The Kanzas news., 1859-06-25
what's the DinerenceP

house. Tt was q small mansion, a-Ilttie
tenement. ns;nted white, and surrounded
bv ricber establishments that seemed to look
down With contempt upon their humble
ne;obbor. The occupants of those stately
homes were very much annoyed by the sim
ole little children that played on the steps.
and generally kept the curtains down on the
side that looked toward 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 hawk. With the exception of
his coarse clothes, he was mach more gen
tlemanly and digni6ed in his appearance
than any merchant in that prineely row.
A pile of bricks had been emitted quite
near his doorway; they were for REPAIRS
As this man looked out, be saw two or three
little children with his own little ones, hum
ming and buzzing about the bricks. Their
dainty little hands were eager to fashion
houses and bridges and all sorts of momen
tary architecture. Suddenly the poor man
bethought him of pastime of his own
when he was child, and his heart having
retained the pure 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 touch
Jag the last one an impetus is given to each
brick by its next neighbor, and the row is
Presently swept down in regular order
The children clapped their hands and shout
ed so loudly that some OF the rich neigh
bors, coming to their windows, saw how the
little ones were employed, taking lessons in
amusement from apoor and almost unknown
man.
..What fool !'' said one, sneeringly-
al should think the man an overgrown ba-
by. See him Taught See him play !
Shame on him; grown man: we must call
our children in.'
And from all those windows went the
laugh and the sneer. Men with gold tassel-
led caps set on perfumed locks, laughed the
old man to scorn; women in beautifully en-
broidered robes turned down the corners of
their pretty lips, and the children were spec
dily called in.
Years passed. The poor man had grown
rich. Wealth had come to him. not through
toll; but it did not corrupt his good heart,
his simple tastes. Still he loved children
and their sports He built himself splen-
did mansion, however, and lived in the
style his great revenues permitted.
Again, as in the days of yore. there was
great load of bricks left in the vicinity of
his home. Again little children gathered
to ''play house." and again the man sat
watching them at his window. Yes, it was
his window nova window whose glass
was costly plate; and he sat there no longer
the tenant of hired house, in coarse
clothes, but attired in the richest of broad
cloth. Again, as he looked at the busy.
beautiful group below, his heart kindled
with the memories of old, and he felt COM
PEELED to go down and teach the juveniles
his brick game. So, in moment after he
stood in their midst, and STOPPING picked
up the bricks, arranged them, set them in
motion.
How the children laughed. and their
bright eyes sparkledl The noise brought
the aristocratic neighbors to their windows.
"Weli to be sure! There is Mr.. B,
that wealthy gentleman opposite, playing
with the children. Isn't it a pretty sight,
e dear s''
eyes; and what q fine looking man he is,
to be sure. What freshness of heart he
must have to enjoy their game with so
much zest I! declare it's quite touchingl''
$50 it is; they say he has all of two mil
Lion Hasn't he fine figure %
ssSP1eadidi Do see him clap his har.ds!
I declare it really brings the tears to nv
eyes"
..Wipe 'em away-wipe 'em s.wav, Mat
tie: they're crocodile tears !" cried a young
stripping of seventeen.
His sister, maiden lad5 of an unutterable
are, looked around d;gnantly.
"Fact, sis; they're real crocodile tears.
and I'lI prove il. When was seven years
old. that same gentleman came out of lit
lie white house and taught us children thcc.
same trick. And, sis, you and mc-.,ner botl
called him an old fool!' ss s.s distinctly re
member. and I. sor oae, received tremen
dous injunction not to speak to his childreI
or notice them in any way"
Nonsense, Fred % said his sister turn
ing red.
al knew it was nonsense; but you did II
You called him all sorts of names .ridi
culous old goose a grown up baby an
I don't know what. Now here's the sam
old fellow I'd to the same old trick; and oh
gracious, there never was such beautiful
charming, delightful scene. Really ough
to write poem on it-guess l will. and en-
title it Then and Now or The Fool Grow
Wiser as he Grows Richer Which woul
be the best, sis ?''
''Hold your tongue !'' sobbed the lady.
Fred's sarcasm was not misplaced.
What is called the poor mans simplicit
Is entitled the rich mans subiimity.
was the same noble, tender, loving, gres
heart standing by the little ones in his coars
coat, jeered at and insulted with impunit
by the rich, that now bends his fine broad
cloth to the dust in order TO be on a lev,
with the little ones. but not to his neigh
bors Poor, all his nobleness was but dres
in their eyes. Rich and his weakness woul
be heavenly lustres. since their Offset ";
the almighty dollar.