The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-01-06

Il
Her signing still to think her son
So little real success had won.
But when 1t came to Christmas day
She nearly tainted dead away
YES, nearly tainted, bless you. though,
Twas Joy thut did it. Through the snow
I'd tramped the night before and brought
A heap of things that had bought
And handed her besides pile
OF we'll earned money. Then the smile
And kiss she gave me and tho way
She asked forgiveness for the day
| She'd scoffcd Mt presses-well, twas COCO |
|. As if for congress had stood
| And won. Thank God, she's With mo yes, |
| And still we treasure up the Pot
Broad grins were on the faces there
About the stove. Not one but knew
The pressman's really modest nir
Concerning MI that he could do,
And what success he'd made, and how
| He'd share his every cent But now
| They turned around to hear the tale
The old reporter Ind to tell,
For well they knew it could not faA
OF interest. Awhile he fell
To mrsing ere he spoke and thon
Addressed tho all expcctant men.
"The first that remember
Was sent upon the street to try
To Ectldle papers, he began.
Unlike our foreman friend, who ran
Away from big New York, l sta!d,
l guess because felt afraid
To leave the place or didn't know
| u,l..o olco ~, Garth TINT cONl0 20
had brother then. Poor lad!
His weakened form was pinched and sad,
And rare it was for him to see
Beyond our street Of poverty.
"Thc home from which daily went
A basement IN o tenement
Was not SO happy, gay nor clean
Az some that since that time I've seen,
Ard sle-my fathers second wife
When no was gone, made city life
Not wonderfully dear and bright
know when I'd return at night
With pockets all but empty she
- Would say some forceful things to me
With either hand; but, bless your soul.
I mustn't weave tale OF dole.
"But then It's hardly more than fair
To cav NV brother died The air
And food were none too good, you KNOW,
And maybe he was glad to go.
You'd think 1t might have meant one lei
To feed, but greater was the stress
OF labor put on me, for then
The woman said she'd lost him when
He'd soon have been Of use, and
Would have to earn his share. A sigh
Used oft escape me then, but dny
Was dawning In another way.
"You see, the scramble made me strong
And active. All the summer long,
And part Of winter, too, my feet
And legs were bare as ON the street
ran and scampered round to yell
Lha The 'extry evenin papers Well,
'A' NV calves got very plump and round
And most delightfully."- were Drowned,
While on my saucy face the glow
OF health made quite pleasing SHOW
You see, don't conceal today
That once had q comely way.
, -
! : !. + 6 8 !.
! :! J !
cat last an artist clapped his eyes
Upon me, saying. Just the size,
And picturesque He then approdoh'
!, Me shyly. and his scheme was broache
- felt suspicious at the start,
But later felt uncommon smart
To think Of earning in day
About the whole of one weeks pay
At peddling papers; so went
To pose for him, for he was bent
On making me model
Was pleased enough to let him try.
''We got along first rate, and he
Was often very Kind to me-
= And maybe had then been clean
;" He really might some time have seen
NV truer self At last he thought
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