The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-09-21


had struggled, none knew but himself.
for he was too proud to complain. and
to all appearances, he was as light-heart-
ed and cheerful as ever he had been in
his most prosperous days. But, as the
writer of these lines was one evening
hurrying down Broadway, to escape
from the clouds of binding dust which
a cold, northwest wind was driving a.
long that crowded avenue, he was sud.
denly arrested, near the corner of Canal
street, by tap on the shoulder. Turn
ing round, he saw elegant Tom Dillar.
with his coat buttoued closely up to his
throat, and lookingly uncomfortably
sharp, serious, and. to make use Of
vulgar figure of speech. scedy.
How are you ? said Tom. in his usu-
al elegant manner but. without wait,
ing for Il reply. he continued, you need
not ask me how | am for | can discern
by your looks that you see how am.
| am hungry
Elegant Tom Dilar hungry
| was too much shocked by thi. hu
iui,iating confession from a man whom /
had known and onvicd in his happier
days, to disguise my feeling. But [
put my hand in my pocket to feel for
my purse.
Thank you said Tom. lit is very gem
erous in you to anticipate my request.
1t is but a trihc that | need aud | will
repay You soon.'
[ offered him the contents of my
purse but he would not take more than
half dollar AT least said |, allow
me to treat you to a supper, since you
say you are hungry p
i will agree to that he replied, up
on the condition that you favor me with
your company, and allow me to call for
what | want
OF course, could not refuse bis prop
osition, and, knowing what bis former
habits had been, | supposed he would 20
into some of the splendid restaurants on
broadway, aud call for such a supper as
he had once been accustomed to indulge
in. But, on the contrary, he led me in
to one Of the cross streets, and follow
ed him down into a very humble under
ground Saloon where he ordered a
supper Of cold meat and bread, and
could not prevail upon him to indulge
in anything more.
You know something of my history
said Tom, how 1 once-livcd and how [
lost my property; but how | have lived
since, you do not know, and | shall not
distress you by telling. Look said he,
and he unbuttoned his thrcad-barc coat,
when | saw that he had on neither vest
nor shirt L am actually reduced to this
extreme said he, and his voice quivcrcd
as he spoke, by trying to live honestly.
Up to this very hour, until [ met you,
| have not stopped to beg but now |
was driven to it, had nothing left by
which could raise shilling, and had
not tasted food today
Good Heavens 2 said |, 'can this be
true ? What, Elegant Tom Dillar, with
all hi> accomplishments. his rich acquan-
tanccs. his knowledge of the world, and
in city like this, where employment is
81 readily obtained, reduced 10 starva-
ton 1t cannot be true
But it is true said Tom, impossible
as it may seem to you, and all because
| was not brought up to regular pro-
fession. My accomplishments were not
of a kind to bring me money in an hon
orable way, aud | made up my mind that
if | could not live honorably, [ would
prefer not to live at all | could easily
have sold myself to unworthy or disrc'
putablc employncnts, or my former
friends would probably have been glad to
have had me sing for them, and have re-
wardcd me by permitting me to live Oh
their bounty, bat l could not submit to
such position as that. | could never
be a jack-pudding of society; and | would
not disgrace my fathers name by 4 dis
honorable occupation
As Tom spoke these words, he looked
more elegant in his shabby suit than ev
er he had done in lis happier days and
in spite of his poverty, | could not but
still admire his manly spirit and sclfrc
lance. 1 actually felt poor beside him
But said I, why will you not allow
me to lend you larger sum than you
have takcn2 You shall be heartily wei
come to more
because, replied Tom, it is all need
| think have found placer. aud after
this; shall be rich again
wished his expectations might be re
allied, and, shaking his hand. gave him
my card, and begged he would send tC
me, if he should need any further assis
tance.