That same little boy, who was given a warning by a fellow companion with a little authority, today receives a salary of eight hundred dollars a year in an important commercial position.
In every city of our land there are hundreds of boys like this “good boy at home,” who on the street surprises their most intimate friends by their wickedness.
“TROW DE CIGARETTE AWAY.”
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The newsboy cannot gain admission to many of the boys clubs, debating clubs, athletic clubs, and is often debarred from many of our greatest christian associations, because he is a being within himself, he stands alone in his class, a creation of his own acts and deeds, and goes upon the street at that age when environment molds his future, and generally molds it bad.
A question is often asked, what would become of a boy if he were left to himself, with no training, no guidance, no education. A boy of the street, who is dead to home influences, or worse, who is driven out to make a living for himself by heartless parents or guardians, or unfortunate conditions of life, and there are hundreds of them in every city, becomes a power in himself. For evil, first. “For the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” If left alone the evil will get the upper hand. The street teaches irregular habits and restlessness.
The following incident will show how diligent were the boys, not officers, in watching their companions.
Two little boys, ages nine and twelve, saw a fellow member standing in an alley, behind a pile of store boxes and enjoying a cigarette to his great delight. He was afraid to appear on the street as the boys were watching for such cases. He was a boy about fifteen years of age, rather stout and independent, but a staunch member of the association. He might have used his strength to great advantage in arguing with the two boys who attacked him as soon as discovered.