National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-11-02

/ tndl d man was looalng at him
through it, AT the first glance.
"What an Unlocking dog" tho't
John. wouldn't trust him. How
he stares poor wretch: he don't
seem human. All! Oh, my God.
/ 1t is myself!
1t was an awful moment. Death
has no more fearful pang. That
miserable creature was John Rod
mail-was the being of whom he
said. " at-that-that.r
He hid his head in his arms. and
was only saved sane man by a
food of tears.
The phlegmatic Germans only fan
cied him at that stage i'll his cups.
when weeping becomes quite natu-
raj. One, yellow haired grocer.
grinned and quite enjoyed the Joke
--Sind that was all the notice taken
of him.
And John Rodman. broken-heart-
ed and quite crushed. crept ont into
the street. his own image haunting
him as ghost. Oh, the lost youth.
the bright-eyed. bright -haiie ed boy
who had loved Eva Fay. where has
he gone ! Oh, the stalwart. hand
some man into whom that youth
should have changed Where was
his grave dug. Who was this, a
blot on the sunshine. creature
stamped Observation-Disclosures
erahle!
John Rodman-John Rodman-
John Rodman-could if be
The glimpse of his own face had
been enough. and with clenched
hands and bloodshot eyes. turned
heayenward, he vowed never to see
Eva Fay. never while he lived. to
let her see and know him.
= But perhaps | may in Heaven"
john kodman mnrmured: :. for God
and the angels know that | suffered
( for Il crime | never committed. and
/ that | mean to be honest while |
live
Then the memory of II time VIII, II
he had had the hopes and dreams
that gladden. the lives of other men
swept over John Rodman's SOUL
lie had expected to he rich and IA
nous, 10 have q wife and children
about his hearth. TO be respected
living, and remembered dead and
now at thirty-fiye. his hopes were
these; crust to eat. Il hole to crawl
INTO 10y night, and most of all. that
the eye OF the woman he worshiped
/ as a catholic dcvotee aClores his
/ patron saint. might never rest upon
j him.
+" 1t would break my Ev;'s heart"
/ he said, . to see what / ha e come
t to-
He sought for work the net lav.
He was splendid penman aLd ac.
countant. But men looked at his
rags and his prison mould which
seemed to hang about him, and
drew back. Men in clean, black
coats were to be had: labor was at
Il discount. 1t was Il favor to grant
it. One or two asked for his letters
of introduction. or references. He
almost laughed in their faces at the
bitter recollection OF the fact that
he had been ten years in prison on
false charge of theft.
And so days came and passed,
and other days. and with them no
regular cmployment.- But somehow
he picked up enough for meals and
lodging by putting in coal or mcnial
work Of the same kind.
He who had been. nay. was. for
he had only been northumberland
/ gulIty-a gentleman by birth and
nature. He stroye and prayed for
! patience and for death, until. at last.
the deepest depth of darkness came
to him.
No food, no fire, no shelter. save
a dismal cellar way. for three long
days and nights. On the fourth, at
dusk, he crept out to beg. 1t did
not matter who knew him; he could
shame none.
lie went to one great door, 1t
was slammed III his face. He stopped
an old gentleman and was threaten
ed with arrest. He staggered, faint
with hunger. tn other doors. No."
no always mo TO his gasping
PRAYER for charity.
At last ; III Il low. poor street, he
opened a kitchen door where fat
woman was just taking from her
steve oven Il great pan Of biscuit.
and a comfortable supper was smok.
ing on the board.
The fragrance of the warm bread
made him faint with longing. His
fingers quivered. He said humbly.
hat in hand:
" y piece Of bread, if you please,
ma'am,' as n child might.
lie no more dreamed of any pos.
sibility Of refusal than OF seeing
those biscuit turned to stone.
But the woman, comfortable with
good food, rosy from her warm fire
aud lampliglt, turned on him in
vixen fashion:
Bread! You're able to earn
your own bread. | don't enc ouragc
men beggars. There's work for them
, as aren't too lazy. You'd best tramp
! if yoa don't want the dog set on
YOU. Here, Carlo. here. old fellow y
John Rodman turned without n
word. He was growing blind and
deaf. He staggered ont into the
, street. and stumbled against man
, who was passing. The latter first