Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1911 — The Newsboy [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Newsboy

He Received a Training That Enabled Him to Dis* pease a Fortune.

By F. A. MITCHEL

Neither of my parents showed me any parental affection. On several occasions when I threw my arms around my father's neck he unwound them impatiently and repelled me. My mother was more amenable to my demonstrations, but her treatment of me was very different from that she gave my brother Tom. And 1 noticed that when there was not enough of anything for both Tom and me, Tom got it There were other reasons to cause me to suspect—young as I was—that there was some mystery about my relations with the rest of the family. 1 overheard on one occasion my father say to my mother: “There’s nothing more to be got out of him. He’ll have to go.” Both he and my mother looked at me when he said this in a way which seemed to indicate that he referred to me While I had had certain things that they had not—much better clothing and sometimes money —after this remark I had far less than they, even being stinted at the table. I noticed, too. that when we were together strangers would look at them and then at me. seeming to notice something peculiar about us. 1 did not suspect then what I have known since—that while they were unrefined I gave evidence by my appearance of coming from respectable stock. Soon after 1 heard my father say “there’s nothing more to be got out of him” he took me to a city—what city I did not know—and. telling me to wait for him before a handsome dwelling. left me. It was in November, and

the wind was very chilly. 1 was poorly tlad and shivered with the cold. 1 stood where I had been left from noon till dark, waiting for his return, but he lid not come. Then it occurred to me that I was deserted. I remembered that before we had set out that morning my mother had put something in my pocket rolled in a bit of paper. I took it out and found a five dollar bill. This confirmed me in the opinion that it had been my father's intention to lose me. What should I do? I did not know how to make a living, and my $5 would be very soon expended. Notwithstanding that the intention of my parents had been to get rid of me I still regarded them as my father and mother and determined to use the money to get back to them, for I knew the place in which they lived. Not leeming it necessary to spend anything for conveyance, I Concluded to walk, for I dreaded lest when my capital was expended I should starve. I inquired of a man who passed me if he could tell me the way to the town where I lived, and be said it was altogether too far to go that night. 1 was too heartbroken to care to eat anything. I only wished to lie down and cry myself to sleep. The yard of the house before which 1 had been left looked inviting. I opened the gate and went in. Back of the yard was a stable, and. finding a door open. I entered and went up a pair of stairs to a haymow. Throwing myself on the hay, I was soon asleep. I was awakened in the morning by the sun peeping through a chink in the roof. That bit of sunlight gave me courage. It told me that having been thrown face to face with the world. I must pluck up spirit and meet it bravely. I would not go back to those who had thrown me out. 1 arose from my bed and. going to the stairs, listened. Not bearing any one moving below, except the horses. I went down and, passing through the yard, regained the street. Stopping at a restaurant On wheels, I bought a cheap breakfast. The proprietor looked surprised when I handed him my five dollar bill and scrutinized it carefully, but he gave me my change, and I went out to find some way of making a living. Most little boys thrown upon the world to take care of themselves fall Into the business of selling papers. Seeing a number of these gamins on the street, I asked one of them the Process by which he worked, and it

occurred to me to Invest my capital In that way. Going to a newspaper office. I bought papers, sold them and in the evening found myself a little better off pecuniarily than I had been in ths morning. »■ 1 will not dwell on this period that was far more miserable than my life at home. 1 spent two years at It without finding myself in the end any better off than when 1 began. The boys with whom 1 associated were repellent to me. There was a difference between them and me, if not in education, at least in constitution. Poor children, they were not only forced to live without refinement, but had beeh born of unrefined parents. 1 learned afterward that I was made of too fine material to thrive in such an atmosphere. ; I had no heart for either my associates or my work. 1 had no fixed home. 1 lacked proper food and clothing. In winter especially I suffered from the cold. One day while I was selling papers I caught sight of my father passing in a street ca». I ran after the car, but had not the strength to catch it. After I had failed I remembered that it would have been no use to catch one who had intentionally deserted me. Being now fourteen years old, F began to read the papers 1 sold. I lived in a newsboys' home, and when I went there at night, instead of associating with the other boys, I read. One night what was my astonishment to see my own name in a personal. It had been inserted by my father. If I should see the notice 1 was to address a certain number at the new-spaper office. A faint hope that my father had not intended after all to desert me elated me.

The next morning I went to the office of the paper that had contained the advertisement, and a clerk put my address in the box intended for re» plies to the advertisement. That evening my father came to see me. He seemed very much pleased at finding me. When I asked him why he had not cotoe back to me after leaving me he made no reply, but told me to come with him. Calling a carriage, he took me to the residential portion of the city, stopping at a handsome dwelling. It stood in a yard, and through that yard 1 had gone back to the stable where I had slept the first night after having been deserted. I told my father this, and he replied:, “I left you near this place on purpose.” We went up the steps of the house and my father rang the bell. We were admitted and w’ere ushered into a handsomely furbished room such as I, baa never seen before. An old gentleman came in and looked inquiringly at my father. “I have found him,” said the latter. The old gentleman looked at me. “Yes, this is he.” said my father. “I can prove his identity.” “You need not do that,” said the old gentleman. “He is the image of bis mother.” As he spoke he took me by the band and I fancied I detected a tremor in his voice. Then, turning to my father, he said: “Leave him here. Come and see me tomorrow.” My father turned and without a word to me left us. Then the old gentleman put his arms around me and drew me down beside him on a sofa.

“My boy,’’ he said, “I must tell you the meaning of this. That man is not your father. He was formerly one of my servants. When your real mother married your real father I was very angry with her and would have nothing to do with her. Your father soon died and your mother was starving. 1 forced her. as a condition to taking her home, to give up you, her child, and I paid this man and his wife to take you and bring you up as their own. He became excessive in his demands and I broke with him. He brought you to this house and left you before the door, but said nothing to me or to you as to your being so near your real home. A few months ago I fell ill and believed I was about to die. This made a great change in me. I sent for you, but you were not to be found. 1 gave your reputed father money with which to prosecute a search for you, and you are returned to me through an advertisement” He pressed the electric button and a woman came in, to whom he gave instructions to furnish me with a bath and put me to bed. I went with her upstairs and was put in a beautiful room and through an open door entered a marble bath room. The next morning a man came in with clothing, from which I was told to choose that which fitted me. When. I was dressed I looked at myself in a mirror and was astonished at the change. I went downstairs and breakfasted with my grandfather. Later he led me upstairs and into a room where sat a middle aged lady. “Mildred.” he said, “the good God has granted me the boon of returning to you your son.” The lady threw her arms around my neck, but gave way to hysterics so that she was unable to speak. My grandfather watched her till she became quieted, then left us alone together. If asked what was the happiest hour of my life 1 would say at once the one I first spent with my mother. It was not one hour but many, for during that whole day she would not let me leave her even for a few minutes. And from that moment a remarkable change came over my life. From a street gamin I became the petted heir to a large fortune. My grandfather seemed to live only to make reparation for his harshness both to my mother and to me. She has just died and 1 am laying plans to rescue each year a number of boys from the wretched life to which their circumstances' have doomed thep.

“HE IS THE IMAGE OF HIS MOTHER.”