Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21

her along the line of the Irish kings from
which she said she was descended.
My meeting with James was unusual, and
the better to describe 1t l will go back to
five minutes before first saw him
was reading the evening paper on my way
across the North river to New York and
came on a paragraph headed The Boy
Was Thanked" II told of a poor boy who,
after picking up wallet that a banker had
dropped. chased him several blocks and
finally restored it to him. The banker had
opened 1t, had seen that his money was in
tact. and then said in a tone of great kind
ness: Thank you, my boy. You are an
honest fellow" Il
1t had struck me as l read that here was
one of those emnently just men. The boy
had done his duty and the banker had
done his duty, which was to thank the boy
kindly. Only | wondered how much imagi-
nation the banker had to let such an op-
portunity for gratifying 1t pass him.
The incident was still in my mind when l
made my way off the ferry boat and, grip
in hand. sought to cross West street.
A snow-laden gust of wind caught me I'M
prepared and whipping my hat from my
head sent II rolling and bouncing down the
street in the direction of Liberty street.
OF course. four or five sprang for it, in
Guiding myself, but the hat eluded US all
and bowled down the car tracks, heading
for one of those badges of New York's pro-
gressiveness. horse car.
Suddenly a boy dashed out from the side
walk. made a headlong dive and caught the
hat just in time to save 1t from the imprint
OF hoof. Dodging the horses feet he
turned and ran with ii to me.
] reached out one hand 10 take ii and nut
Ia nj m Lot H., 10
the banker.
There was not cent of change there.
Garry your grip, sir? Haven't had a
thing to eat for twentyfour hours" said
the boy in cheerful voice holding the hat
back and smiling Irish smile that dis
closed very white teeth.
Yes. but give me my hat before | catch
cold. So you're starving. are you?
The boy had given me my hat and had
seized my grip and he said: It's no lie
Sir Were ye' gO'n?
Sixth avenue elevated said J. wonder
ing where | could get a tive-dollar bill
changed so as TO pay thu boy FOR his
trouble.
IN take it for ten cents"
He stopped as he spoke. as much as to
say that If the ten cents was not forth
coming Immediately he wouldn't take the
grip.
III give you ten cents when get the bill
changed. but don't you want any pay for
getting my hat
Sure, Mike. On'y fey me il would have
been stove in
We'll. I'm very much obliged to YOU"
And. reaching out. SHOOK hands with him
He took my hand, but he looked up into
my face and grinned as he said: Gee
Id a chased it over tn, sea wall for that"
And glad to see il go, | suppose Well.
We II call II a dime for getting the hat and
You can carry the grip to oblige me, just
Tor Inc sake of kindness"
PIN IL to suit Yourself - said tho hoy
ana J thought | saw look of contempt |
stealing over his sunny face
hats your name and how hungry |
Jimmy MuIrennan. an I'm hungry as
The boy amused me and as the train
! was bound for did not leave until sac |
determined To invite him TO dine with |
Got anything in particular to do to-
night said l.
Well. kin put it off if dere's money in
winning grin.
Il was wondering whether we couldn't
eat dinner together l want to see il YOU
are as hungry as YOU say you are. and |
haven't had dinner myself and Smith &
McNeiIs is close by.
Then to jolly him along, | said land there |
was more truth than fiction in it,. Il used |
TO eat there when | was a poor boy |
Gee, was you ever poor said Jimmy, !
ana wonder whether there wasn't a |
t"uch OF satire in his remark l have |
never classed myself among the unduIy |
rich.
He ran on. Il used to be rich meself."
You were rich?' said l. for a moment |
taking the announcement seriously
'Oh, sure-say, youse amt kiddin' me |
Are we gon ter git dinner for fair?''
l turned into Greenwich street as an evil |
dence of good faith, and said:
There 5 no doubt about it. As much din
ner as would be good for you after your
last. So you were rich?''
oh, yes, said Jimmy. cheerfully and |
mendaciously Until me farder lost his |
fortune l was rich. We lived in tree houses
on FIT avenyer, an l studied foot ball |
up Ter Columbia, and every time l seen
a poor boy l damned him one good. l |
never fought l was go'n' TO be poor me- |
self some day. But dis Chadwick woman
needed me farders money, an he let her
have II. an den l KEN down here to look
for a JOB carryin grips, an / amt went to
Columbia since"
down at the bright and surprisingly clean
FACE. No hungry boy could give me a
fairy tale like that"
With his disengaged hand Jimmy patted
his stomach lovingly
Gee, der hungrier ] get better stories
Kin make up. i tell de udder bows fairy
stories an dey blows me of-sometimes
Some OF dem ! made up, an some me
mudder toll me. She'd her head full of
dem-Irsh fairy stories"
1t instantly struck me that here might be
Il lOlh ibie VEIN worth uelNlnS INTO and /
felt that virtue was going to be rewarded
usual
We passed into the noisy and crowded
restaurant and found seats in corner. and
Jimmy shifted the air like a war horse.
on. dat smell makes me hungrier. Some
times, boss, wen ain got der price | cross
over der street wen | pass a eatin' house,
because der smell of things cookin' always
makes me hungrier.'
well, get as hungry as you want and
well see what We can do.
I looked at the bill of fare. and then ]
looked al the bright little face before me.
Yes. he did look hungry. Probably some boys
would have spoken with beggars whine,
but he was evidently a lad of temperament
and also of cheerful temperament, al
though temperament does not always de-
note cheerfulnes
How would a thick steak and a fat
baked potato and some fried sweet potatoes
and mince pie and coffee do?''
lilly gee! l won't do a ting TO dem
The boy clapped his hands in delight. and
j could not help feeling (som what smugly,
no doubD that that banker had thrown
away golden opportunity when he dis
missed that other boy with thanks.
Say, boss" said Jimmy, when the order
had been given, are you richer dan mos
folks?'
Again suspecting satire in the question,
/ said. No, l guess not Probably not as