Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-05-14
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

A poor man sat at his window-no, I am wrong
it was the window of his hired house. 1t was a
small mansions little tenement painted white and
surrounded by richer establishments that seemed to
look down with contempt upon their humble
neighbor. The occupants of those stately homes
wero very much annoyed By the simple little
children that played on the steps, and generally
kept it's curtains down on the side that looked to.
ward them.
But, as | said before, a poor man sat at one of
the windows overlooking the street. He was n
thoroughly noble looking man, too, with hapdsome
Roman features, and an eye like o hawk. With
the exception Of bis coarse clothes, he was much
more gontlemanly and dignifed in his appearance
than any merchant in that %prihceiy fow.
a pile OF bricks had been emptied quite near his
doorway; they were for repairs. As this man
looked out, he saw two or three little children
with his own. little ones, hunimihg and buzzinp
about the bricks. Their dainty little hands were
eager to fashion houses and bridges and all sorts
OF momentary architecture. Suddenly the moor
man bethought him of a pastime of his own when
he was " child, and 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
a new trick. 1t was this: to place a row of bricks
on end, quite near to each other, forming a long
line by touching the last one an impetus Is eiven
to each brick by its next neighbor, and the row is
presently swept down in regular order, The chill.
dren clapped their hands and shouted so loudly
that some OF the rich neighbors, coming to their
windows, saw how the little ones were emploved
taking lessons IN amusement from a poor and
almost unknown man.
wv hat a fool T. said one, sneeringly-"I should
think the man al overgrown baby. See him
taught See him play Shame On him grown
man we must call our children inn
And from all those windows went the louob
and the sheer. Men with gold tasselled cars sa,
on perfumod locks laughed the old man to scorn
women III beautifully embroidered robes turned
down the corners of their pretty lips, and the
children were speedily called in.
Years passed. The poor man had grown rich.
Wealth had come to him, not through toll but il
did not corrupt his good heart, his simple tastes.
Still be loved children and their sports. lie huilt
himself a splendid mansion, however, and lived
in the style his great revenues permitted.
Again, as in days of yore, there was a great
load OF bricks left lin the vicinity of his home.
Again little children gathered to "play house,"
and again the man sat watching them at his win.
dow. Yes, it was his window now-a window
whose glass was costly plate; and he sat there
no longer the tenant of a hired house, in coarse
clothes, but Gttired in the richest of broadc,o,b
Again, as he looked at the busy, beautiful oron
below, his heart kindled with the memories Of ola
and he felt compelled to go down and teach the
/ inuaniIac hic hrioE ro,,o @ |
be stood IN their midst and stopping picked up
the bricks, arranged them, and set them in
motion.
How the children laughed and their bright ewes
%sparkled The noise brought the aristocratic
neighbors to their windows.
WELL to be sure! There is MI. b
that wealthy gentleman opposite, PLAYING with
the children. Isn't it pretty sight, dear Pu
Yes; and what a fine looking man he is. IN he
sure. What freshness of heart he must have %
enJoy their game with SO much zestl dsclaro
it's quite touching p
$50 it is they say he has all of two million
Hasn't be a fine fgure2 ?"
splendid Do see him clap his banda 7
declare it really brings the tears to nv ewes
wipe 'em ~away-wips 'em away, Matte
'ney re crOcOaiie tears? r cried o young stripping
of seventeen.
Ills sister, q maiden lady Of nm uuuterable age.
looked around Indignantly.
"Facs, sis they're real crocodile tears, and IN
prove It, When was seven years old, that Same
gentleman came out of q little white house and
taught us children that same trick. And, sis. you
and mother both called him an old fool y as | dis.
tincsly remember and l, for one. received a tire.
%mendous injunction not to speak to his children
or notice them in any way" 20 & !
Nonsense, Fred I" said his sister turning red
II knew it was nonsense ; but you did il. You
called him all sorts of names-a ,ridiculon. old
goose grown up baby and | don't know what.
Now here's the sans old fellow up to the same old
- AtE - ,agf ce .73l iu9t