The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-12-10


my opinion. rather denotes lying TO be
a new thing to him. ] can't be mis-
taken in the boy, for noticed. as he
turned to 90. a bald place on the back
Of his head. the left side, a trade
mark first discovered last evening, as
he bent over the prostrate form Of his
father"
I noticed a thin spot in his hair"
said ], and wondered at the time
what caused IT,"
And don't you know?"
I shook my head.
Coal bins and entry floors. That
little fellow hasn't slept within a bed
for years, perhaps"
But he told you, as you say. last
night he was taking the old man
homer"
Yes, home! / can imagine that
boys home. There are myriads like 1t
in the city here-a cellar or a shed-a
box car or a loft in some old shop, with
a father to chase him from Il in his
sober interludes, and to hold him from
It in unconscious shame when help
lessly drunk. Home. Sweet Home"
That boy has heard it on the hand
organ. perhaps. but never in his heart
you couldn't grind II out of there
with thousand cranks."
The picture he drew was gloomy
enough, to be sure, but we recognized
1t as true to life. for we, too, were not
unfamiliar with the sordid, ugly side
Of existence in large city. Our mer-
riment seemed to have evaporated,
our conversation Ianguished and with
thoughts perhaps too sober for the
holiday time we soon separated and
went our respective ways.
The remainder of that day eluded
me somehow; | don't know how or
where 1t passed. suppose it just
dropped into comatose condition, and
so slipped away "unkneIled, uncof-
fined. and unknown"
But one clear memory survives-an
experience so vividIy imprinted on my
mind that l now recall its every de-
tail: Entering the Union depot that
evening to meet the train that was to
carry me away at six o'clock, muffied
closely in my Overcoat, yet more close
ly mufied in my gloomy thoughts,
was rather abruptly stopped by small
boy with cry of : Here. you man
with the cigar; don't you want them
boots BACKED? Shine 'em fer ten
cents! Shine 'em fer a nickel-on'y
you mustn't give me away on that" he
added, dropping on his knees near the
entrance, and motioning me to set my
foot upon the box.
1t was then too dark for me to see
his face clearly, but had recognized
the voice the instant he had spoken,
and had paused and looked around.
"Oh. you'll have plenty o. time," he
urged, guessing at the cause of my ap-
parent hesitation. None O. the trains
on time tonight-on'y the Panhandle,
and she's jist a-backin' in-won't start
fer 30 minutes" and he again beck
Oned, and ratified a seductive tattoo on
the side of his box.
We'll" said /, with a compromising
air. come inside, then, out Of the
cold"
'Ginst the ruIes-cops won't have
it. They fist fired me out o. there not
ten minutes ago. Oh, come, cap; step
out here: it won't take two minutes y
and the little fellow spat professional.
ly upon his brush, with a covert glance
| Of pleasure as he noted the apparent
success OF the maneuver. You don't
live here, I'll bet" said the boy, setting
the first boot on the box, and pausing
to blow his hands
How do you know that? Did you
never see me here befOre?"
No. never see you here before,
but that amt no reason. can tell
you don't live here by them shoes
cause they've been put up in some lit.
tie pennyrOyal shop-that's how. When
you want a fly shoe you want to git
her put up som'er's where they know
sOmepin' about style They's good
enough mater1 in that shoe. on'y she's
about two years OF in style"
You're posted, then, in Shoes" said
I. with laugh.
Il Ort to be-" he went on, pantingly,
a brush in either hand gyrating with a
velocity that jostIed his hat over his
eyes, leaving most plainly exposed to
my investigating eye the trademark
before alluded to: 4 ort to be posted
in shoes. cause amt done nothin' but
black 'em fer FIVE years"
You're an old hand. then, at the
business" said l. = didn't know but
maybe you were just starting out.
What's an outfit like that WORTH"
''Thinkin' o. startin' up?" he asked
facetiOusly.
oh. 10" said I. good humoredly. =
Just asked out Of idle curiosity. That's
a new box, amt it?"
New" he repeated with a laugh.
Put up that other hOOf. New? Wy.
il that BOX had ever had eyes like a
human it would "a been a-wearin'
specs b. this time: that's a old-bald-
headed box, with one foot in the
grave"
And what did the old fellow cost
you?" I asked, highly amused at the
quaint expressions Of the boy.
COST Cost nothin-on'y about a
hours work I made that box mysef.
bout four year ago."
~Ah." said L
Yes" he went On, they don't cost
uCthin': the boys makes 'em out o.
other boxes, yOu know Some Of 'em
gits 'em made. but they amt no good
Amt no better'n this kind"