The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-03-15
. MY POOR OLD MAN,
TEN YEARS OF KINDNESS.

On the third of January, during the
cold which reigned SO severely in Paris.
at the moment when the snow was fall
ing in heavy flakes, a stoppage of passen-
gers. horses and vehicles took place sud
denly at the corner of the Rue st. Hon
ore and the Rue de Arbe Sec.
What's the matter p asked young
man whose accent declared him to be an
inhabitant of the South of France.
l really can't inform you, Monsieur
i was going to ask the question my
self
It's only man who has fallen on the
ice, said an orange woman who had
overheard the colloquy-' nothing more.
Two sous piece-come buy3
It's man drunk, said a porter,
pushing his way out of the crowd.
Bah cried woman. bet that it's
one of those omnibuses which has over
turned some poor wretch. l had my leg
broken by one two years ago.
No such thing cried stout man,
warmly wrapped up in thick wrap-ras-
cal, large handkerchief up to his nose,
and his hands fixed in his side pockets
It's no such thing. It's man struck
with cold and hunger. He is dying
that's evident. Poor man These things
affect me =! should have stopped to lend
him some assistance, but the fact is,
am too late as it is, for my wife is wait
ing dinner for me. Pardon. Monsieur,
permit me to pass
The stranger, however, to whom this
request was addressed. pushed the stout
man in the contrary direction, and pass
ed through the crowd of gazers until he
arrived, not without difficulty, at the
spot where the cause of this assemble &c
was lying. There, near the fountain,
extended on the ice. lay an old man,
scarcely covered with few rags The
stranger, yielding only to the dictates ol
kind heart, stopped down, and was in
the act of raising the unhappy man.
when a cry broke the silence of the
crowd, and sweet voice exclaimed,
with deep emotion. It's my poor old
man = At the same moment a young
girl, piercing the crowd, joined her fee
Bile aid to that Of the stranger.
You know him, then 2 he demand
ed, without looking at the new conner,
but in trying to prevent her from hav-
ing any share of the burden.
Yes and no, Monsieur she replied,
taking out a smelling bottle, Il know
him by sight, but am ignorant of his
name.'
A third person came to add his assis-
tance to the efforts of the young people.
1t is Old Gerald = he said. He must
have gone out this morning. the first
time for these four days. This way,
Monsieur said he. speaking to the stran-
ger he lives here, at number 80, and
| am the porter of the house. Come, lie,
me take your place, my little woman,
continued he to the young girl !; this
gentleman and l can take him to his
room at the top of the house. 1t is sheer
want that has reduced him to this state
They say he was once rich. and believe
it. for il is only the rich who allow them
selves to famish for hunger when they
are poor-we have still two stories to 90
up-I would not be guilty of such fool
ish act; would at once go to the May
or and demand aid. Take care-the
stairs are SO steep-there's step; it is
so dark here you cant we'll see it. 1t is
different with mel am used to the
place. That's the door-push He new.
er needed key to lock up his property
poor man. They say Gerald is not his
name-how cold it is up here under these
tiles =
They placed the old man on some
straw in one corner OF the garret. and
the stranger hastened to feel his pulse.
He is dying Of cold and want said
he; here, my friend, here's some mon.
ey for you bring up some soup. some
wine, and make fire.
The porter held out his hand for the
money. when the stranger suddenly ex.
claimed, after having searched his pock-
cts.