The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-10-20
BIG AND LITTLE FTNANCiERS.

BIG AND LITTLE FINANCiERS.
He was as old as 80 years. As he
sat on bench in Central park with
his elbows on his knees, chin in his
hands. eyes staring at the ground be
tween his feet. he looked like u man
who had done tremendous things. He
was a big man, outwardly. He was q
tired man, inwardly. He was worth,
in money, more millions than he knew
of, and was tipvd of spending. He
lived alone in magnificent mansion.
with 20 servants, two libraries. billiard
tables fountains, works Of art galore,
and was lonesome He had won or
lost fortunes daily in the stock eX-
change and was tired of the game.
Beautiful women had crawlcd To his
money, and he had exhausted all there
is in wine or song. and was tired of
them all. Automobiles, yachts travel
all the luXuries that millions com
mand-had palled on him, and he was
tired of them, too. There was nothing
in the world that was new to him.
nothing to interest. nothing to strive
for. nothing he could not have by
spending hundrsd thousand or so
that he would not miss.
Mere living had become drHdgcry'
and nc was sitting there dead tired.
wondering if quitting this life wouldn't
he an agreeable change. No wife. no
children. no work. no duties, but just
money, and he had tired of all that
mere money meant.
A little newsboy poked paper UNI
der the big mans nose. Baseball
uxtry!" cried the lad. Gods! and the
home team holding fourth place in the
race.
See here boy" said the man, as
he 6shed a coin out of his pocket.
How much do you make on this
paper?"
1--WE git 10 fer a nickel, and sell 'em
fer cent apiece" replied the boy,
scratching one bare leg with the toes
of the other.
Pretty fair percentage of profit, but
how many do you sell?'
Bout a hundred a day week days,
and | makes two dollars on de Sun
days"
"Humph." grunted the big man.
Three dollars and two make five
What do you do with all that money!"
We'll" said the lad. sitting down
costs me a dollar week, and | gives
mother the rest"
But don't You go in any for candy
and TOYS, excursions down the bay, or
things like that?"
..Surc not. I'm 1cycn years old and
don't need 'cm, You see. dad got
killed i'm the subway diggin's last year.
and mo:hcr and the kids has got ter be
fnI RiIl'S and Sarah 4 and
mother amt strong enough to do much
washin' or SEWN, SO / hump myself.
Rents way up to So. and then there's
clothes. doctors and coal. / tell yer IL
keeps II Teller iGurin'.''
But you ought to be going to
school"
Sure. I amt gittin' much schoolin'
but mother and the kids is gittin'. three
purity square meals almost daily, you
notice, don't yc?'
But" said the big man, with inter
est in his voice, edo you mean to tell
me that you never get a chance to play
ball, go swimming or fishing, or have
any other fun?'
Nope, not that kind. But tell yer
it's fun to see them kids eat when
they're real hungry, which is darned
often. and when | takes a little fruit
home to mother on a lucky day, as
dad used ter, you just ought to see her
eyes brighten up and her pale face git
red. Gee! that's the fun. Then she
kisses me and says she can't git along
Widout me. and sometimes she cries,
she's so glad to git dem oranges and
banans. Say, man, talk about fun
sWimmin' or none of them things amt
in it,"
The big man sighed and quietly
studied the boy for long time.
"WcIl." said the boy finally. jumping
down from his seat. "this amt carnin'
the WicnerWurst for ma and the kids.
I'm ofT!'
"Wait a minute" said the man.
Then he put his hand deep in his
pocket, hestated and pulled it out
empty. 'To give you money would
spoil YOU" he said, but / want to
shake hands with you, for you've done
me a world of good"
shake? Sure" said the boy. "but
I amt done nothin' to We but TO sell
We a darned good paper"
you've shown me something new
in life, and by the gods above, l be-
leve it's all that's really worth while
in life. I couldn't make you under
stand if | tried, but boy you just
keep right On doing your best for
mother and the kids"
sure" cried the boy. as he tore
across the boulevard toward fan
who was whstling for his sporting
extra. while the big man, with rapid
steps and ii new look in his eyes. strobe
off toward that part of the great me-
tropolis wherein il is the aim and
practice tn do things to others rather
than for others, and the gray haired
boys forget all about mother and the
kids in the mad, merciless struggle of
getting.