Year: 1866




returning to my room at late hour one
night when turning the corner of North
Main and President streets, right there
BY the First Baptist Church, I stumbled
over something lying on the sidewalk
As I was just beginning my junior year,
and consequently had given up the sOphO-
mOric idea that swearing was a mark OF
superior manhood, without so much as a
blessing upon careless Watchmen, I bent
down, and after little examination,
found that I had stumbled over one of
the city newsboys. He was almost frozen;
so wrapping him up In my heavy cloak, l
carried him with some difficulty up the
long hill, and soon had him in quarters
something warmer than those in which
found him. 1t was a long time before the
boy became conscious of his Whereabouts;
but when his delirium was over, and he
sat before my fire, wrapped In a warm
dressing gown, I ascertained how it hap
pened that | found him asleep on the
sidewalk.


He told his story in a few words. He
was alone in the world; his father and
mother were dead and he was shifting for
himself. He had been unsuccessful In
the sale of his papers that day, was hum
CRY and thinly dressed, and the WIND
Blowing very cold, he had crouehed down
a moment at the corner to shield himself
from the cutting wind, had fallen asleep
and in that state I had found him.
thought the little sinner was lying to me
when he began about his father and moth
er, and I watched to see if he dldn t
bring himself out in some way before he
finished. He was bright little fellow
thin, to be sure, and very pale, but he did
have a keen, black eye, and no mistake.
His story, short as it was, was not ended
before I, feeling sure that he was not ~
ing to me, had decided what l should do.


The next morning, measuring the
| length, breadth and thickness of my news
boy, I went down street to my tailor, s,
obtained a suit of clothes which he
CHANGED to have on hand, and which with
a few changes, proved to be just the
thing, purchased a pair of shoes which
exactly fitted the measure 1 had II my
pocket, and returned to my room before
the lad was awake Y GU ought to have
seen how he opened those eyes and stared
at me, at the room, at everything: and
| have watched the shadow of perpleXlty
| astonishment and delight fit across his
face as the recOllections of the last few
hours came back.


Well, my man, said I, how do you
feel? Well enough to get up and see il
| these traps are anywhere near the size oil
that body of yours p


| He was out of bed In fash, and in a
very short time was dressed in his new
suit All but he did look well, as he
stood there so neat and trim and sc
| thankful withal that felt as the school
master did when he fogged the boys
that, ut is more blessed to give than re-
ceive."


Well, I kept the boy with me till he
was strong and hearty, and one morning
| [ called him to me, and in a set speech
a Ia junior exhibition, said:


'Mr. Newsboy, it is high time that you
should begin again the voyage of active
/ life, and this morning 1 am going to GU
you adrift. Here's a little cash to hell
you along in your travels at first, and dC
use of it. Before you go L want you t.
promise me that you'll behave yourself
always, be an ornament to society, and al
that sort of thing will you q


He said yes, of course, a dozen times
and after hearty shake of the hand anC
a hasty good bye, Sam, he disappeared
down the college stairs.


Time passed along. I graduated, set
tied in business. married but still neve
once heard of my boy, till at last he ant
the occurrence were quite forgotten.


Five years ago this winter, my bushes
called me to the West. 1t proved a sorr.
Journey to me. I lost my travelling sack
containing valuables to a considerabl
amount; my journey had been will
goose chase without the least shadow 0
success, and, just about discouraged,
started home Misfortune did not deseT
me here. On seeking my wallet [ foun,
that it had been stolen, and that l hadn'
a dollar in my pocket. I have a fain
recollection of not feeling particular


amiable just at that time. Out West,


in those days, was something difteren
from what it is noW-frOm the same Wes
where you roll over the ground at tn
rate of sixty miles an hour, and out Wes
= without a dollar, and no means of com


municatiOn but line of snail-paced stag


coaches, was anything but delightful.


The coach for the East was just start
, ing, and having watched it out of sight
I went back into the tavern and sat dow


to think how l was to get out Of my dit


fculty. l had been sitting there for som


little time when a man who had bee


warming himself with his back to th
fire, drew his chair near to mine, and al


ter a little chat about the weather, sur


prised me by asking if | wasn't Mr.. -


of Providence, r. 1. 1 told him I was


and before I could return the compli


ment of asking his name, he said


DO you remember the boy whom, Whe


you were a student in the university, yo'
found almost frozen in the streets @


Providence? Do you remember that


promised you (for / am that bOy) to be a.


honest, industrious man, to behave my
9 self, and to become an ornament to sOcie


ty? Yes, sir, am that boy, and l cal


say without fear Of denial, that am o.