The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-31
Tomali's New Years Call.
(By Kenneth Clark

their minds were SO full OF the good time
they had had there that it was hard to go
to work again. TomaIrs thoughts were
far away. travelling over The stories that
had been told the newsboys at the festival
by a certain great man. who mad stood on
the platform for few minutes before he
hurried off to keep another engagement
where more eager and bright-iaced boys
and girls smiled at the thought OF the inter
esting things he would say. Toinali had
great way OF thinking; had he been born in
Greece some 1000 years ago, his friends
would certainly have marked NM LOT
great philosopher. He didn't realize at
that moment, so hard was he thinking, that
he was industriously polishing the hens
OF his customers trousers until sharp rap
of that customers cane on his ears brought
him to his senses, and to reaiization OF
the fact that he was running his reputation
IN business.
And he certainly felt he had made
dreadful break when the stout man, VINO
had such large feet and who always wore
the same checked trousers asked him what
he used as Il ..polisher.'' for with his
thoughts still on the story he had devoured
so greediiy with both ears at the Christ
mas festival, he answered ''tnyrrh. what
myrrh was he hadn't an idea, but it was an
attractive sort of word and it stuck n his
mind, as well as all the principal features
of the story. Frankincense was another
word the great somebody had used, and
Tomali came to the conclusion alter long
and deep thought that it must be a larger
piece of money than he had ever seen
The huge shoes were at last completely
4. IL
natured. tier Christmas laugh. handed
Tomali u quarter, and said pleasantly:
Keep the change, young man; it i'll come
in handy 10 buy flowers fer your girl on
New Years Day"
Tomali was trifle stunned by this gener-
osity. He had never before had more than
10 cents bestowed upon him, but 1t would
never do to show his surprise. He nodded
his head nonchalantly to the stout man
as he waddlei off, and then turned his back
and put the quarter in his mouth and Dit 1t.
what's dat?" asked swipes, coming up
just then with his unsold papers under
his arm. Gee. Tommy! De ole man give
yer dat? Say, won't we have a gay time!'
Its fer New Years. replied Tonali
slowly. Say. whose burfday is New
Years." he asked suddenly, still think
Ing OF the story tne great somebody uiu
told at the Christmas festival.
"'Tain't nobody's." said Swipes, con-
fidently. IT'S Jest er day wen dere
amt no papers ter sell an nobody doesn't
want DER shoes BACKED. It's er holiday.
Tommy, wen yer goes ter call, jest as de
fat man said, an-an'-an' is er dood.'
Swipes paused out of breath and shifted
his papers to the other arm. while TomaM
looked at him in open-mouthed astonish-
meat at such oratorical powers.
Ii was New Years eve. and while every
one was making ready to render night
hideous with horns and bells and yeils.
Tomaii and Swipes were planning their
campaign for the next day. Neither of
them Lad ever made n cali and conse-
quentIy their plan had to be arranged with
the utmost care. Tomali employed himself
by polishing Swpes' new" shoes; they
had been given him at the Christmas festi-
val, but they were patched and sewed
10 many places where their first owner
had worn them through. Still, they gave
him as much JOY as if they had been made
of Immaculate patent leather; and Tomalfs
skill applied to them brought out their
best qualities. SO that they shone like a
brand new pair. Swipes was proudly
VIEWING MS new Eeu
he showed no perturbation, he was really
very much upset over the way he would
manage to tie it upon the following day
when they should make their call.
One important feature of the occasion
the two boys had entirely overlooked. They
had blackcd their shoes and washed their
hands and faces after n fashion, and laid
out all their treasures for the great event of
the morrow, but they had entirely forgotten
that in order to make call there must be
someone to call upon. This omission didn't
disturb their slunbers al all that night, no
more than did the merry-making OF the
crowds when the New Year came in.
Bright and early the next da v they arrayed
themselves to their great sa tisfaction.
Swipes had on his new shoes and necktie
and Tomlli rejoiceed in warm new cap
and a pair of nIittens. He wasn't used to
wearing shoes, but for this occasion he
brought forth pair tina t had been present ted
to him long while before and they had very
little left of their original texture to show
that they were entitled to the name of
shoes. and with many groans succeeded In
squeezing his feet into them. Then the two
started out, Tomali ia king grea care to place
his quarter which was to be used for flow
ere in Il sarcplace. Thefirst thing TO bed
was to visit the florist. 1t so happened that
tic Christmas cheer had not entirely disar-
peared from the store, or Tomali and Swipcs
might have been rudely ordered out.
Tonali had never before even Thought of
buying flowers. 'Show me some flow
ers.' said he, holding his head high, while
swipes stood in the background. With
twinkling eyes, the clerk pulled forth vases