Gaining in Home.

Otago Witness, Issue 2116, 13 September 1894, Page 49

Gaining in Home.

A correspondent] says that the street boys of Rome have all the curiosity, shrewdness, and impudence of street boys in general, together with some traits peouliar to themselves. They hava a sharp eye for foreigners, and have developed no little skill in extracting coins from them. I JEoLJato a disnutejßjffs this jEEterXfritih, ? f»b?

man because he demanded a tip in addition to his ordinary fare. While we were talking a little fellow of six or seven years stepped up and said, in a paternal, assuring tone : "Sixty centetimi is enough, sir. The rascal is very impudent. Don't give him any more." In th» same breath he asked me for a soldo for the service rendered. I handed him a coin, laughing at his grand airs, and he received it with a condescending gesture. Then, as the driver reached for his whip, the boy made off, saying, " I'll see jou later." I walked on, and presently another urchin was at my side : " Yes, signor, you are quite right ; this is the road to the Vatican. Give me a 501d0.."

I drove him off, but in a few minutes another came bounding up.

"My lord! my lord! you are losing your handkerchief." That was another soldo. Next a bootblack, hardly more than five years old. caught eight of the foreigner. " Your boots, sir ! your boots ! " he shouted. I tried to ignore him. He appealed to my self -respect.

" But, my lord, such boots !"" he exclaimed, as he trotted along by my side. "What nasty boots ! I really pity you, sir. Indeed, sueh 1 boots ! lam sorry for you." All this was uttered in a tone of profound moral conviction, as if he cherished for me the most disinterested feeling of regret and sympsthy. Bub when the appeal failed, he dropped behind me a few paces aud changed his tune.

"Just look at that foreigner !' One can always tell a foreigner by his d'rfcy boots ! "

That was too much for me. Rather than bring disgrace upon my native land, I gave the little imp the job he was after.