The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-06-15
WHAT'S THE D1FFERENcEG

A poor man sat ct his window-no, ! an
. wrong it was the window of his hired house
II was small mansion, a little tenement
painted white, and surrounded by richer es
Establishments that seemed to look down witt
fcontempt upon their humble neighbor. The
occupants of those stately homes were very
much annoyed by the simple little children
I that play ed on the steps. and generaIlv kept
the Curtains down on the side that looked to
ward them.
But. as said before, poor man sat at one
of the windows overlooking the street. He
was thoroughly noble looking man, too. with
handsome Roman features, and an eve like a
hawk. With the exception of his coarse
clothes he was much more gentlemany and
digni6ed in his appearance than any merchant
in that princely row.
A pile of bricks had been emptied rite near
his doorway; they were for repairs As this
man looked out he saw two or three little
children with his own little ones, humming
and buzzing about the bricks. Their dainty
little hands were eager to fashion houses and
bridges and all sorts of momentary architec-
ture. Suddenly the poor man bethought him
OF pastime of his own when he was a child,
his heart having retained the pure and sweet
emotions OF youth through the cares and
hardships, of mature life, he hastily threw on
his hat, and going down he taught them new
trick 1t was this; to place row of bricks
on end, quite near to each other, forming
long line; by touching the last one and impe-
tus s given to each brick by its next ueigh
Dor, and the row is presently swept down in |
regular order. The children clapped their
hands and shouted so loudly that some of the
rich ueighbors, coming to their windows, saw
how the little ones were employed, taking les
sons in amusement from a poor and alu.ost nm.
known man.
What foolr said one, sneeringly-I
should think the man an overgrown baby. See
him laughl See him pIayi Shame on him;
grown man; we must call our children in.'
And from all those windows went the laugh l
and the sneer. Men with gold tasselled caps
set on perfumed locks laughed the old man to
scorn: women in beautifully embroidered robes
turned down the corners of their pretty lips
ard the children were speedily called in.
Years passed The poor man had grown
-ich Wealth had come TO him, not through
oil; hut it did not corrupt his good heart, bis
simple tastes. Still he loved children and
heir sports. He buiIt himself a splendid {
however, and lived in the style his
great revenues permitted. 1t
Again, as in the days of yore, there was I
great load of bricks left in the vicinity of his
home, Again little children gathered to play Y
house, and sgain the man sat watching them Ii
1t his window. Yes it was his window now o
"a window whose glass was costly plate; and d
lie sat there no longer the tenant of hired d
louse. in coarse clothes but attired in the a
ichest of broadcloth. Again, as he looked n
It the busy, beautiful group below. his heart il
indled with she memories of old, and he felt W
ompelled to go down and teach the Juveniles h
lis brick game. So, in moment after he "
tood in their midst. and STOPPING picked up b
he bricks, arranged them, and set them in mo-! fc
ion. lc,
How the children laughed, and their bright W
yes sparkled! The noise brought the aristo- II
ratio neighbors to their windows 'b