, two-headed boy so radiant with
happiness that his face was beautiful
to see? That was the picture that We
looked at that night as Tom was intro
duced to his new quarters.
A week had gone by when Tom came
to my room, leading shy, handsome
boy Of ten.
s'This is my brother, sir. I sent
for him as soon as [ got that beautiful
room. A boy likes to have his family
with him"
After shaking hands with the little
stranger I asked Tom whether his
brother would be much help to him.
Get don't axnoot him to do anv work