THE TROUBLES OF A STREET ARAB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5634, 6 December 1879, Page 7

THE TROUBLES OF A STREET ARAB.

A correspondent writes to the Manchestir Guardian :—Whilst passing L«u<lon Koad one night about 11 3'J, I was miMsted by a lad of about eight years of , who desired ma to buy a box of matoius. He was cryiug bitterly, anil he followed me a long way beseeching me to give him a penny for the box. As I have been cheated several times by children affecting great distress, I ordered him rather gruffly to begone ; and ns he slunk away he sobbed in a manner that went to my heart. I walked on a few paces, but my conscience compelled me to turn back and question the boy. I asked him what he cried for. He replied through his tears that he dare not go home, because his mother would "leather" him, aa he had had bad luck that day. As I am much interested in the fato of these miserable streat Arabs, I seized the opportunity to learn as much as possible about their manner of making a livmg. The boy informed me that his mother gave him three-halfpence in j the morning, and told him that he must not return until he had earned TJ'I, or else he would "catch it." He investei one penny of this oapital in two halfpenny boxes of matches, which he soli iu the course of the day for one penny each. Then he bought another two, but had only managed to dispose of one of them, leaving him at that late hour with only 2Jd and a box of matches, i.e., he had only doubled his capital instead of quadrupling it, as commanded. He said that hiß little brother had gone home before him, and he could not help crying, as his mother always '•'leathered" him if he did not come home with the money in time. I felt anxious to know the name and address of this uuuatural woman. The boy gave it readily enough, and I am prepared to divulge it to the proper authorities if deßired. the lad was covered with rags and tatters from head to foot, but he had au intelligent face, and he spoke both correctly and modestly. After rewarding him for his information I turned homeward, meditating on the horrible fact that with all our civilization there should exist parents who etislave their children, and deliberately make their lives a blight to them atid a curse to society.