The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-07-24
JUST ONE BOYS WAY
rne DRAMA THAT WAS ENACTED ON
A STREET CAR.

EminentIy Satisfactory to the Per-
sistent Youngster.
When this small boy on the Ninth
street car went into his ling after
his car fare, the other passengers be-
trayed little or no interest In him. He F.
was an ordinary, snub nosed, frecklc
faced boy of nine or ten, and 1t seemed
pretty safe to assume that he had the
nickel necessary for ride or he would
not have swung aboard, and so the
passengers paid little or no attention to
him. The men, as usual, occupied
themselves in pretending that they
weren't looking at all at the good look
ing women in the opposite seats, and
the women, also as usual, endeavored
TO convey the impression that they
didn't know there was such creature
as man within a hundred miles Of
them.
But when this small boy began to
have his troubles all hands got to look
ing him over. Everybody, it would ap-
near. likes to see n small boy In trouble
anyhow.
The boy plowed around in the lining
Of the right hand pocket of his shabby
little overcoat, screwing himself into
many possible attitudes as he stood
and wriggled In the aisle, and finally,
nfter terrific exerton, he brought forth
a penny, half buried in lot of woolly
stuff from the coat. Then he turned
his attention to the lining of the left
hand pocket of his overcoat. After al-
most superhuman difficulties, In the
process of which 1t looked as IL the boy
might get himself wrapped around an
invisible axis several times In such
manner that he could never get right
again. he produced another penny, also
plentifully wadded in woolen lint be-
longing to the overcoat.
A couple of elderly men who were
reading papers side by side at the end
of the car began to get nervous. They
pushed back their spectacles and stud
led the boys movements anxiously.
''Fare, there, sonw said the conduct
or.
The boy gazed reproachfully at the
conductor, stuck the two found pennies
In his mouth and continued his weird
exertons to assemble his fare.
He unbuttoned his overcoat by the
simple process Of giving 1t yank from
bottom to top, and then he dug into
the right hand pocket of his jacket.
That pocket too. seemed to be lining
less, and the boy had to grope through
1t like q cat clawing for the exit or
bag. At length he got to the end or 1t,
and an expression of acute relief cross
ed his freckled features. The hand was
wedged in so tightly that he had about
as much trouble in getting 1t out as he
had had in getting it In, but 1t clutched
another cent when it finally made Its
appearance. This went into his mouth
to join the other two. At this point the
two elderly men coughed violently and
scowled at the boy as If to say thai
they wished the internal business were
done with, but the others who were
watching the boys moves looked sym
pathetic.
The boy next began laborious ex
ploration of his right hand knicker
booker pocket, from which he pro
duced and bestowed in his overcoa
pocket many articles peculiar to boys
marbles, a piece of wax, rusty look
ing knife, two or three printed cellu
lold buttons, and so on-and at th'
very bottom of this salvage was ye
another penny. All the other passen
gers except the two elderly mel
breathed sighs of relief, but they want
ed to read their papers, and yet the.
couldn't while this boy was engaged II
his eventful search, with the chance
about even whether he'd win out
not
Fare now there. kid!' said the con
ductor, once more tackling the boy
The boy handed him the four pennie
from his mouth after very politely rut
bing them off on his overcoat sleeve
and he said, with very boyish grin:
81 got the other one somewheres
Wait a minute, mister"
Then the boy gazed up at the ceilin
of the car and studied for moment
N while the other passengers except tn
two elderly men. who looked ferociou'
rooted for him with all their might.
The boy felt tentatively at his LEI
hand knickerbockers pocket, but 1t wa
plain to see that he knew that was
60. For about half minute he locke
worried. and the sympathetic passeI
a gers worried along with him. as coul
HI be seen by the tense expression
M their faces as they regarded ever
M movement Of the boy with straine'
MA almost feverish attention. Then IL
f# boy reached into a back pocket of h
}N knickerbockers, brought forth one I
MI those cellulold travelling soap boxe
j somewhat battered, took off the IL
S and there. buried in lot Of junk. W,
M the other cent.
MI The sigh Of relief that ran arour
E4k that car was distinctly audible. III
k4 sympathetic passengers, men and W
E men. settled themselves back In the
5~ seats and smiled at the boy, and two
MIN three of them looked as If they wantt
|# to jump up and suggest cheers. III
X# two elderly men coughed violent
MI again, readjusted their spectacles al
2M began again on their newspapers.