CHAPTER XIV.The more experience the president had with the street-boys, boys who spent most of their time in selling papers or shining shoes, the greater his desire to keep in close personal touch with each boy. He had learned that it was not wise to censure a bad boy, to punish a boy who had violated any of the rules. That belonged entirely to the officers.Some of the best suggestions for gaining the most good came from the boys, and boys whom the general public would ignore, pay no attention to. The boys were working out their own salvation. Solving the boy problem themselves.The strongest argument for self-government, among boys, was solved by the boys, the sellers. This was when they began to bring to the president money and valuable articles they found on the streets, and the sincere, earnest request, in every case, “to please find the owner—it doesn’t belong to me.”“PRESIDENT, I HAVE ALREADY LICKED DE KID.”See Page77It was through the honesty of one of the hustling sellers that this new work was started, which became part of the great work and was carried on so successfully, and to such an extent that hundreds of valuable articles, from fifty cents in pennies to a diamond necklace, were found and returned to the owners. The following incident was the starting point.A stranger gave a little seller, what he supposed was a new bright penny, for an evening paper, and passed on. The boy renewed his work, and a few moments later another gentleman purchased a paper, giving the boy a dime. In counting out nine cents, as change, the seller handed the man the new penny he had just received from a stranger. The customer said:“My dear son, this is not a penny; it is a five dollar goldpiece.”“I didn’t know it, sir”, replied the boy. “If you will please to hold my papers I will run after the man and try to find him—this isn’t mine.”Around the corner the lad went at full speed. Up and down the street he looked but failed to see his man. He returned very much disappointed.“He’s gone,” he said, “here’s your change—nine cents.”During this little talk a dozen or more newsboys gathered around the man and when theylearned what had happened several of the boys said:“Harry, what you goin’ to do with the mon.?”“Our president will tell us what to do, come on,” replied the little merchant.Off the crowd started down the street, around the corner and a noisier lot of boys never entered the president’s office.Each of the twenty boys present wanted to explain what he knew about the transaction.All the details of how the seller received the money, and how hard he had tried to find the real owner were gone over several times.The president complimented not only the boy who received the gold, but the boys who were so deeply interested in trying to find the owner. An appreciative present was given to the boy, and it was understood that every effort possible would be made to find the owner. When it was first advertised a generous clothier, a lover of newsboys, presented the boy with a suit of clothes. After advertising thirty days and no owner claiming the five dollars, it was given to the boy. Nothing ever happened in the neighborhood where the newsboy lived that created such an excitement. The newsie posed as an honest boy,and was complimented by men and women, as well as being a hero among the boys and girls. Its effect was far-reaching, and did good not only to the boys, but it had a most desirable effect upon the people.More particularly from this incident than any other did the newsboys “get next” and begin bringing to the president everything they found. Among the articles brought to him with instructions to find the owners, were diamonds, watches, money, in amounts ranging from fifty cents to eighty dollars; rings, robes, hats, gloves, valuable papers, badges of all kinds, handkerchiefs, money-saving banks, hundreds of addressed stamped letters, pictures, pocket-books of all kinds, keys, etc.Among the live things the boys brought to the office was a dog. One afternoon, late in the autumn, four newsies walked into the president’s office, talking and laughing, as they always do, and one of the boys, being “soaking wet,” led a little woolly dog who seemed to enjoy the fun as well as the boys.“My! how did you get so wet?” asked the president. “And what have we here?”“A man trowed de dog into the river. Hetried to drown him. I jumped into de water and saved him.”“Yes, president,” said the hero, “I thought it would please you to save the dog’s life.”Of course it pleased the president, and the boys agreed it was a very brave act. This little incident had its effect upon the boy, and they always looked upon him as a great fellow, and it wasn’t long until they elected him to an important office.It is a noticeable fact that newsboys have a peculiarly natural way of drawing, what they call, tramp dogs to them. Many a newsboy has been seen caring for a poor dog, who had either lost its owner or was hurt.Sympathy is aroused very quickly. Often a poor, worthless dog has been taken into a seller’s favorite lunch-room and given a square meal. From a boy who jumped into fifteen feet of water to save a little dog, something might be expected. He was watched. At one of the regular meetings of an auxiliary he showed the metal he was made of by introducing the following preamble and resolution, and spoke so strongly in its favor that it was passed unanimously.“Whereas, It has come to our notice that boys throughout the city, and boys, too, from our swell families, are killing the song birds in the little patches of groves within the city limits, by the use of the Flobert rifle; therefore be itResolved, That the members of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association bitterly disapprove of this wanton slaughter of our song birds, and we, therefore, pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to stop boys, whether members of this association or not, from killing, in any manner, these birds.”In his closing remarks he said: “If we expects people to show us kindness we must also do something what’s right. And what can we do better’n protect the dumb animals. Let us show, what we are trying to get, kindness, justice and mercy.”A short time after the adoption of the above resolution one of the trustees attention was called to a member, a boy eleven years of age, who was very much worked up over the acts of some of his associates, not members of the association. The boys had made a trap and were trying to catch the robins that made their summer homes in the yards along the street.The little boy always told his mother his troubles and in this case went to her for advice. She told him she would pray that God would tell the birds not to go near the trap. He seemed satisfied, but went away deeply buried in thought.A few days later he was sitting on the fence, at his home, when the trustee passed. Knowing of the incident he asked the boy about the trap.“Well, the trap was set all right,” he said, “and my mother prayed hard, asking God to strengthen the instinct of the birds so they would keep out of danger—not go near the trap.”“Did God answer your mother’s prayer?” asked the gentleman.“Sure thing He did,” the newsy quickly answered.“Why were you so certain?”“Because when it got dark I went to the barnyard and busted the trap all to pieces. There wasn’t enough wood left to make a tooth pick.”The trustee slowly walked away saying to himself:“Action was needed with prayer.”
CHAPTER XIV.The more experience the president had with the street-boys, boys who spent most of their time in selling papers or shining shoes, the greater his desire to keep in close personal touch with each boy. He had learned that it was not wise to censure a bad boy, to punish a boy who had violated any of the rules. That belonged entirely to the officers.Some of the best suggestions for gaining the most good came from the boys, and boys whom the general public would ignore, pay no attention to. The boys were working out their own salvation. Solving the boy problem themselves.The strongest argument for self-government, among boys, was solved by the boys, the sellers. This was when they began to bring to the president money and valuable articles they found on the streets, and the sincere, earnest request, in every case, “to please find the owner—it doesn’t belong to me.”“PRESIDENT, I HAVE ALREADY LICKED DE KID.”See Page77It was through the honesty of one of the hustling sellers that this new work was started, which became part of the great work and was carried on so successfully, and to such an extent that hundreds of valuable articles, from fifty cents in pennies to a diamond necklace, were found and returned to the owners. The following incident was the starting point.A stranger gave a little seller, what he supposed was a new bright penny, for an evening paper, and passed on. The boy renewed his work, and a few moments later another gentleman purchased a paper, giving the boy a dime. In counting out nine cents, as change, the seller handed the man the new penny he had just received from a stranger. The customer said:“My dear son, this is not a penny; it is a five dollar goldpiece.”“I didn’t know it, sir”, replied the boy. “If you will please to hold my papers I will run after the man and try to find him—this isn’t mine.”Around the corner the lad went at full speed. Up and down the street he looked but failed to see his man. He returned very much disappointed.“He’s gone,” he said, “here’s your change—nine cents.”During this little talk a dozen or more newsboys gathered around the man and when theylearned what had happened several of the boys said:“Harry, what you goin’ to do with the mon.?”“Our president will tell us what to do, come on,” replied the little merchant.Off the crowd started down the street, around the corner and a noisier lot of boys never entered the president’s office.Each of the twenty boys present wanted to explain what he knew about the transaction.All the details of how the seller received the money, and how hard he had tried to find the real owner were gone over several times.The president complimented not only the boy who received the gold, but the boys who were so deeply interested in trying to find the owner. An appreciative present was given to the boy, and it was understood that every effort possible would be made to find the owner. When it was first advertised a generous clothier, a lover of newsboys, presented the boy with a suit of clothes. After advertising thirty days and no owner claiming the five dollars, it was given to the boy. Nothing ever happened in the neighborhood where the newsboy lived that created such an excitement. The newsie posed as an honest boy,and was complimented by men and women, as well as being a hero among the boys and girls. Its effect was far-reaching, and did good not only to the boys, but it had a most desirable effect upon the people.More particularly from this incident than any other did the newsboys “get next” and begin bringing to the president everything they found. Among the articles brought to him with instructions to find the owners, were diamonds, watches, money, in amounts ranging from fifty cents to eighty dollars; rings, robes, hats, gloves, valuable papers, badges of all kinds, handkerchiefs, money-saving banks, hundreds of addressed stamped letters, pictures, pocket-books of all kinds, keys, etc.Among the live things the boys brought to the office was a dog. One afternoon, late in the autumn, four newsies walked into the president’s office, talking and laughing, as they always do, and one of the boys, being “soaking wet,” led a little woolly dog who seemed to enjoy the fun as well as the boys.“My! how did you get so wet?” asked the president. “And what have we here?”“A man trowed de dog into the river. Hetried to drown him. I jumped into de water and saved him.”“Yes, president,” said the hero, “I thought it would please you to save the dog’s life.”Of course it pleased the president, and the boys agreed it was a very brave act. This little incident had its effect upon the boy, and they always looked upon him as a great fellow, and it wasn’t long until they elected him to an important office.It is a noticeable fact that newsboys have a peculiarly natural way of drawing, what they call, tramp dogs to them. Many a newsboy has been seen caring for a poor dog, who had either lost its owner or was hurt.Sympathy is aroused very quickly. Often a poor, worthless dog has been taken into a seller’s favorite lunch-room and given a square meal. From a boy who jumped into fifteen feet of water to save a little dog, something might be expected. He was watched. At one of the regular meetings of an auxiliary he showed the metal he was made of by introducing the following preamble and resolution, and spoke so strongly in its favor that it was passed unanimously.“Whereas, It has come to our notice that boys throughout the city, and boys, too, from our swell families, are killing the song birds in the little patches of groves within the city limits, by the use of the Flobert rifle; therefore be itResolved, That the members of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association bitterly disapprove of this wanton slaughter of our song birds, and we, therefore, pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to stop boys, whether members of this association or not, from killing, in any manner, these birds.”In his closing remarks he said: “If we expects people to show us kindness we must also do something what’s right. And what can we do better’n protect the dumb animals. Let us show, what we are trying to get, kindness, justice and mercy.”A short time after the adoption of the above resolution one of the trustees attention was called to a member, a boy eleven years of age, who was very much worked up over the acts of some of his associates, not members of the association. The boys had made a trap and were trying to catch the robins that made their summer homes in the yards along the street.The little boy always told his mother his troubles and in this case went to her for advice. She told him she would pray that God would tell the birds not to go near the trap. He seemed satisfied, but went away deeply buried in thought.A few days later he was sitting on the fence, at his home, when the trustee passed. Knowing of the incident he asked the boy about the trap.“Well, the trap was set all right,” he said, “and my mother prayed hard, asking God to strengthen the instinct of the birds so they would keep out of danger—not go near the trap.”“Did God answer your mother’s prayer?” asked the gentleman.“Sure thing He did,” the newsy quickly answered.“Why were you so certain?”“Because when it got dark I went to the barnyard and busted the trap all to pieces. There wasn’t enough wood left to make a tooth pick.”The trustee slowly walked away saying to himself:“Action was needed with prayer.”
The more experience the president had with the street-boys, boys who spent most of their time in selling papers or shining shoes, the greater his desire to keep in close personal touch with each boy. He had learned that it was not wise to censure a bad boy, to punish a boy who had violated any of the rules. That belonged entirely to the officers.
Some of the best suggestions for gaining the most good came from the boys, and boys whom the general public would ignore, pay no attention to. The boys were working out their own salvation. Solving the boy problem themselves.
The strongest argument for self-government, among boys, was solved by the boys, the sellers. This was when they began to bring to the president money and valuable articles they found on the streets, and the sincere, earnest request, in every case, “to please find the owner—it doesn’t belong to me.”
“PRESIDENT, I HAVE ALREADY LICKED DE KID.”See Page77
“PRESIDENT, I HAVE ALREADY LICKED DE KID.”See Page77
“PRESIDENT, I HAVE ALREADY LICKED DE KID.”
See Page77
It was through the honesty of one of the hustling sellers that this new work was started, which became part of the great work and was carried on so successfully, and to such an extent that hundreds of valuable articles, from fifty cents in pennies to a diamond necklace, were found and returned to the owners. The following incident was the starting point.
A stranger gave a little seller, what he supposed was a new bright penny, for an evening paper, and passed on. The boy renewed his work, and a few moments later another gentleman purchased a paper, giving the boy a dime. In counting out nine cents, as change, the seller handed the man the new penny he had just received from a stranger. The customer said:
“My dear son, this is not a penny; it is a five dollar goldpiece.”
“I didn’t know it, sir”, replied the boy. “If you will please to hold my papers I will run after the man and try to find him—this isn’t mine.”
Around the corner the lad went at full speed. Up and down the street he looked but failed to see his man. He returned very much disappointed.
“He’s gone,” he said, “here’s your change—nine cents.”
During this little talk a dozen or more newsboys gathered around the man and when theylearned what had happened several of the boys said:
“Harry, what you goin’ to do with the mon.?”
“Our president will tell us what to do, come on,” replied the little merchant.
Off the crowd started down the street, around the corner and a noisier lot of boys never entered the president’s office.
Each of the twenty boys present wanted to explain what he knew about the transaction.
All the details of how the seller received the money, and how hard he had tried to find the real owner were gone over several times.
The president complimented not only the boy who received the gold, but the boys who were so deeply interested in trying to find the owner. An appreciative present was given to the boy, and it was understood that every effort possible would be made to find the owner. When it was first advertised a generous clothier, a lover of newsboys, presented the boy with a suit of clothes. After advertising thirty days and no owner claiming the five dollars, it was given to the boy. Nothing ever happened in the neighborhood where the newsboy lived that created such an excitement. The newsie posed as an honest boy,and was complimented by men and women, as well as being a hero among the boys and girls. Its effect was far-reaching, and did good not only to the boys, but it had a most desirable effect upon the people.
More particularly from this incident than any other did the newsboys “get next” and begin bringing to the president everything they found. Among the articles brought to him with instructions to find the owners, were diamonds, watches, money, in amounts ranging from fifty cents to eighty dollars; rings, robes, hats, gloves, valuable papers, badges of all kinds, handkerchiefs, money-saving banks, hundreds of addressed stamped letters, pictures, pocket-books of all kinds, keys, etc.
Among the live things the boys brought to the office was a dog. One afternoon, late in the autumn, four newsies walked into the president’s office, talking and laughing, as they always do, and one of the boys, being “soaking wet,” led a little woolly dog who seemed to enjoy the fun as well as the boys.
“My! how did you get so wet?” asked the president. “And what have we here?”
“A man trowed de dog into the river. Hetried to drown him. I jumped into de water and saved him.”
“Yes, president,” said the hero, “I thought it would please you to save the dog’s life.”
Of course it pleased the president, and the boys agreed it was a very brave act. This little incident had its effect upon the boy, and they always looked upon him as a great fellow, and it wasn’t long until they elected him to an important office.
It is a noticeable fact that newsboys have a peculiarly natural way of drawing, what they call, tramp dogs to them. Many a newsboy has been seen caring for a poor dog, who had either lost its owner or was hurt.
Sympathy is aroused very quickly. Often a poor, worthless dog has been taken into a seller’s favorite lunch-room and given a square meal. From a boy who jumped into fifteen feet of water to save a little dog, something might be expected. He was watched. At one of the regular meetings of an auxiliary he showed the metal he was made of by introducing the following preamble and resolution, and spoke so strongly in its favor that it was passed unanimously.
“Whereas, It has come to our notice that boys throughout the city, and boys, too, from our swell families, are killing the song birds in the little patches of groves within the city limits, by the use of the Flobert rifle; therefore be it
Resolved, That the members of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association bitterly disapprove of this wanton slaughter of our song birds, and we, therefore, pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to stop boys, whether members of this association or not, from killing, in any manner, these birds.”
In his closing remarks he said: “If we expects people to show us kindness we must also do something what’s right. And what can we do better’n protect the dumb animals. Let us show, what we are trying to get, kindness, justice and mercy.”
A short time after the adoption of the above resolution one of the trustees attention was called to a member, a boy eleven years of age, who was very much worked up over the acts of some of his associates, not members of the association. The boys had made a trap and were trying to catch the robins that made their summer homes in the yards along the street.
The little boy always told his mother his troubles and in this case went to her for advice. She told him she would pray that God would tell the birds not to go near the trap. He seemed satisfied, but went away deeply buried in thought.
A few days later he was sitting on the fence, at his home, when the trustee passed. Knowing of the incident he asked the boy about the trap.
“Well, the trap was set all right,” he said, “and my mother prayed hard, asking God to strengthen the instinct of the birds so they would keep out of danger—not go near the trap.”
“Did God answer your mother’s prayer?” asked the gentleman.
“Sure thing He did,” the newsy quickly answered.
“Why were you so certain?”
“Because when it got dark I went to the barnyard and busted the trap all to pieces. There wasn’t enough wood left to make a tooth pick.”
The trustee slowly walked away saying to himself:
“Action was needed with prayer.”