Echos
Traveling at dusk the noisy city street,
I listened to the newsboys’ strident cries
Of “Extra,” as with flying feet,
They strove to gain this man or that-their prize.
But one there was with neither shout nor stride,
And, having bought from him, I stood nearby,
Pondering the cruel crutches at his side,
Blaming the crowd’s neglect, and wondering why—
When suddenly I heard a gruff voice greet
The cripple with “On time to-night?”
Then, as he handed out the sheet,
The Youngster’s answer-“You’re all right.
My other reg’lars are a little late.
They’ll find I’m short one paper when they come;
You see, a strange guy bought one in the wait,
I tho’t ’twould cheer him up-he looked so glum!”
So, sheepishly I laughed, and went my way
For I had found a city’s heart that day.
RUTH LAMBERT JONES