The Washington times., 1913-04-12
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
EUSTACE.

~ USTACE was little newsboy
Il and sold papers on the streets
of a large city The other boys
called him You, and by the mama
of little You he was generally known
because he was smaller than most OF
the other boys.
Little You did not know his father or
mother and supposed he had never had
any. He slept in doorways or behind
barrels and ate anything he could OBJ
tain, whether he paid for 1t or not
He had never taken anything but
food but then he had never had a
chance. so he did not bother himself
about anything but food. for that was
all he seemed to need to make life
worth while to him.
One day an old gentleman passed the
corner where little You was standing
selling his papers. when something fell
from the old gentleman's pocket and
landed at You's feet.
The old gentleman had taken his
handkerchief from his pocket and
pulled out his pocketbook at the same
time.
You picked it up and put in his pock-
ct, but another newsboy saw what had
happened and hurried 10 where You
was standing to get his share.
The boys looked about to be sure no
one was watching them and went up
an alley to open the pocketbook.
There were many papers that the
boys did not understand, but there
were several bills with yellow backs.
and while they were sure they. were
~
seen one for SO large an amount.
If we go to a store with one Of
those,' said the other boy. I'VE will be
handed oyer to the cop; 'taint no use TO
us: throw il away, You. The cop will
lock you UP II you are caught with It,"
Little You did as the other boy told
him, but as soon as his companion was
out OF sight he went back for the
pocketbook and put 1t in his pocket,
and that night in a doorway where
dim light shown through the glass in
the door little You again opened the
pocketbcok.
He passed over the yellow bills; they
did not interest him. or the papers. But
in the very last pocket he found two
pictures, one of a very little baby and
another of a sweet-faced lady who
seemed TO look right into little You's
eyes and smile. You smiled back at the
face and then he looked at the baby
picture again.
Wonder if that is her kid" he unused
as he turned the picture over.
There was writing on the back of the
Eaby picture; it was dim and You could
not read writing. but this is what
was written there. Father. this is my
baby: have named him for you
You slipped the pictures back in the
pocket and put the pocketbook inside
his coat.
The next day he looked for the old
gentleman. but he did not see him, and
the next day he changed his corner in
hopes the old gentleman would pass and
he could give him his pocketbook.
Now that You thought of the money
the old gentleman had lost, it was the
pictures he was thinking Of. Every
night for a week You slid into a lighted
hallway and looked at the pictures. He
looked at the baby because II was be-
side the other picture. but he looked at
the pitcher of the sweet-faced lady be-
cause IL seemed to be looking at him
with loving eyes. and no one had ever
looked at him that way before.
One day You's heart gave big leap.
for coming down the street he saw the
old gentleman who had dropped the
pocketbook. You hugged 1t tight to ais
breast as he thought of giving II back
TO the owner.
Il shant ever see her again." he
thought, Il shan't ever see her eyes
again"
Something warm and wet rolled down
You's cheek but he did not know II was
a tear. He had never cried in his life
that he could remember.
When the old gentleman came up to
him You held out the pocketbook.
Here's your pocketball you dropped the