The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-08-03

boat was short
my father is a goldsmith" he
BEGAN.
and you will be a goldsmith
when you grow up. l suppose"
Il can il l like, but I vant to be
educated anG become an English
gentleman"
He could not read from my mind
the ords memory flashed across it
about certain changes that leopards
and Philippians are incapable of.
Under my encouragement he con-
tinued to talk of himself.
Next year he expected to be pro-
noted and sent to a higher school
up the river at Assuan. If so, he
would be the youngest boy ever sent
from Es1eh. Then he would be
homesick, but he would not give up.
AS we reached the gangplank of the
Amanatis he asked If | woul some
time be willing to write him a letter
in English. / promised, and re-
DENIED my promise under the
shadow of 'Magdalen Towe- in OK
ford, England, whence l sent him
much matter in clear English print.
In parting, / offe. ed him a dime
as souvenir. To my surprise, he
declined it with dignity.
'It is a shame for me" He hesi-
tated. ut is a shame for a boy in
our school to take money from
strangers.
Then / apologized. 81 do not offer
it to you as l would give to boys
who ask for it. 1t was little Offer
ing of friendship, since had nothing
else to give you"
He allowed me to put it into his
hand, but he did not move from the
spot, and looked really troubled A
tall man in turban stopped and
spoke to him, and they both disap-
peared in the darkness. In a mo-
ment our dragoman sought me In
the cabin, and summoned me to the
railing. Then the small Egyptian
gentleman presented to me a gay
and his face was luminous, notwith-
its dark tints, with the sat-
iSf '~~ of a restored self-respect.
Our gifts were only an exchange.
AS / withdrew to the quiet side of
tho deck, / met the New York bank
err who had been so sadly annoyed
by the bakshish beggars ever since
we entered the Khedive's kingdom.
There is a little brown native out
here who won't take money as
gift" l SAID
where? Where? Point him out
to mel" he said, in his heavy,
brusque voice. "He must be more Of
a rarity than a crocodile in these
parts.
Here, boy, do you speak Eng
Hsh?"
Il beg your pardon. sir?" and no
drawingroom ever echoed a more
request for repetition.
Il see you speak English! Come
up ne1e. I've got something for
you.
What is it, slr?' and he moved
no step nearer as he asked
Just a little bakshish. Come and
get it. j."
Thank you! l don't take money
from strangers.
The bankers gruff voice broke
into laughter. upon my word!
But never min; you're all right!
Come and shake hands with me.
The boy advanced with not a
trace of self-consciousness, and
smiled most engagingly as he felt his
slender hand so warmly clasped.
us there anything you want that
you haven't Sot?" and the question
was oror,pted by wish on the mans
r to do something handsome by
this self-respecting son of the Nile.
ooh, yes, sir"
'What is '4'"
"I should like, most of anything,
a geography printed in English. "
"You just write your name and
address, I'D if you don't get the
book as soon as the mail can bring
it, it won't be my fault"
Again, as he had cone for me, the
boy took from the pocket of his Eng
fish jacket a notebook and pencil,
wrote. Abdul Alfalfa, Esneh, Upper
Egypt, Africa" tore out the leaf,
and presented it.
Then followed the good-nights
and salaams and good-bys, but the
banker exclaimed as he walked the
deck, "The blessed little monkey!
He shall have all the English geogra-
phies our London house can send
him, and If they want to train up a
corresponding clerk for their Orient
al business, he's Just their ticket!
He'll be an English gentlemen yet
Youths Companion.