The sun., 1902-12-21
WHEN LITHER CAME TO TOWN.
4 Tale Of Four d,rntur0us New HamI,-
shire boys In q Wicked city.

boy with a big ID from New Hampshire
and wicked cabman. II is many years
ago since the boy was little, but he is Lit
lie yet; If the wickedness of the cabman
has increased a. has the wisdom and Use
fulness of the boy, he probably is beyond
the reach of Mr.. Jerome, laboring behind
bars, or possibly, stoking Unsuitable fur
naces with Goals Of sulphur. regardless
OF the eight-hou law or the prevailing
rate of wages.
In the summer of 1870 four boys in New
Hampshire who had read the newspapers
resolved to crafty the curiosity aroused
in them by the publicity given to the Inter-
national Centennial Exposition at Philadel-
phia. They pooled their interests and their
purses and determined to see the show.
None of these boys was large. Two
of them were little-or Littles-Little BROTH
ers. None Of them had seen any town
bigger than Boston Like most other
boys they had read many books of down.
right fiction and some newspapers of more
or less upright fiction. One of them,
nevertheless, has since become New Hamp-
shires Secretary of State-holds the Job
to-day, in fact.
The literature assmilated by these young
tions with fear. They had become pretty
thoroughly convinced, before they ventured
out of Concord and far from the shadow
OF Frank Pierce's statue, that to reach
Philadelphia they would incur many risks
IN attempting to get through New York
city without parting with their moral and
material assets, But being New Hamp-
shire born they were tolerab!y courageous
boys.
The excursion tickets of the four advent
urers required that they should reach
New York 10y the Fall River Line Leaving
Concord early in the morning and enjoying
part OF the day in Boston, with which they
We're not unacquainted, they began to
reailze common concern about the future
soon after their steamer had begun her
trip down the Sound. A long and solemn
council was held i'm an obscure corner of
the main deck and all conceivable contin-
gencies suggested by diligent study of
the perils OF New York were Considered
Many possible traps for the unwary were
talked over, and joint action to avoid them
was agreed upon. The boy who has since
become Secretary of State, and who ap-
pears to have been, OF the four, the most
keenly alive TO the dangers Of the great
and unknown city, had come prepared for
the worst that might happen, for he had
stuffed into his trousers pocketa .22-calibre
pistol, weapon he had found to be always
alarming and sometimes fatal to chip
munks.
1t was soon after sun-up next morning
that the four set foot for the first time
upon Manhattan. In the obscurity of the
shed OF the Fall River pier they held last
consultation. But the problem Of how to
get to the Pennsylvania ferry without
revealing their Nnewness" was still unsolyed
when they emerged. to try their fortunes
upon perilous West street They hadn't
an idea about where the Pennsylvania ferry
was, and they had considered the danger
of asking to he directed. That revelation
of ignorance, they were sure, might undo
them.
Something in their manner and perha DIS
reference to his own business experience
directed to them the attention of a man of
rubit und countenance who stood sQuarely
in, their way and startled them with the
saluton;
Hello. b'ys: whare yer goinpp"
The Little boys and the other little BOYS
looked at the man and al each other. Across
four suspicious faces flashed the convc-
non that i was none of the business of
this man with the red face TO know where
four boys from New Hampshire were going
This was the very man they had dreaded
to meet the monster lying in wait for un-
sophisticated victims.
To be sure, though the voice was not
unfriendly, and the greeting had cheer
ful sound The spokesman for the bows
ventured to answer, when the question
was repeated that they were going to
Philadelphia.
-oh! that's is. Go, yer tickets' Let's
see EN-"
He held out his hand. The boys knew
they ought TO have known better. but some
thing like authority in the manner of the
ruddy man with a badge upon his dusty
breast led them with one accord to fish
into their clothes for their tickets, which
the man carefully collected and read
"Them's all right" he declared, after
the fourth ticket had been passed over
to him. Now you b'ys get right into this
carriage and III take you to yer ferry"
The four boys, although green, knew
that II cost money to ride in New York
cabs.
How far is it to the ferry?" asked the
biggest boy.
aOh, long way of You'd never get
yer train If didn't drive you there in
hurry"
How much does it COST" was the next
tremulous inquiry.
- -Aw nuttin much, IN take yer cheap
They did not get in. They knew now
that this was an attempt at robbery. Yet
they had scarcely left their boat. had not
vet landed on the first sidewalk Of the
wicked metropolis What must this town
be deeper in?
A dollar was a hundred cents to each of
these boys, vet here in broad daylight this
villain was rolling their tickets into wad
and stuiilng them into his vest pocket as
ne shooeu the owners oil them toward
nearby hack.
Imminent financial ruin made all desper-
ate. The future Secretary of State, con-
vinced that the moment for action had
come, reached around for his chipmunk
pistol and asked. in terrible whisper.
SHALL shoot?"
1t was a critical moment. II for ten Sec
onds had been delayed the appearance of
policeman, a bold and piratcal cabman
might have died IA sometimes the chip
munk dieth. But the policeman did appear
and the big Little boy appealed to him.
Over the brow of the guardian of the
peace, IA the New Hampshire boy told of |
the appropriation OF the tickets, the de- ]
mand to be carriage-ridden and the pro-
posed two-dollar charge, stole a frown Of
deep and portentous scori. Said he TO
the cabman:
saw, Mike, wot dyer manc, coddin' desc
boys' Give 'em dere tickets ] oughter !
run yer in" |
Said he to the four boys, al they took
back the roll Of tickets, dug from a very
dusty vest pocket;
Now youse b'ys g'wan, Just walk down
I rec blocks and dere's yer ferry"
When one Little boy tells this story he
wonders II there il Just such another wicked
cabman left In this city looking for new
boys from Concord. The recollection Of
his adventure puts conscience into his |
editorship Of the educational budge, he
sends out through the State. Since that
first visit To New York In Auuust 1874