The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-08-05

US Poy W. aoNs "h"o "No "Ni u |
anyway"
The coin was back In my purse be-
fore he had finished, and feeling de-
,idedIy at a disadvantage, only mur-
"You tell your mother she
has a son to be proud Of" and faced
about.
But after going few rods, I looked
back, for Il parting glimpse Of the boy,
50 different from boys in general, and
to my surprise found him walking at
a respectful distance behind me. l
was touched at this, too. A boy hav.
ing too much self-respect to take my
and yet feeling that he would
be out place by my side, was a novelty
well worth cultivating; SO gladly
halting, l said
GAS you seem to be walking my
way, l would like your company. /
am stranger in the city and | am
sure you can point cut tn me much OF
interests"
He looked proud and pleased to
think it was in his power to do me
another favor, and made haste to keep
step with me, saying:
" I'd sold my papers off, n now I'm
goln' home. This isn't my way gener.
ally, but it's as nigh as any"
The boy, like most boys OF his class,
was old beyond his years, and to asur.
prising degree, showed himself famil.
lar with all points OF interest, as we
passed up one street and down anoth-
er. But after a while my interest in
stately buildings and tall spires de
creased, while l felt a:growng inter
est in the prince Of boys at my side.
His persistent refusal to take pay
for the favor done me, showed that he
had been carefully taught as to right
and wrong, and besides, his language
was fairly good, and wholly devoid OF
slang, so common to boys who spend
much of the time on the streets; and
wanting to know the why of it all,
turned the subject from sights to per-
sonalty, saying:
"Tcl me something OF yourself,
won't you? for | suspect that you have
home worth going to, or you would
not leave the street at this carly hour,
even if your papers were sold out"
"Oh, 60 home quick as ever / sell
my papers, every day for I'm the
only man about the place, m there's
so much for me do"
lie said it with a touch of pride,
which raised him another notch in my
estimation, and then, lowering his
voice, said:
81 haven't any father, like some OF
the boys he died when l was little
boy (dear child !! a man at heart, and
half-grown boy in stature), but l
have got the best mother in the city,
if | do say it She is a real lady, too
Il don't mean the sealskin sack kind,
but not one Of the lOw.dOwn sort, like
some of the fellows has, not a bit of
itw
IL believe you," said 1, heartily,
"her son gives evidence of that"
He looked up quickly, as II my
meaning was not quite clear, then
continued:
"We're poor, m ma has to take in
sewin' to help out, cause I'm the only
grown-up one; but l go m get the
work for her m carry IL back, m isn't
| it fine! I've learned to run'the sew
ing machine That saves ma lots
for she's a little mite of a woman, N
it gives her a pain In her side, II she
runs it much.
"The works heavy, you see," con-
tinued he, after pausing for possible
remarks, "pants m and such like
from Il clothing store. But it's jus,
fun for me to run up long seams! 81
| l hustle m sell my papers m then
skip home m sew, willie ma bastes.
tell you | make the machine fly! MI
says a girl wouldn't help her more :
"Well, we'll !" exclaimed l In genu
inc admiration, "you are boy wortl
havingw
| At which the boy "worth having
looked almost as surprised as when
urged money upon him; as much a
to says, How could l be any othe
sort Of a boy?" but as II he had no
needed my remark, lie said, with
toss Of his head:
II tell ma when get a little oldel
III keep her as lady ~ will, too
for she's the best mother boy eve
hadw
Just here, greatly to my surpris
: and disappointment, he lifted his Cal
saying: "Thank you for the mic
. visit we've had, lady, but this where
turn"
/ Here he started of with a bound.
; called him to come back, but snak'"
D his head he again touched MS cay
, and was lost to view. ! feel sure tna
. the bright boy feared that another ~ ~
D tcmpt might be made to pay him 10
tic service done me, and SO he planne'
70 take abrupt leave. And my oppoE
n tunity to return the kindness wa
gone forever, as l left the. city til
next day.
l never saw him again, face to fac'
hut he still lives In my memory, as