The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-21

piciou that James's mothers story came
dow to her along the line of the irish
kings from which she said she was descended:
NY meeting with James unusual. and the bet
describe it will go back to five minutes before
was reading the evening paper On my way across
the North River 70 New York and came ON a para
graph headed "The Boy Was Thanked 1t told or a
poor boy who. after picking up wallet that banker
had dropped, chased him several blocks and finally
restored it to him The banker had opened it. had
that his money was intact, and then sad IN a
tone of greas kindness, Thank you, my boy. You are
honest fellow.
of those eminent1y just men, The boy had done MS
duty the banker had done his duty which was to
imagination banker had to let such an opportun
ity for gratifying 1t pass him.
The incident still in my mind when maze
off the ferry boat and, grip in hand sought TO
West street.
and whipping hat from my head sent 1t rolling
and bouncing the street in the direction of Lib
erty street.
OF course four or five sprang for it, including my
self, but the hat euded us all and BOWED down the
car tracks heading for of those badges or Ne"
York's progressiveness, horse
Suddenly boy dashed out from the Sidewalk,
headong dive and caught the hat just In time
to save it from the imprint OF hooi lodging tue
horses feet he turned and ran with it to me.
| reached out one hand to take nc ana put the
other into my pocket to be unlike the banker.
There not cent of change there
for twenty-four hours said the boy in cheerful
voice, holding the hat back and smiling an Irish
smile that disclosed very white teeth.
Yes, but give me my hat before catch cold. 80
you're starving you?
grip and he said lie. sir. Were We gon'?"
Sixth avenue elevated. said l. wondering where
I could get five dollar bill changed SO as 10 pay
the boy for his trouble.
"Fll take it for ten cents
He stopped he spoke, as much as TO say that
II the ten cents was not forthcoming Immediately he
wouldn't take the grip.
"Fll give you ten cents when get the bill changed
but don't you any pay for getting my hat?
"Shure. Moike. On'y fer me it would have been
"Wen, I'm very much obliged to you" And reach
ing out shook hands with him
hut he p-ad init facQ
and grinned as he said, Gee, I'd a chased 1t over
wall for that.
1t dime for getting the hat and you can carry the
grip to oblige me- just for the sake of kindness
thought look of contempt stealing over his
sunny face.
What's your name and how hungry you?"
Jimmy Murennan. an I'm hungry hell"
The boy amused me. and as the train was bound
for did leave until $50, determined to invite
Got anything in particular to do tonight" said l.
Well kin put off if dere's money in anything
else" said he, with peculiarly winning grin.
al was wondering whether we couldn't eat dinner
together. I want see if you're hungry
say you and haven't had dinner myself, and
Smith & McNelfs is close by.
Then to jolly him along, / said (and there
truth than fiction in it,, Il used to eat there
Gee was you ever poor?" said Jimmy, and I
wondered whether there wasn't touch of satire
the unduly rich.
He ran on q used t. Re rich, meself."
You rich?' said |, for moment taking the
announcement seriously.
"oh, sure-say. youse amt kiddn' me? Are
gon git dinner for fair?'
turned into Greenwich street as an evidence OF
good faith, and said:
There's doubt about it. As much dinner
rich?"
"oh, yes" said Jimmy cheerfuly
ciously. Until farder lost his fortune
rich We lived in tree houses on Fift' avenyer an
studied football up ter Columbia and every time
seen poor boy damned him one good. l never
fought was gon' to be poor meself some day. But
dis Chadwick woman needed me farders money
an he let her have 1t an den l KEN down here to
look for job carryin grips an amt went to Col
You're not very hungry said T. looking down
cry boy could give me fairy tale like that"
With his disengaged hand Jimmy patted his sto-
mach lovingly
Gee der hungrier get der better stories I kin
make tell de udder boys fairy stories an dey
blows me on-sometimes Some of dem made up.
an some me mudder tor me. Shed her head full
of dem-Irish fairy stories.s
1t instantly struck me that here might be a folk
lore vein worth delving into and felt that virtue
was going TO be rewarded-as usual
We passed into the noisy and crowded restaurant
and found seats in corner, and Jimmy shifted the
air like horse.
ooh, dat smell makes me hungrer Sometimes
poss, w en- l amt got der price cross over der
street Wen pass eatin' house, because der smell
of things cookn' always makes hungrier'
Wen, get as hungry as you want and Wen see
what do"
looked at the bill of fare and then looked at
the bright little face before me- Yes he did look
hungry Probably some boys would have spoken
with beggars whine, but he was evidently lad
Of temperament-and also of cheerful temperament
although temperament does not always denote cheer
fulness
How would thick steak and fat baked potato
and some fried sweet potatoes and minee pie and
coffee do?"
-Uly gee' won't do ting dem"
The boy cIapped his hands in delight, and 1 could
hot help feeling somewhat smugly no doubt that
hat banker had thrown away golden opportunity
" hen he dismissed 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 I said
No. guess not Probably not as rich as~your
father was when he lived in three houses on Fifth
avenue"
Jimmy burst into jolly laugh. ooh. was on.y
1ddin.' Me farder was street cleaner, an he's
lead two Years an mudder was a scrub
ofdy till she got sick. She died of pneumonia in.
Roosevelt Hospital. Say, but OATS another gen
arous man