The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-10-06
WESTERLY, R. /, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1853.

was answered by the litter or a nudge O
the elbow, passed round the group. As
the foreman paid "Quaker" the amount
due him, he gave him a new quarter
dollar to make out the change. This
did not escape Zeke's" eye, and he
said in tone lound enough to be heard
by all
If that eagle on that quarter had
life, and were State prison convict
| wouldn't swap places with it, for my
confinement would be far more prefera
bic to being squeezed to death"
This was the hair that broke the
camel's back. With the exclamation
" You scoundrel !" he made one bound,
and with stunning blow, brought
" Zeke" to the floor. Then jerking off
his coat, and placing himself in fighting
attitude, he turned to the astonishcd
group with "come on, now, cowardly
ruffians. If you cannot let me alone
peacsably | vii! make you do it by
force l 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 in q
minute. l saw that my friend would be
apt to get the worst Of the fight, and
forcing him into corner, | exclaimed,
"Gentlemen, one word, you please.
1t would be cowardly for you all to attack
this man | will not see it done. And
if you will attempt it l have something
here (tapping my breast significantly
that will 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 nduct-
ed himself strangely; let him explain
his conduct, and perhaps we can make
up our quarrel. He owes you an ex-
olanation-if not to you, he certainly
loes to me. And, now, sir" said |,
urning to him, a." | demand it of you as
| right"
He hesitated a moment. "Comc,
ny friend" said |, :" let us have it,
whatever it is, and at once put an end
o this quarrel"
" Well, gcLtlcmen," he said, CT am
lot disposed to lay my private affairs
,pcn to the public gaze, but | suppose
must do it for once. You must know
hen that from my earnings l must not .
'nly support myself, but my mother, .
wo sisters aud three small brothers,
Who reside in a distant State. | could
arm enough at home to support them
veil, but my reason for coming here is
his t: One of my sisters, who is now a
'eautiiul girl of sixteen, ami the pet of
he family, has been blind from birth. Il
We had no hope Of her ever acquiring
he faculty of sight, and were content to
bide by what we thought a'lispensation
t Providence. But recently | have
cen similar case to hers-a young
was restored to sight by an {
mincnt physician Of Paris. | have cor
rsponded with that physician, and he :
as high hopes that in my sisters case :
C can effect a cure. This, gentlemen, (
what | have been laboring for since |
ave been hereto raise funds sufficient
, take her to Paris. love that sister
) | do my own life 4; have labored day U
nd night-have deprived myself Of
ANY comforts, and borne your taunts v
nd jcers FOR her sake. But | can bear t
no longer. If you are men you will a
esist if you do not warn you of the Ii
'nsequences !" t
"Zeke" had risen to his feet and II
card all my friend had said. As he u
} listened to the "Quaker," | could L
G the moisture coming into his eyes ; P
nd when he had finished, he stepped 81
rth, and grasping the "Quaker's" a
md, while the tears trickled down his
ce, he said, in voice quivering with
notion. =,
I" My noble fellow, we have wronged ;,
u deeply, and l for one, ask your for ~ .,
veness. Had you but told us what "
ur object was we would not have
aced single obstacle in your way"
4" l forgive you freely, sir-I forgive y,
u ALL" said "Quaker." re
=" And how much have you to raise X