The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-10
Selett MisfelIanp
THE PAuPER LIEUTENANT.

did not like to see him there. He was too
| young and handsome a man. His phrenolog-
ical developments were decidedly good. He
had fresh complexion, blue eyes, light curly
! hair; but lack of decision characterized his
conference.-the of frmness was apparent in
his manner. He was reading newspaper.
@That is not one of your paupers!" said
to the gentleman in charge.
al am sorry to say he is sill" he replied.
$50 young SO promising in appearance I
really cannot understand il" was my reply.
"Nor could any one not acquainted with his
history" was the reply, 'but let US resume our
walk. By-and-by come this way, he will enter
| into conversation with you he is not back
ward about it. / don't know what to make out
of the man really.
"But how old is he 2"
'Twenty-nine years; he looks even younger.
fear he has lost all proper ambition, and it
may be, will end his life in the workhouse."
We wandered along from one to another
The establishment was perfect; most of the
paupers were old and infrm many of them
| looked shamed-faeed on being noticed. Poor
old men 1 suppose they had no children to
care for them.
In one of the Offices was the model of a ship.
1t was splendid thing. From keel to mast
head 70 fault was in her. The guns were beau
| tifully carved. Officers stood on her quarter
deck, sailors in her rigging. Every coil of
rope, every shroud was exquisite in finish and
proportion. The boats were secured, the sails
all set. Truly, she was a regal object. Be-
hind this vessel was painting representing a
distant port.
My natural question was, "Who did that ?"
s.1he poor fellow is dead" was the reply
He was a genius and scholar. The noblest
looking man sir, you ever laid eyes on. You
have seen that fine looking mansion on Sedg-
wick strnat 2 Well. sir he built that house ten
years ago, and paid thirty thousand dollars for
it, and yet, five years after, he was in the poor
house 'n-5tI -.i 30
"What did it, sir ?"
Rum" -
That was the brief reply. Expressive was
it not 's'2ii -
ayes sir, rum. The last time he went out
his eyes were much infamed) the doctor of
tho institution handed him dollar, saving
Bob, if you drink any more you will lose your
eyes"
Bob looked at the dollar then turned to the
doctor With a most expressive glance, as he
said: "Then farewell the eyes"
Horrible, wasn't it ?" Tn months time
they were digging his grave. It was in
the corner of the church yard. Nobody fol-
lowed the miserable body. 1t laid in pine
coffin, and We only said as we heard it-spoor
old Bob! That's all the epitaph drunkard
gets, sir!'
Fifteen minutes afterwards, was hunting
up the parsonage who had interested me SO
much. 1 found him in the garden, hoeing po-
tatoes. -
We talked together on agriculture His
fine language nstonished me. felt that he
had an intimate acquaintance with books, with
men, with nature
We walked along, he showed me the pro-
ducts of the SOIL Presently we came to an
arbor overhung with grapes, and sat down to-
gether. @
"Pardon me, said /, ssif take the liberty
of asking what brought you here at so youth
full an age?" His eyes dropped, he raised
them again ss he answered. :
.sRnm p e