Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-23
UPLIFT @C66e HOMELESS BOY

He courageous, hard working, thrifty little
chap, suffering all theftime with serious maady but
never complaining about it, He was so sunshiny-in
fact, so confident of speedy good health-that he
did not reach the hospital until it was too late
Mr.. Patterson received word one afternoon that the
little sufferer dying and hurried to his cot Even
then Leon cheerful He had firm belief in the
efficacy Of little lemon juice and sugar. which had
always cured his colds and which he believed was
good for every ailment He had pleaded so hard for
it that at last, TO quiet him, the nurse gave him his
"dose"
His Friend Patterson.
He very optimistic as his friend Mr. Patterson
sat down by his cot. "Aw 1 tink I'll be up in a
week." said he.
And then Mr. Patterson told him the truth, very
simply and tearfully
The boy listened with wide open eyes. "Is dat
straightY he asked, sharply. He seemed to find the
answer in Mr.. Patterson's eyes and was silent $50
I'm going to chuck 1t, eh? ?" he said finally 'We all
right" He closed his eyes,
"ShaI let your mother know?" asked Patterson
The boy opened his eyes quickly.
"Nawl Nawp he said earnestly "Don't say a ting
Don't let her know"
"Why not?
swell, I'll tell you. don't tink she is my mother
She always said she was but tink she lied If she
was she wouldn't "a treated so mean"
"Old Man" Patterson, as they call him behind his
Dack knows Doys. he Is graduate of Trinity Col
lege Dublin, and has tutored and taught all bis life
moreover, he has raised 'two broods" of children
This was all good experience, but nothing like his
present one. He knows boys now because he deals
with boys who know men,
They are sharp, shrewd, willy, these youngsters
They used to daily battle of wits and are con-
stany prepared for another. Moreover they are the
shrewdest quickest judges of human nature.
"Let a boy in," says Mr.. Patterson "and
,,.sra III
cue from them. At first they silent. Then a re-
mark rings out and-fashl 1t echoes over the room.
a unanimous opinion. Generally that boy gets his
nickname then and there"
Mr. Patterson keeps prodigious set of books as
is natural when amounts are drawn out in pennies
and debts made in nickels-keeps them carefully too
He is compelled to- If he makes the mistake of a
penny--too little-he hears of it Immediately
Suspicion is chief characteristic with these boys
Some time is required to disarm them Just recently
Mr.. Patterson, eavesdropping in the washroom
overheard the following conversation
"Say," said one voice, "what did you tell me you
was broke for when asked you for nickel dis
mornin'?"
81 was broke"
"Come off! seen you in Broadway car"
"Well, Patterson loaned a nickel"
"Out of his pocket?"
"Sure."
"He did not"
81 seen him."
"Den he tapped de drawer first. Say what a
lance Him standn' dere all day wild a cash draw
er right under his fist. Aw, guess he don't pun
down it, eh? Ask me-"
As the boys good living salaries they
expected to leave the home. Pride and ambition
lead them to depart generally before the superin
tendent brings up the subject Quite often they will
club together and take furnished rooms. Some
marry.
Just as soon as mike Kelley, printers assistant
was raised to $12 week he led the girl of his choice
to the altar and started life in a tiny fat week
or so later he called at the home
Mike is under five feet in height but he was taller
with Importance as he came in. He led several Of
his friends to the window.
His Wife, To Be Sure.
'Pipe de girlr' said he pointing to a little woman
standing obedlently the sidewalk and smiling back
at them.
"Who is she, Mike?" they asked.
'eWho is she? OATS me wifew He tapped his
chest proudly
Most of the boys who leave come back to visit the
home 1t is still "home" to them, the only one many
of them knew. One all the way from
Toronto each year, another from Ohio
Two years ago graduate" returned after twenty
five years absence and delivered an impressive ad-
dress He is to-day United States Senator oNeiIl of
IDAHO Other distinguished graduates" of this and
)ther boys lodging houses in New York include Gov
ernor Of State, Governor of Territory, two Rep
State legislators. long list Of
physicians, lawyers bankers, engineers, college pro-
essOrs, clergymen, &C.
There several talented individuals in the home
o-day. Who knows what the future has In store for
hem?
There's Charles Shonman, writer of popular songs,
Including Jimmy Mine" and others; two are being
sung on the vaudeville stage. Then there's Scot
y'--just "Scotty"--of whom get his modest
iescrpton:--"I.ate Of Glasgow Scotland the worlds
n NyFne efl0rc vvf1I hal
enge any man alive to bind me with ten yards OF
,othesline and will guarantee to free myself in the
space of three minutes"
There other Interesting types in the West
Side Boys Lodging House The past life the strug-
yles the aspirations of every boy would make good
story in itself; and "Old Man" Patterson. shrewd
ceaselessy busy. is character
ioes not meet every day. / would earnestly recon-
mend evening there for all of those who tired
Of the theatre and its puppets, and who find delight
and refreshment in the study Of genuine, viyid boy
sh human nature