The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-11-26

NEAANHAf NNAf - 'AF sAttRHnfFAh
Ragsy Red bestowed q rather plying
smile Of patronage upon his small com
panlon. IT'S de day dc president gives
do big mugs 10 be thankful fer turkey
and small bots" he said.
And where does wcse come inT'
Phil persisted. looking down at his
rags. and shrinking closer 10 the wall
at the touch OF breeze more than
usually keen.
"wese don't" said Ragsy Red, SEN
tentlously. "De president don't make
no prOcI Lmations fer people wild beer
incomes. Youse aint got nothln' to be
thankful fer"
Ragsy Red darted out at passing
car his bundle Of evening papers held
tightly under hls arms. crying his
wares Little Phil. Bhlvering In the keen
wind and the skurry Of rain. could not
yet make up his mind to the plunge.
II was cold where he was-so cold the
actual physical pain OF II brought tears
10 his eyes. but the street was colder.
II had been a hard day. and his papers
were unEoid. The few people in the
streets. hurrying homeward to warmth
and light and generous fare Of the sea-
son, gave no thought 10 the little fig
ure Bhivsrlng In the alley. Men who
walk the streets Of cities are hardened
against their miseries. One foriorn lit
tie figure more or less makes no i'm
preston. And who wanted to read
news or buy newspapers on Thanks.
giving? II was a day 10 shut out the
world. to bow down before the lares
and penates In thanks for the good
things the world can bestow. OF such
as this ls human nature.
Little Phil had been given TO nobody,
as blessing or curse. He could not
remember ever having a kind word
spoken TO him by man or woman He
was a waif. and he fought his own way
In the human stream. The current bore
him on. OF course. II bears us all on,
little and great alike. He managed.
small as he was. 10 keep his head
above water. But he could see no pos
slble good 20 come Of holidays in win
ter. when shops were closed up and
the street crowds grew thin and there
was no sale for papers. What right
had the president 10 come between him
and his livelihood? Who was the presi-
dent. anyway. that his word could stag
nate a world. Little Phil wished that
he might be president He would GER
tainly see to II that TO boy went to bed
with an empty belly.
Little Phil unused for a time limited
by TIE marrow grasp Of his mental pro-
ccsses. Then the wind and the rain,
striking his naked skin through wide
rents in his garments. awakened him
once more TO the sense OF personal dis
comfort. After the manner OF the self
supporting. going out TO lieet hostility.
he edFed closer TO the entrance OF the
alley, The wind. sweeping the rain
before IL. cut his face and neck and
arms like the touch Of river OF ice.
He shivered as naked lad shivers
on the brink OF a pool. feeling the
water with his toe. Then. bending his
head to take the rain on the thatch of
hair sticking through half dozen
holes In the crown Of his hat. he
plunged out into the gathering darkness
almost into the arms of pedestrian
plodding sturdily along in the opposite
direction. who paused at the shock,
crying "Hellor
"Polper. sir" said little Phil not a
whit dazed. "All about Tanksgivin'."
The man. a great. burly fellow. In a
pilot overcoat. held the boy by the
shoulder after the collision, and he now
lifted him up so as to bring the lads
eyes to a level with his own. Little
Phil wished he had been as big and
strong as that
NO" he said, II do not want pa
per. have nothing to be thankful for. y
There was merry twinkle in his
eye as he said that. like the sparkling
OF the sea in the sun. which seemed to
carry to little Phil's mind the idea
that this man had much to be thankful
for II manifest ability to conquer the
world counted for anything.
IF was as big as you, mister he
said, "Td eat turkey and drink small
bots stead Of jimmyin' round in de
cold an wet"
"oh, you would" said the large man,
suddenly setting little Phil on his feet,
but keeping fast hold of his should
ers.
You bet"
The big man looked long and steadily
into the eyes Of the waif in front of
him. Seven years of struggle in the
streets had not given little Phil the
faculty of shirEing the gaze of man.
The small blue eyes returned without
flinching the gaze of the kindly brown
ones.
And will you not" the big man said
at last, have turkey and-and a small
bottle Cor your dinner too?'
mot on yer life, boss, I'll be in luck
to have coffee and sinkers, will" indl-
eating his impecuniosity by large
gesture. taking the street his unsold
papers, the whole mundane situation.
The man hailed passing car. "You
come with me-" he said to the boy,
and little Phil went. The waif of the
street is quick In meeting the situations
of life as they arise. He must be If
he would keep from under the wheels
OF trolley cars. A lad of home growth,
eight years, old. would have shrunk,
and naturally, from contact with this
stranger. Little Phil. man in all but
years and almost more than a man in
his knowledge OF life. accepted the
comradeship as precisely the most nat
ural thing in the world. If the boy Of