The adventures of a beggar boy [series]

Title

Creator

Pena, Julio Cesar

Language

English

Source

Volume 1 (Issue no. 8) September 1935

Year

1935

Subject

Children’s stories

Conduct of life

Survival

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

201 THE YOUNG CITIZEN SeptembeJ., J .9J5 Chapter six AMONG STREn BOYS AS the street car stopped at the foot of Pritil bridge, a group of boys rushPd toward it and thrushed their newspapers into the windows. All of them, except one who looked very timid, catered to the first-class passengers. The timid one avoided the crowd and approached the men at the rear. A man with a dime on his extended hand was beckoning to him. He was running toward the man when another boy elbowed him aside. The timid boy retreated murmuring, "I must not be discouraged. I'll do better after a few days. Then we shall not have to beg and Lolo can stay at home." . It was Tonio who had turned newsboy. He stood by himseif and watched the other newsboys at a distance, for he had learned to distrust strangers. The other newsboys amused themselve~ by annoying the passing girls with impertinent remarks or by telling stories of how they had played dirty tricks on Chines<; peddlers. "Yesterday with my sling shot I hit and broke a bottle in a Chinese peddler's basket. And that was at a distance of about fifty meters." One of the boys boasted. · "Is that all? The three of us swooped THE ADVENTURES OF A BEGGAR BOY by Julio Cesar Pena upon a junk peddler. I got his hat anci threw it into the 'gutter." "I swiped some old sacks," put in anothfl'. "You should have heard the toothless old pig scream." Tonio overheard the conversation butkept his head turned away. He determined to keep atoof froin the other boys. He was busy planning means by which he could invest his expected profits when he was startled by the unintelligible jabbering of an old Chinese bottle peddler. The Chinaman, accompanied by a policeman, was pointing to Tonio. He was trying to per. ~uade the policeman to. arrest Tonio, allegmg that he was one of the three boys who attacked him the previous day. Tearful and quivering, Tonio protested his innocence. When he looked around, he saw that the group of boys had disappeared. Luckily for him a salesman in a nearbv store testified in his favor, saying, · "This boy could not have been among those rowdies. He stays in this cornet· every day all by himself." Tonio then and there decided to hawk his newspapers in the alleys rather than stay in a place with the other newsboys. Although he did not want to give his Lolo any cause for worry, Tonio felt it his duty to relate to him the happenings of the day. He was frightened in spite of his determinHtion to be brave. As Tonio ended his narration, the old man calmly said, "I knew no harm would befall you, my boy. I have been praying for you the whole September, 1935 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 205 day. You yourself must not forget to make the sign of the cross and say the names "Jesus, Maria y Jose" before you leave the house." "I do, Lolo. And I repeat my prayer even in the street." "That is right, my boy." After a pause, he continued, "If you would only carry my cane with you! I believe it is possessed of luck-bringing powers." "Perhaps I do not have to carry it around, Lolo. An'Jl.>ay we have it in the house." During his first week, Tonio made three pesos. He was not satisfied, for he thought Will Rogers and Wiley Post Killed The world famed American humorist, Will Rogers, and the round-the-world flier, Wiley Post, were killed instantly when the airplane in which they were flying crashe<l to earth in Alaska. It is said that the boys and girls in the United States and in other countries were deeply grieved to read of, the tragedy that befell their screen friend and the greatlr admired flier. It was, indeed, a shock to people throughout the world. The bodies of both men were brought by airplane from Alaska. Will Rogers was he could have done better. But his Lolo was glad. He saw that he had not been mistaken in the boy. The following week, Tonio did much better. He started his rounds very early. A number of early office goers had learned to depend upon him for their morning news. Tonio .always finished his stock of news pa. pers. There was something in his voice and his manners which made it hard for people to turn down his offer. At noon when there were no papers to sell, he carried his shineshoe box and offered to shine peopk's shoes while they smoked and dozed. For five centavos, he rendered a piece of excellent ~rvice. In less than a month, his Lolo was con¥inced that Tonio could earn enough foi· both. They did not have to draw upon their savings. On the contrary they could lay by a little sum every day for the opening of the school, which was only a month off. WHAT PRICE IGNORANCE (Continued from pctge J.<J9) his house to the electric plant which was close by. He took Andres to the plant and showed him the machine. He explained how the light would go to the bulb. "Oh, I see!" he murmured. "I should have questioned a little more yesterday. I was really very hasty. I ·have learned a good lesson. Yes, I should think well before I do a thing. Haste really makes waste. Good-bye," he said to the secreta1·y and went away. buried in California and Wiley Post ii, Oklahoma.

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