The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-12-08
The Life of a
Newsboy
by JOHN PALMER


~'f' fHvNt w iHN why W Nulfll,
wisdom. was not knowledge. iol
couldn't feasc Henry.
obscr,cl Spruce business man
"Pnper boyi'
Henry whips ont The paper demand
ed. catches the pcnks tossed to him
Hips la The mir. and
"polpcrl rolpcr. sirT
beneyolent elderly gentleman. gold
plncsncx, cane.
"oh, mister. | can't change n nickel
slr. Invent sold no poIpcrs yet
The big boys snalchcs the customers
away. sir."
"oh. keep The change. my lad" says
the old gentleman beneyolcnily. aud
looks a little wIstfully at Henry us hc
pUstcs on.
"iIcyl Poipc de new kldl"
The new kid isn't Henry. The new
Rid Is lanly fellow Of eight or nine,
who has inyaded the precincts sacrcd
10 Henry ana those Of his friends who
have won their pitch by lists aud sheer
dlablcrlc.
soak In. fcllcrsl polpcr. slrl
Soak 'lm"
The new Kid secs the swnrmlng pha.
lanx bearing down on him, and fees.
Next moment he Is under n crowd OF
half dozen lnfllrlated rlyals, kicking
and punching him.
"That little fellow ought TO be In
school," says the tiuant school officer,
as he catches sight Of Henry, who.
having sold ont his stock, Is on his
way to rendezvous where much OF
the mornings earnings Is about TO
change hands ut craps.
That little fellow has seen the tru.
ant officer before the truant officer has
spotted him. He Is away like the
wind.
"Stopl You boy therel"
The truant officer Is short.legged and
puffy. Henry secs an alley blocked by
q paper cart. In nm instant he is I'M
der the cart. stops TO make gesture
at the truant officer, and is out under
the horses hoofs. lie darts through
a hole In the bottom of n fence.
Hey. cheese It, fellers, de schools
nfter u.s."
The game Is instantly abandoned.
there Is scattering flight. Henry |
walks loftily away toward the bust.
ness section. II Is midday. In side
street stands fruit vender, his bar
row piled high with tempting apples,
oranges and bananas. Snitch Hoakum,
Iienrys friend, is trailing along be-
hind.
Henry casually pockets three apples,
two bananas and couple Of plums.
"Heyl Where's da mon'i"
Henry turns and puts his thumb to
his nose. The italian darts at him.
Henry fees, but his legs are too short
md he sees no friendly hole In the
fence. Ont come the apples one by
me, the orange, the bananas, thrown
% the wolves, rs one might say. AT
he corner of the block the Italian,
having recovered all his property,
.urns and departs, shouting abuse.
Henry meets Snltch around the
,Orner
"Whadya get, snltchyi' he asks.
Sntch produces four apples, 40
handful Of peanuts and n
whole bunch Of bananas from under
his ragged coat. He has taken them
rom the abandoned stand. The pair
llvide their treasures and sit down
n doorway.
Afternoon wanes. They are lined
Up among a crowd waiting for the
lamp issues as they come from the |
,ress. Henry takes his. lie has an
UPTOWN pitch in the afternoon. He
von 1t at craps, but he would have
ought for it If necessary.
Jumping on cars and off again,
llnging to the tailboards of wagons,
Henry reaches his pitch in no time. A
all, lean youth has usurped It. He
rims defiance at Henry. Henry leaps
It him and kicks him in the shlns.
n moment they are In a. deadly |
'rapple.
"You big bully, aren't you ashamed
o hit that little boy?" demands an
lderly lady. Henry instantly bursts
nto sobs.
"What did he hit you for, my little
ellow?'
"Cos won't give i'm all me money,
ady. He's me big brudder, he is, an
e never done no honest work In his
Ife."
"You ought to be ashamed of your
elf. Wouldn't you like a nice hot
up Of milk, my little man, and some
hing to eat?"
"Gee, lady, I'd like q plate of buck
rheats."
They enter the restaurant. Henry
lies in. Twelve cakes disappear In
he place where they are meant
0 go.
"You poor little fellow, haven't you
OF any homer" asks the old lady as
hey leave.
Henry rubs his eyes with his
nuckles. "Yes'm, but me foither's out
f woik an we've lived on dry bread
or tn last week."
"Here's quarter for you, my dear.
ell me where you live and III send
he Charity Organization society TO