The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-09
He CAME HOME TO DIE
TRYING TO SAVE MONEY FOR
EDUCATION KILLED HIM.
LIVED IN NEW YORK ON Is CENTS A DAY
His First Savings Went to Pay For Tuition
Ia Bookkeeping, but He Could Not
Get Situation His Home
at Goldsboro,

When Willie Crawford went TO New
York from his home in Goldsbono. y. c..
two yearS ago he was only fifteen years
cid. ayut he was ired by ambition. He
Looked N New York 10 give him Il for
tune,
All ahat ii did give him was death,
and SUNDAY there was genuine mourn
inc in rhe NewsboyS' HOGne, at No. 8
Duane street. where me was best known
and where he WAS the only real favor
ire. sars the New York Journal. His
Efe had been different from that Of any
one oT Those around him, but IN his
rrsae and Self-denial he had gained the
good saH Of all
When he reached New York he had
ayut a slender stock Of money and this
soon disappeared. the JonrI1al goes on 10
gaT. Then he sought a lodging al the
NewShoys' Home. and never afterwlrd
left il. Superintendent Rudolph Helg
took s great interest in the boy on ac-
count of his pluck and brightness and
helped him in his start at making NV
ing By selling newspapers.
From the beginning Willie was thrifty
He denied himself of everything that
was not absolutely essential to keep
life in his body and his daily expenses
seldom amounted to more than % cents.
As soon as he had accumulated 50 he
paid il for a course of tuition IN book
keeping in the school of the Young
Mems Christian Association. He felt
this would help him to advance in the
world. but it brought him only disap-
point1nent When he had become fairly e
expert at bookkeeping he found out there
was no opening for him, and that like
many Others, he might have to wait
years before obtaining a position.
Nothing daunted, he looked around for
something else to do. lie was a student
of conditions and, seeing the creduhty
of many he encountered, he turned his
attention to telling fortunes, although he
was only seventeen years old. The Sa
looms of Park row and the Bowery Were
his favorite resorts. but he would not
ever take a drink of anything intoxi-
eating. He managed to save money
every week, to the great delight of his
newsb0y friends who regarded him with
something like awe and generation.
Two weeks ago he was taken Ill and
could not make his rounds. He grew
worse and finally decided to 20 back
home to North Carolina. Living on y
cents a day he had managed TO save
more than $40, but he had undermined
his health in doing so.
As soon as he reached Goldsboro he
sent to superintendent Heig for his
savings but they arrived too late, for he
was buried the day before the letter
came enclosing money order for $4050
the savings of his short lifetime. Yes
terday Sunday Superintendent Heig
received letter from the boys mother
thanking him for his kindly interest in
the lad. This letter was read TO the
other boys when they were gathered fol
the MONDAY meal. and the scene thai
followed was one that Superintendent
Heig said he never could have imagined
The little fellows sobbed and cried as il
they had lost their only friend on earth
and In their simple, rude way, expressed
their regret for their lost companion.
1t was a tender memorial, such as hat
never been devised before and probabl!
never will be again.