Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-02

lake the silver dollar, ne was ono VI
many. The paper had advertised for a
boy-"a good. honest boy, willing TO
work. and between the ages Of 10 and IL,
and. as all boys are good, honest and
willing to work, tho name Of the respon-
dents was legion. They surged into the
ofice Ike a swarm OF bees one rainy day
and took the place by storm. There were
rcd-headed boys and white-headed boys
Eat boys and lean boys freckled-faced
urchins end urohins without freckles,
YOUNGSTERS with written endorsements
from former bosses, and youngsters with
Recommendations from Sunday-school
teachers (the latter class all died in early
YOUTH. ganiins and street Arabs-in fact,
every specimen OF lad that ever wrigged
holes I'm knickerbocker pants or kicked
the soles from stout leather shoes.
He was the last to arrive. but he took
hts place among the applicants with con-
hdence. None knew whence he came or
whittier he would so when the bright
particular star was chosen. All strug-
gled and wriggled for first place In the
line awaiting examination. and, though
tardy In arriving. he forged his position
20 the front with dirty little fists he
carved his way through the mass OF pue-
rile humanity. and won first place.
There was vacancy In the great news
paper-publishiug establishment The OF
fee of printers devii' was open TO appl-
cants. and the great corporation, re-
splendent with its bounteous dividends,
offered the princely sum Of s. per month
10 the boy who would barter his youth
50 week TO the youngster who would
lose the sunshine OF childhood In the
gloomy room above
He was given the place over all COM
petitors His pluck and push had won
and the defeated candidates for office
withdrew like a stampede OF colts. Inc
urchins whose faces had been shined by
maternal hands shed scalding tears Of
disappointment, while the youngsters with
polished boots regretted their labors lost.
Perhaps all breathed sigh Of relief, for,
though the remuneration looked great,
the prospects Of the situation were for
bidding.
He showed no surprise at his selection,
and stolcally climbed the steps-hye
wearying fights-that led to the dark
composing-room.
"Call me Mickey" he said. by way Of
introducing himself TO the foreman. Il
'ain't got no other name, and Mikey'n 90
anyhow" And Mickey he was called
leastwise Mickey when he wasn't ad-
dressed as "Cub" and kid" and Devil
and when the vocatlve case wasn't dis
pensed with altogether, and the shoe-soie
used as a means Of attracting his at
tention.
He took of his little coat and buried
himself In the aerial catacombs-in the
dreary room where cobwebs blended win
shadow and dust made darkness out OF
light As the days wore on and weeks
turned 10 months his features almost got
20 be the color % his surroundings, ana
his very face became dusty. Dirt be-
grimcd his shirt-sleeyes--or rather the
ragged arm-holes that were dignihed by
that name-ink blsckened his hands and
smut obscured the brightness of his ply
sioenomy. Some one said even then that
he had made his mark in life; and truly
he had-nay, many marks. for everything
grew back beneath his touch. He left
his trail behind him, and that trail was
dirt. II any one had taken sufficient IN
terest I'm him. two pretty blue eyes might
have been discovered beneath the coating
that hid his face; but alas, he was Only
the printers devil-not despised, It's true,
but altogether too Insignificant Tor nouce.
BY some means-Heaven only knows
how-he had learned TO read and write,
and SO, with this basis. he possessed the
necessary qualifications for the remune-
rative Office which he filled. In few weeks
he broadened his store Of knowledge by
acouainting himself with everything per-
tanning TO his surroundings. He knew
the place and use for every type; ne
understood the cases; he could roll on
salley-proofs with lightning speed, and at
sweeping the floors he was far ahead OF
his predecessors in Office. Furthermore.
he could swear--swear like trooper
His vocabulary OF billingsgate was as
copious as the equinoctial rains, ana
every day brought new editions 10 X.
But what more appropriate method couia
he have adopted for responding TO the
saIntations he recelved2 Every greeting
came in the form Of kick, and they
were given with such force that only tne
mort emphatic answers were appropriate.
Rfikey had his pleasures In life. but they
were few and Inexpensive. he loVsu
s.snipes"-not the toothsome oirds-on'
no-but the cigar and cigarette-stumps
which his companions tossed aside. and
which he chose TO designate by this en-
ftcine name But best of al he liked his
Waits TO the reporters rooms, where ne
was detailed 10 20 when copy was
scarce and Il was necessary 20 have the
manuscript hurried to the composing
room. In the busy, srnoke-scented Den OF
tf,a scribes his soul-if he had one-lalry
revciled, and the reporters, TO his eyes,
were the most important OF all earthiy
beinxs The hard-worlxing pencil-pushefs
heztovved but little attention upon him,
and. as far as the devil was concerned,
the COW that supplied their milk OF human
klndnass appeared to have completely
run dry. But he asked not Kindness. ana
noticed not It's absence. In fact. Its ap-
pearanco would have stunned him, ana
S,s Imagination could picture no form for
human charity 70 take unless II presented
itself In the shape OF a soft KICK.
TO Mikey's eyes the god OF the whole
eetabllshment was the sporting editor
the man who told Of baseball In laby-
rihfhfne mazes OF slang. the man who
touched shoulders with the pugilists and
che man who saw the race-horses dash
n,adly under the wire on the home
stretch. This reportorial divinity. adored
nv Mickey. and honored by the vulgar
masses. was a sober little man. whose
lifc had always been precisely the oppo-
site OF what his writings indicated. He
never smoked; history recorded no IN
stance where he had ever taken
drink. and. most wonderful OF all.
none could recall an occasion where
reverses Of circumstances had caused
him 20 swear. Once. at his desk,
he was al energy, perseverance, ana
nuxh Day by day and month by
month Mickey had. watched HIS
idol. but only once had the divinity
raised his eyes OF even glanced at the
dirty rttie figure beside him. On this
occasion the hard-working writer had
turned suddenly upon his silent admirer
ana carelessly asked. In a kindly tone,
"aIikey wouldn't you like to go over
10 the baseball park with me 10 .day?"
IS II the question wasn't absurd as II
ne small boys heart didn't leap with