The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-09

Almost a year had passed since the lit
tie TROUBLES had been found weeping
because his mamma would not speak to
him, and he had grown as wise as most
boys who pick up their Quotations from
the streets, where most of their time Is
employed in selling papers. Although he
was but FIVE, he could fight as fercely
for his rights as many fellow twice his
size In the household of which he was
a member there were only Mrs. Smith,
poor scrub woman, and Sally and Bob.
Each was forced to work for the meager
living they paid for so dearly. But never
once did they think of sending the little
TROUBLES" away. True, he might have
found a home in an orphan asylum, but
when a neighbor made this suggestion to
Mrs. Smith one day, that good soul shook
her head and replied: Never will part
with Troubles till someone who loves
him better than we do comes to cinim
him. Sally and Bob found him crying
In the snow, and, bless their hearts,
they never questioned whether we could
care for him, but just took his little
half-frozen hands In theirs and fetched
him home. And how they do love 'Irou-
bles, and how Troubles does love them
and me, too. | hope, for our dear Lord
knows | do the best l can for him.
show no 'partality between him and my
own blessed kids.
So the nelghbors decided to let Mrs
Smith alone, and said that If she wanted
to burden herself with pauper brats, let
her end by going to the poorhouse. But
when the time should come for such dis
grace she needn't come wailing to them.
And all the time little TROUBLES never
dreamed OF the trouble he was giving the
busy tongued neighbors. lie was out
early with his papers, calling his trade
In a lusty young voice. Usually he made
about 10 cents clear each day, and this
bought the bread for breakfast and din-
ner: so little TROUBLES was not wholly
dependent upon the good Mrs. Smith,
though she would not have complained
had Troubles been unable 10 aud lhis
pittance to the family fund.
one quiet evening in early September
..Troubles" was on the corner, as usual,
selling his papers. He was very anxious
TO make NH the sales he could before the
next Monday, for the public school eoc
then and Mrs. Smith wanted very much
TO have the three children attend IL she
could see her way clear 10 sending them
that is to say, If she could manage the
EXPENSE account without their aid. But
"iroubles" was sadly in need of n new
pair of shoes and jacket and his little
earnings had been put into an old big
necked bottle Tor a week past, with the
result that there was now almost enough
TO buy the shoes. While he was crying
his papers another little newsboy came
running TO him, asking for penny change
for n dime TROUBLES" ocA the 10 pen
MES from worn little purse. one which
had been found empty under his mothers
rilIow nfter her death. and gave them to
his comrade in trade. The boy took them.
counting them carefully, pocketed them
and started off down the street at a run,
not having given Troubles" the
Like flash Troubles was after him,
calling out in a voice choked with coming
tears: "Giye me my dime! Give me my
dime. III call the cop an have you
rested! Stop! Give me my d-l-m-ei''
But the bad fellow who had robl ed the
trusting TROUBLES was now lost in the
crowd, and Troubles" stopped at the
side OF tall building, has frame shaken
Ey sobs. How long he had worked for
those 10 pennies. lie had been busy all
the evening and had -old only seven pa
pers, for most of the men bought their
papers at the numerous news stands, thus
maxim sales few for the little newsboy.
And how much TROUBLES" had needed
the money. That. added to ais bank fund
ut home would almost get the shoes.
Tears poured over the pale cheeks of the
heroic little man and h"rfi"~ ~ss at