The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-06


~ aGioins the counting room of tn
Daily Journal. I sat in genial converse.
ZION with two friends. I do not now
recall the theme of our discussion. but
the general trend of it-susgested
doubtless. by the busy scene upon III.
streets-I remember most distinctly sa.
vored Of the meilowdng influences OF
the coming holidays, with perhaps an
acr.d tang OF irony as we dwelt upon
the great needs Of the poor at such a
time and the chariness with which
the hand Of Opulence was wont to dole
out aims But for all that we were
merry. and as from time 10 time our
rancas fell upon the eVer-shIfting
scene .uiside. our hearts grew warmer.
and within the eyes the Old dreams
glimm-red into fuller dawn Ii was
during a lull Of conversation. and while
the philauthropic mind. perchance. was
wandering amid the outer throng. and
doubtless quoting TO itself. ''Wheue'er
/ take my walks abroad" that our
privacy was abruptly broken into by
the grimy apparition of a boy of 10: a
ragged little fellOw-not the stereo-
typed edition Of the street waif. 5ut a
cross between the bootblaCk and the
lnfantiue italian with the violin.
Where he had entered. and now. would
have puzzled US To answer: but there
he stood before US. as il were in a
majesty Of insignihcance have never
had the features of a boy impress me
as did his and as l stole a covert
glance at my companions / was pleased
10 find the evidence of more than ordi-
nary interest in their faces They
gazed in attentive silence on the little
head, he stepped boldly forward. vet
for as becoming.
II don't want to bother you gentle
mems" he began, in a frank but hest
tating tone that rippled hurriedly along
as ne marked a general nod of indulg-
ence FOR the interruption. Il don't
want TO bother nobody, but if I can
raise 80 cents-and I've got nickel
and if I can raise the reSt-and il amt
much. you know-on'y 45-and if ! can
raise the rest tell you. gentlemens,
he broke of abruptly, and, speaking
with italicized sincerity want jist
50 cents. cause / can git a blackin' box
fer that, and brush and everything. and
you can bet If I had that / wouldn't
hat to asst nobody fer nothin', And 1
amt got no father. ner mother, ner
brother. neT-ner-nO sisters neither:
but that don't make no difference, cause
III work-at anything-yes, sir--when
can git anything TO do-and | sleep jist
any place-and ! amt had no breakfast
and honest. gentlemens, I'm good
BOY don't swear ner smoke ner chew
but that's all riSht-on'y If you'll
jiSt make up forty-five between you
and that's on'y Is cents apiece-Ill
thank you. will. and I'll jist do any
thing-and it's coming Christmas. and
III roll in the nickels. don't you fergit
IL On'y got box-'cnuse i throw up
a bad shine!-and [ can git the box
fer fifty cents if you gentlemen'n on'y
make up forty-fiSe between you" At
the conclusion of this long and ram
bling appeal, the little fellow stood
waiting with an eager face for a re-
Spouse.
look Of stoical elaboration played
about the features of the Oldest mem
Der Of the broup. as with an air of seri-
BUSINESS which, 1 think, even the boy
recognized as affected. he asked:
And you couldn't get a box like that
foT-say forty cents? Fifty cents looks
like lot Of money to lay out in the
purchase % a backing box
The boy smiled wisely as he an
sWered:
Yes, it might look big to a Teller that
amt up on prices, but 1 think it's
cheap, cause it's a secondhand box,
and new one would cost seventy-five
cents anyhow-'thout no brushes ner
nothin'."
In the meanwhile had dropped into
me little fellows palm the only coin L
had In my possession, and we all laugh
ed as he chOked his thanks with: "Oh.
come. Cap, go the other nickel, er 1
NOTf'r uir a. 10
and AT that he turned to the former
speaker.
Wen, really" said that gentleman,
Iumoling in his pockets. II don't be-
Aeve I've got q dime with me-"
A dime said the little fellow, with
a look Of feigned compassion. Amt got
d dlme? Maybe ia loan you this one!"
And We all laughed again.
Tel you what do now" said the boy
taxing advantage of the moment, and
lookng coaxingly into the smiling eyes
o' the gentleman still fumbling vainly
IN MS pockets-'Tell you what do; you
ooITy twenty cents of the man that
SAYS behind the counter there, and
Then Wen get the other fifteen. and
mat u make it. and I'll skip out o.
mere a little the f1yest boy you ever
zee nat do We sOy?" And the little
.sloW struck at Pat Rooney attitude
ulat would have driven the original in
'entor mad with envy.
1--WE him a quarter" laughed the
Gentleman appealed to.
Ana here's the other dime" and as
we little fellow clutched the money
easeTIy, he turned: and in a tone of
'.I,ouS gravity, he said:
Now. honest, gentlemens, I amt
s-S'''r YOU no game about the box
h1NSF
,iV one I've gOt-T mean the one I'm
@-soin 70 gifts jist as good as a new
we on it's second hand: and I'm
-lucn ooitge'. gentlemens-honest. I am
..' a-a II ever give you a shine you can
'-s. net II don't cost you nothin'!"
nc. -,--I with this expression of his graft
.-4e' The little fellow vanished as mys-
's ITO as he had at first appeared.
Inc boy hasn't a bad face" said the
, -, Slea ker-.'wide between the eyes
s e-- i'rehcad-good mouth, denoting
,s.,.....'Ss- altogether, a good, square
Ana noble one" said I. perhaps
LSFl.ed To that rather lofty assertion
~ me rehcarsal Of the good points
i,. 7l ny my more observant compan-
les, and an honest. straightforward
,ay of talking. I would saw" continued
-. -. gentleman. I only noted one
I'M. ing 70 shake my faith in that par
ss,.-.aF. and that was in his latest ref
luce 20 the box You'n remember his
h--s ne was giving us no game
--1t III, whereas. he had not been ac-
N-Sta Of such a thing"
1H- ne meant about the price, don't
) VI .., femember?' said 1.
co,, w, said the gentleman at the
tb--.le'' you're both wrong. He only