The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-06-16
c,sss raAssEo amAr,os.

fas atlidings little boz rem?ea Aha pay
ID. A pretty picture be made. with hn
bright little face snd bare feet, ~ se bob
bad here sns there ard scampefsd shout
With all ihs freedom Of the woods or beach
lie had suo~n no other playground than
lhesc mats cf trade, ard he hpmned cor.
ten,edly ~ be pfew his TO horse along OF
bout ced bis b n oa the sers Of the s'osk
kxehsnge.
Jesson Gibbs wsss sltrn old capitalist.
He had l9rneyed 10 the city vi b the ot-
l.c. OF sIesling cerl,ii enterprises With
which be was conr,c,ed, aul bad taken
an elise 10 the tu,y qasrter where the boy
wss wont 10 PLAY He was msa who no.
tied things, ard The sight of a small boy
remplng in q spot assigned TO commerce
dts,urbed hls sense of lsnes. Who was
tie bo,y WHY was this siloscds Thote
questioned did not know, They guessed
be wss all right, lived 10 the neighborhood,
no doubt. lie always played around and
never bothered any one. Qaeer place for
him to pla, MAYBE.
At length The old Il sncier grew secns-
toned TO the slsh 3. In fact, 90 much 30 that
be felt ant Dyed one morning because the
lad VAS absent from the place. Next cay
| he watched for | in and emitted al tp'
proving grunt. The "kid" was iompirg 10
the utusi way.
After that be looked for him each day.
Sometimes the boy would be tardy In ar.
riying, and the old mar, put ctual himself,
would look dlspleased, Once or twice the
child was atseIt whole day; The Cid
fellow grew nervous as woman. He had
never cared for children, but this boy, 80
vel! behaved and clean, happy and self
possessed. play Ing his own games and &C
Ing bis own way amid ,heae busy men, fill.
ed him with an interest which he could
not explain. A. fty,hve, grim old
bachelor, closet ,ted and aggref v, Gibbs
paused In bis flaancial dreams TO follow a
boy-a brightfaced boy with bare feet
who bewitchcd him. More than oncs be
pulled himself together. Humph he would
net believe that be, Gibbs, bad grown ser.
| timental.
Still the CID man rather e. yed the seE'
,ation Of taking an interest In someone. lie
longed to approach the youngstei to have
chat with him. Bat he was basLful--
this veteran Of faance who in all his lift
had never spoken to a child-and long be
pondered as to the best method OF bccom
ing az quain.ed with the lad. He, Gibba
va. an urcouth object In appearance. ID
wore .haggy beard, was slovenly in hii
attire, had a sour expression and was ab
lrupt Of manner. Although he admitted
that his individually was scarcely calcu
lated TO Impress child, but was cheeret
by the r, 4 ction that topa, and balls, anc
candy were il faential articles In vi1nine
favor with boy. /. would be advisable
no doubt, to 70 little slow In the begin
nil 2. He would fret present himself witt
an apple, or an orange. Sonny, here's al
APPLE" he would say. Then be stared out
right; the word Sonny" frightened him
| he had never said II to a child, and In hi
mouth /. sounded out Of place. The mex
moment he felt ashamed CT bis timidity
Yet here another feature rose to worry him
VIA would men say, other men, wher
they saw him, "Surly Gibbs" lthat wa
his sobrquet), fraternizing with a "kidf
IGreat Scott His ears tiDgled at thu
thought. However, he practiced saying
"Sonny, have an APPLE" to such good Ct
iect that he greeted 6igniaed acquain
tance on certain day with, "Sonny, hav'
an spple," vi hle he rendered cigar.
A dav arrived when he decided he woult
break the Ice. 1t was Saturday and tn
offices closed early. He purchased SOM
chocolates from druggist, and going int
an alley laid In wait. Comparatively fev
people we're about, and Jtason's heart bea
Wildly when be noticed the boy comlnl
bis way. The child hadfor a plaything
big, red rooster on wheels. BY means 0
cord he drew the wooden bird along.
The naa concealed himself behind post
The boy came on.
The man grew nervous. What should b
sayg The boy WAS pls.ing. His chanc
would be lost.
CO. c.r-a-doo-ale-do came in agitate
tcdes.
Tae boy started dropped bis cord an
locked irqu'ripgly At the rooster. Then b
raised his e, es ard spied the man benin
the post, "A shameiaced mar. The lad re
esrded him with wonder, then a merr
! laugh efcaped him. On, Iooster-msn, h
cried.
Old Gibbs emerged from Is concealmen
ard glanced seslihily about.
You're funny man, laughed the boy
Do tha. again.
Gibbs drew himself up. George, he Wa
in for 1t. A brokers clerk stepped by,
negro porter crossed the al'ey.
Go or, let me see how you do II, persist
ed the boy. ,And the solemn o'd ma
cro.ed AGAR, discreetiy aud softly, Will
A calm j,y prevaded bis being. But be KEEP
bis wits abe ut him. He noticed three me
coming down the street who would laug
II theg saw him. .'Good afternoon sai
he, stfilr, to The boy; then beat hast
retreat,
Well. lie had done H. Good Lord, whs
an ass be bad beer s III he did no. regre
It. What a a elltls chap. He bad fol
gotten, the chocolates which, la.er, b
found stuck to bis packet.
Next day be wen. 70 his ofise 10 som
trepidaiior, feaiig the lad might reque'
10 public . repetition Of the performance
aud was relieved when the boy mffel
na,hed tack smile 10 respon,e to Li' ha
hearted greeting. He correred 6iobi, hov
ever, later 10 the day and male him GRO
behind pillar.
They soon understood each other. III