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

was during lull Of conversation, and
while the philanthropic mind, per-
chance, was wandering amid the outer
throng, and doubtless quoting to
itself,
"Whene'er / take my walks abroad
that our privacy was abruptly broken
into by the grimy apparition of boy
of ten; a ragged little fellOw-not the
stereOtyped edition of the street waif,
but cross between the bootblack and
the infantine Italian with the violin.
Where he had entered, and how,
would have puzzled us to answer; but
there he stood before us, as it were, in
a majesty of insignificance. l have
never had the features of a boy inn
press me as did his, and as / stole a
covert glance at my companions Twas
pleased to find the evidence of more
than ordinary interest in their faces.
They gazed in attentive silence on the
little fellow, as, with uncovered,
frowsy head, he stepped forward bold
ly, yet with an air of Difference as un-
looked 1OF as becoming.
II don't want to bother you gentle
MEMS he began. in frank but hesi-
tating tone that rippIed hurriedly along
as he marked general nod of indul-
gence for the interruption. Il don't
want to bother nobody, but If / can
raise so cents-and I've got a nickel
and if ! can raise the rest-and it amt
much, you know-on'y 45-and If / can
raise the rest-I tell you, gentlemens,"
he broke of abruptly, and speaking
with italicized sincerity, Il want jist
so cents, cause can git blackin' box
fer that, and brush and everything, and
you can bet If had that wouldn't haf
to asst nobody fer nothin'! And ! amt
got no father ner mother, ner brother
ner-ner-nO sisters, neither: but
that don't make no difference, cause
I'll work-at anything-yes, sir-when
can git anything to do-and I sleep
fist any place-and / amt had no
breakfast-and, honest, gentIemens,
I'm a good boy-I don't swear ner
smoke ner chew-but that's all right
-on'y if youll-iist make up 45 be
tween you-and that's on'y Is cents
apiece-Fll thank you, will, and I'll
jist do anything-and it's coming
Christmas, and I'll roll in the nickels,
don't you fergit-if On'y got box
cause throw up bad shine!-and
can git the box fer 50 cents If you gen
tlemensn On'y make mp IS between
you" At the conclusion of this long
and rambling appeal, the little fellow
stood waiting with an eager face for a
response.
A look of stoical deliberation played
about the features of the Oldest mem
Der of the group, as with an air Of seri-
BUSINESS, which. I think. even the boy
recognized as affected, he asked
And you couldn't get a box like
that for-say, 40 cents? Fifty cents
looks like lot Of money to lay out in
the purchase of backing box"
The boy smiled wisely as he an
swered:
Yes, it might look big to q feIIer
that amt up on pT2ceS, Dut think ITS
cheap, cause it's secondhand box,
and a new one would cost IS cents
ANYHOW = 'thout no brushes ner
nothin'!"
In the meantime / had dropped into
the little fellows palm the only coin
had in my possession. and we all
laughed as he closed his thanks with:
~Oh, come, cap, go the other nickel,
er I won't git out o. here with hall
enough" and at that he turned to the
former speaker.
We'll. really" said that gentleman.
fumbIing in his pockets. Il don't be-
Ifeye I've got dime with me-"
"a dime said the little fellow. with
. look of feigned compassion Aint
KOt a dime? Maybe I'd loan yCu this
one!" And we all laughed again
Tell you what do now, said the