Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-10
TALE OF FOUR BOYS.

ago since Tie boy was little, but he Is Lat
tie yet; II the wIckeGness If the cabnan
has increased as has the wisdom and use
tulness AZ the boy, he probably is beyond
help, laboring behind bars, or, possibly,
stocking Unsuitable furnaces with Goals OF
sulphur, regardless Of the eight-hour law
or the prevailing rate OF wages.
In the Simmer Of 1876 four boys in New
Hampshire wac had read tue newspapers
resolved to crafty the curiosity aroused
in them by the publicity given TO the In
ternational Centennial exposition at Phil
adelphia. 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 iiteles - Little
brothers. None Of them had seen any town
bigger than Boston. Like most other boys
they had read many toaks Of downright
fiction, and some newspapers Of more or
less upright fiction. One Of them, neverthe-
less, mas since become New Hampshire's
secretary Of state-holds the Job to-day,
in fact.
The literature assimlated by these young
Americans somehow inspired their magma
tions with fear. They had become pretty
thoroughly convinced, before they yentured
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 tolefably courageous
boys.
The excursion tickets Of the four advent
urers required that they should reach
New York by 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
realize a common concern about the future
soon after their steamer had begun her
trip down the sound. A long and solemn
council was held in 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 APP
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 be had
stuffed into his trousers pocket a .22-ealiber
pistol, a 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 a last
consultation. But the problem of how to
get to the Pennsylvania ferry without
revealing their "newness" was still unsoived
when they emerged to try their fortunes
upon p~erilous West street. They hadn't
an idea about where the Pennsylvania ferry
was, and they had considered the danger
of asking to be directed. That revelation
of ignorance, they were sure, might undo
them.
Something in their manner and perhaps
a reference to his own business experience
directed to them the attention Of a man Of
rubicund countenance who stood squarely
in their way and startled them with the
salutation.
Hello, b'ys; where yer going?"
The Little boys and the other little boys
looked at the man and at each other. Across
four suspicious faces flashed the convic-
ton that it was hone Of the business OF
this man with the red face to know where
four boys from New Hampshire were go-
ing. This was the very man they had
dreaded to meet, the monster lying in wait
for unsophisticated victims.
To be sure, though, the voice was not
unfriendly, and the greeting had a cheer
full sound. The spokesman for the boys
ventured to answer, when the question
was repeated, that they were going TO
Philadelphia.
"oh! that's it. Got yer tickets? Let's
see EN-"
''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 I'll take you to yer ferry
The four boys, although green, knew
that it cost money to ride in New York
cabs.
How far is ii to the ferry?" asked the
biggest boy.
"oh! a long way off. You'd never get
yer train if didn't drive you there i'll a
hurry"
How much does it cost?7 was the next
tremulous inquiry.
'Aw! nutin much. III take yer cheap.
Two dollars apiece. Get right in"
They did not get in. They knew now
that this was an attempt at robbery. Yet
they had scarcely left their boat, had not
yet 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, yet here in broad daylight this
villain was rolling their tickets into a wad
and %stufiing them into his vest pocket as
he "shooed" the owners of them toward a
nearby hack.
Imminent financial ruin made all desper-
ate. The future secretary Of state, con-
WINGED that the moment for action had
come, reached around for his chipmunk
pistol, and asked, in a terrible whisper:
shall l shoot?"
1t was a critical moment. If for ten Sec
ands had been delayed the appearance OF
a policeman, a bold and p~iratieal cabman
might have died as sometimes tine chip
munk dieth. But the policeman did appear
ana the big Little boy appealed to him.
Over the brow Of the guardian Of the
peace, as the New Hampshire boy told Of