The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-21
The Boy and His Overcoat
and Boys Who Would Fieht

She remembers, too. how his little anatomy
backs him up in his boyish within by refus-
ing to collapse with pneumonia not so
much as cold all winter has he had
But, Harold
please, mother, don't make me. All the
baby and say I'm afraid of the cold. They
always do when any Of us big boys wears
an OVercoat"
Grandmamma can restrain herself no
longer; she steps up and whispers some
thing in the others ear that causes her to
Il knew he didn't" the mother says.
Now, Harold, see here If | let You go
this time and you get cold will you own
up to it frankly and wear your overcoat
without fretting next time"
Sure, mother-SURE, L will,'' And with
a Owe and halloo TO a passing overcoat-
less boy without, Harold is off to school
The following little incident would. with
out doubt, have delighted the heart of a
certain old fabulist had he been born in
this era and retained his love of the
satrical. IT took place in the evening after
business and school hours just as the
streets were full of homeward-going peo-
pie. An old gentleman with very kindly
lace, prosperous in appearance, was walk
ing thoughtfully down one of the uuieter
residence streets when he came in sight of
an excited little group OF boys at corner.
Having peculiar horror of street fights he
pressed without ceremony in through the
tight ring of stubborn-faced lads and found
i
about fifteen, his opponent being a wiry
little fellow of ten.
The old gentleman's hand dropped heavily
| on the shoulder of the larger lad. For
shame!' he SAID, sternly Aren't you
| ashamed, sir to take advantage of a small
er boy than yourself?"
amt takin' no advantage he said. in sur
! Prise. If you think he's takin' advantage
| look at his eyei"
This remark was greeted by a litter from
| the on-lookers. The eye of the larger boy
was obviously swelling.
| little cOlored boy spoke up at this
point. Say, mistah you'd bettah go on an
and pay no attention. 1t don't pay folkses
| TO get too familiar with other folkses' bust
| ness
That's whatr came in staccato excla-
nations from other points of the crowd
| about.
The kindly-faced old gentleman stiffened.
| In his own Juvenile days the appearance of
a philanthropic old gentleman under sim
| liar circumstances would have caused
prompt and contrite dispersion.
| Whats the trouble, son?'' he asked
"IIe advised YOU not TO mix in didn't
! hep The heavier boy indicated the little
colored hoy; but the smaller participant
sir that boy said / broke his cousins sled
| and never seen her old sled"
At this statement the larger boy prompt
ly passed him the lie in no uncertain
! terms He done it," he said sullenIy. .'be-
| cause Aliens mother said that his mother
| .aCe
| was red and quivering. ''She never said
| any such thing; it was old Mrs Peasey. |
| guess if you must know. that said that
| The old gentleman looked down upon
them thOughtfully. then he thrust his hand
| into his pocket slowly and brought out two
| silver quarters. Boys" he said, 81 want
you to take these and agree to forget all
| about il"
The faces of the two boys broadened into
| surprised smiles. and, reaching out their
| hands simultaneously they possessed them
! selves of the bounty. The old gentleman
| went on his way thoughtfully, but with the
kindly smile still upon his face. for he
| was congratulating himself on having had
| the oil for these troubled waters upon his
| person. Perhaps / shouldn't have done
| it." he murmured 1T really was a bad
! precedent, very bad precedent; still these
boys will so on being boys"
The benign old gentleman's back had not
| well disappeared around the corner when a
great wave of humor seemed to sweep over
the Youngsters of the corner as many
| broad grins being visible there were
! boys faces. The smaller boy shut one eye
| hurriedly two or three times in the midst
! of otherwise very distorted features as he
| slipped his quarter down into the most Sc
! Guided corner of his pocket; then he
| squared himself off his sturdy legs.
| Come on" he said; Just let me show YOU
something else In grips | caught onto out
| at the campus yesterday. Only you want TO
| look out for your head better: that fall you
got on the curling might not have been so
funE--