Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-09-24

were State prison convict, would not swap
places with it, for my confinement would be
lar preferable to being squeezed to death"
| This was the hair that broke the camels
back. With the exclamation "you d--d
scoundrell' he made one bound, and with a
stunning blow brought "Zeke" to the floor.
Then jerking off his coat, and placing himself
in lighting attitude, he turned TO the aston
ished group, with "come on now, you cowardly
ruiiians. III you cannot let me alone peaceably,
| will make YOU do it by force. have borne
your insults long enough, and if you have any
more to offer, come on with them'
This challenge was sufficient. Coats came
off and sleeves were rolled up III minute.
saw my friend would be apt to get the worst of
the fight, and forcing him into corner, ex
| claimed
| "Gentlemen, one word if you please. 1t
would be cowardly for all you to attack this
man; will not see it done. And if you at
tempt it ! have something here tapping my
breast Significantly to stop it. He is not to
blame; he has only resented an insult, which
any of you would have done. You have all
insulted him because he has conducted him
self strangely; let him explain his conduct
and perhaps we can make up our quarrel. He
owes you an explanationif not to you, he
certainly does to me. And now Sir" said J.,
turning to him, ~ demand it ofyou as right. !
He hesitated moment. "Come my friend,''
said I, set us have it, whatever it is and at
once put an end to this quarrel"
''Well, gentlemen he said, u am not dis.
posed to lay my private affairs open to public
gaze, but suppose must do it for once. You
must know, then, that from my earnings / must
not only support myself, but my mother, two sis
ters and three small brothers, who reside III dis
tant State. Icould earn enough al home tokeep
them WELL but my reason for coming here is
this: One of my sisters who is now q beauti-
| ful girl of sixteen, and the pet of the family,
has been blind from her birth. We had no
hope Of her ever acquiring the faculty Of sight,
and were content to abide by what we thought
dispensation Of Providence. But recently /
have seen case similar to hers, a young man,
who was restored to sight by an eminent physi-
clan of Paris. / have corresponded with that
! physician, and he has high hopes that in my
sisters case he can effect a cure. This, gentle
men, is what have been laboring for since |
have been hereto raise funds sufficient to
take her to Paris. love that sister as do
my own life; have labored day and night
have deprived myself of many comforts, and
borne your taunts and jeers for her sake. But
/ can bear it no longer If you are men, you
will desist; if you do not, warn you to beware
| Of the consequences"
"Zeke" had risen TO his feet and heard all
my friend. had said. AS he listened to the
"Quaker," / could see the moisture coming to
his eyes, and when he had finished, he stepped
forth and grasped the "Quaker's" hand, while
the tears trickled down his face, he said, in a
voice trembling with emotion
'.My noble fellow, we have wronged you
deeply, and |, for one, ask your forgiveness.
| Had YOU but told us what your object was we
would not have placed single obstacle in your
way
Al forgive you freely, sir; forgive you all, =
said the Quaker"
"And how much have you to raise yet"
asked, "before you will have the requisite
sum?"
"About one hundred and fifty dollars. If
have my health and continue to make good
bills, shall he ready to start for Europe in
about two months
"You won't have to wait that long, said
Zeke, laying the money he held in his hand
upon the stone, if my weeks wages, every
cent Of which you are welcome to, will help you
along any. Come boys" he added, Show many
of you will follow suit?'
aWel, there's mine,' said Jim, laying an X
upon the pile; "and mine, "and mine" "and
mine,r said dozen voices, rs each hand de-
posted an equal amount, until they had made
quite pile Of bank bills.
"There, stranger, take that, and may God
prosper YOU" said Zeke, rendering him the
money.
"No, gentlemen" answered the Quaker
~ thank you for your liberality, but | cannot
take your money. l am no beggar; all | ask
is that may be allowed to do my work without
being disturbed"
But you must take it." urged Zeke, grow
ing warm ."we owe it to you, and you shall
take it. We've done you great wrong--we've
abused yo,,--and we have no other way Of ma
king amends. Besides, if you don't take it, it
will be spent before Monday morning, and |
know that for my part it will be much pleas
anter to commence the week with the con-
sciousness of having appropriated my money
in sensible way, than with the foggy head,
aching limbs, empty pockets, which always fol-
low free and easy"
| Still the stranger hesitated Take it-take
it for your sisters sake" said two or three
| voices
~ accept it, gentlemen" said the "Qua-
ker, Gas you say, for my sisters sake and
hope to be able some day to return it, principal
and interest"
"QuakerH left for Paris shortly after; and
in a few months we had the satisfaction of
hearing that his sister was completely restored
to sight, and that they were on their way home.
have heard from him several times since.
His ''hnes have been drawn in pleasant places
and he is now ajudicial functionary in neigh
boring State, (Kentucky. )--4rord Sentinel.