Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-03

Pretty Lady Gives Ten Is Of Cent
stamps TO n BoOtblack.

stamps TO DoOtblack.
one morning not long ago, the business
men who live uptown noticed on their
way down Main street two glittering arm
chairs I'm the vestibule OF the Habliston
building. at Seventh and Main streets
said chairs stretching out their gilded
arms in invitation 10 all passers-by 10
come and sit I'm them and have their shoes
shined
Doubtless number OF people have
taken advantage OF this golden opportu-
nifty to give their shoes an unusual treat
and the promoters Of the shining scheme
have IN consequence, done thriving
business.
The chairs have been in charge Of Afro
Americans. as dark as the children OF the
African home land and as polite as the
up-to-date American. These specimens
NJ the genus homo have In the course OF
their business been compelled TO lay their
.ood manners at the feet OF masculine
customers. with never once the chance to
,rv their skill at making bright and even
more dainty and beautiful the tiny boot
OF a lady until few days ago.
4 lady appeared like a beautiful vision.
She wanted her boots polished. she said
and the bigger Of the two custodians or
he chairs declared he was the tumble
sarvant" she was looking for. The other
hoy would have liked to shine those
dainty shoes. too. but he held his peace
for he knew If he didn't he would get a
beating after the lady left that he would
/ rot forget for weeks 10 come So ne wise
| ~ said nothing only looked sad and hun
| ery-lilte. while the other darky's brush
was flying along the lady's shoes. leaving
trail OF brightness after each stroke
q y 10 hon
| four pairs Of mems shoes could have been
/ shined the shoes were both polished nice
| W. and the lady customer was diving into
| her purse for the change. Presently she
pulled out a handful Of stamps. but not
/ coin. Well" she said. 81 am sorry, but
/ | have no small money at all to pay you
with"
Her face was study and then II
frightened. you might take these
stamps. there are ten Of them"
"Sartainly. Miss" grinned the darby,
and he held out his hat for them. She
dumped them in. Now he was almost
rich tho ignorant bootblack thought
/ Here were ten 2-cent stamps-that is .
! cents-for one shine. j. was true they
were queer-lookins stamps but he
! thought the government was always
changing the color Of them. soon there
was rustic of a dress. and the angel OF
! light and vision Of loveliness was gone
| The next instant. with a whoop Of tri-
umph at the other darby. Bootblack No
ran across the street 90 the drugstore
to get his stamps cashed. The druggist
took them, examined them closely, and
then said something which opened ar
earthquake al the very feet of the expect
ant darby. The stamps We're special rev
/ enue ones. TO put on packages Of medi
cine worth > cents. and were each wortf
| one-eighth Of "a cent; or. the whole lo
was worth ! ii cents. The drugman SAID
he would give him / cent for the LOT. Tn,
darky held out his hand but his lips saiC
nothing and they haven't said anything
/ about shining the pretty ladys' shoes
since When his partner mentions he
and wants him to divy, he is suddenly in
terested in something way down Mair
street and doesn't hear.