Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-01

there's good fellow"
"All right, my dear" said Uncle
Bert indulgently. Come on, Har-
old. Let's have our walk. You
haven't been out today"
Harold reluctantly put down his
book and emerged from the pillows.
''All right" he said yawning. 'It's
a stupid, gray day, and I've read the
Jungle Book twice in a month"
When he had found his hat and
coat and kissed his delicate little
mother good-by he went out. carefully
closing the door behind him, knowing
that bang would cause her real suf-
fering. Boys with nervous mothers
learn to be thoughtful and unselfish.
Uncle Bert was talking to the
swarthy organ-grinder in some I'M
playing and stood grinning broadly.
AS Harold came out he took up the
handles of his organ and started west
ward at lively pace.
Come on!" said Uncle Bert, lead
ing Harold in the same direction.
Where are we going?" asked Har-
old. Walks with Uucle Bert in town
or country were sure to be interest
ing.
Were going where the hand-organ
will be more welcome" said Uncle
Bert, smiling.
AS they went farther to the west
ward, the houses became shabbier
crossed was lined with smaller and
poorer-looking stores. Most of them
had their wares-dry goods or gro
ceries-exposed on the sidewalks,
with large pricemarks on them. the
stone-paved streets were swarming
with men, women and children-es-
pecially children. There were children
big and children little, children fat
and children tiny, children cry
ing and children laughing, and chill
dren scurrying in and out among the
horses feet, escaping q knock-down
by hairs breath. All Of them were
dirty, and none of them seemed COM
fortably clothed for such cold day.
At the sight of the organ, they all
stopped and swarmed toward it. The
good d-natured Italian was obliged to
grind whether he would or no-though
indeed he seemed very willing. He
began to playa merry tune it was
and you should have seen those chill
dren, Most of them began to dance
There must have been hundred, all
dancing at once, and such dancing!
Some whirled about, some bobbed up
and down, others jerked forward and
backward and still others merrlly
skipped back and forth in time to the
music. A few girls danced demurely
in couples, with as much grace as
court ladies', but most Of them footed
it alone, their hands on their hips,
their chins in the air and their hair
floating out behind.
Isn't it fine?" said Harold. Its
lots nicer than dancing school,"
A very ragged little boy stood by
Uncle Bert He had on a mans coat
which had faded from black to dull
green, and hung in tatters. His trou-
sers were terribly torn and his legs
were bare, but on his feet were pair
of much-worn shoes, several sizes too
large and laced with common brown
wrapping cord.
He was very dark and his face was
narrow and pinched, but his eyes
were twinkling with humor. 81 never
saw anybody so thin" thought Har-
old. Just then the music stopped,
and one of the children called: Come
on, Ragsey."
Jaw, yes! Come on, Ragsey,"
yelled the crowd. "Ragsey, Ragsey,
Ragsey!"
The face of the boy by Uncle Bert's
side never changed. Solemnly he
stepped out into the open space the
children had cleared for him on the
sidewalk The organ-grinder changed
the tune. 1t was queer wild music,
evidently a dance, but Harold had
never heard it before.
Ragsey put his thin, grimy hands
on his hips and began to dance slow
ly at first and then faster, shuff1ing on
the ground with his clumsy shoes;
then bounding into the air with
strange cry, he started off with won
derful lightness on new dance all
his own. He was so absorbed as he
went on that he forgot the street and
his audience. He was unconscious
even of the strangers. apparently
knowing only his own feet and that
he must go on as long as the music
continued
The children at first had encour-
aged him by clapping, beating time
with their feet, and with cries of go
it, Ragsey! Keep her up, Ragsey!"
and the like. Now all were silent,
fascinated by the dancer.
by Jove," whispered Uncle Bert,
"that boys an artist"
Suddenly the music came to a stop,
and the organ-grinder took up his
handles and truniled his instrument
away, through what appeared to be a
solid mass of children, all shrilly pro-
testing and urging him to stay. Sew
eral pennies had been thrown from
nppor windouc whera frowcv moth.