The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-10
f the fight, and forcing him into a corner,

| vi I've HSnt, duu forcing MN tHlo q ColftI,
exclaimed:
Gentlemen, one word if you please. 1t
would be cowardly for you all to attack this
man I will not see it done. And if you will
attempt it, I have something here tapping
my breast significantly that will stopit. He
is not to blame he has only resented an in
suit, which any of you would have done
You have all insulted him because he has
conducted himself strangely; let him explain
his conduct, and perhaps we can make up our
quarrel. He owes you an eSplanation-ii
not to you, he certainly does TO me. And
now, sir" said |, turning to him, e demand
it AS right'
He hesitated a moment. 4" Come, my
friend, said |. 81 let US have it, whatever 1T is,
and at once put an end to this quarrel"
Well, gentlemen sad he, Il an not
disposed 10 lay open my private affairs to the
public gaze, bu' | suppose | must do i for
once. You must know, then, that from my
earnings | not only support myself, but my
mother, two sisters and three small brothers,
who reside in a distant State | could earn
enough to support them we'll, bat my reason
for coming here is this one Of my sisters,
who is now beautiful girl Of sixteen, and the
pct of the family. has been blind from her
birth. We had no hope Of her acquiring the
faculty Of sight, and were content to abide by
what we thought was dispensation OF Proyi-
lence. But recently have seen . case SINH
lar to hcrs--a young man-who was restored
to sight By an eminent physician of Paris I
have cor-esPonded with that physician, and
he has high hopes that in my sisters case, he
can effect d cure. This, gentlemen, is what
have been laboring for since | have been here
TO raise funds sufficient to carry herto Paris
love that sister as do my life have de.
prived myself Of many comforts, and borne
your taunts and jcers for her sake. But |
can bear them no longer. If you are men
you will desist; il you do not, l warn you OF
the consequences
Zeke had risen to his feet, and heard all my
friend had to say. As he listened to the Qua.
ker, | could see the moisture coming into his
eyes; and when he had finished, he stepped
forth, and grasping the Quaker's hand, while
tears trickIed down his face, he said in a voice
quivering With emotion:
my noble fellow, we have wronrcd YOU
deeply, and 7, for one, ask your forgiveness.
Had you tod US what your object was, we
would not have placed q single obstacle in
your way
Il forgive you freely, sir-I fotgivo you
all,'' said the Quaker.
land how much have YOU to RINSE yet,''
asked, before you have the requisite sum-"
" About one hundred and fifty dollars. If
have my health, and continue to make good
bills, shall be ready 10 start to Europe in
about two nlonths.''
You won't have to work that long" said
Zeke, ''if my weeks wages, every cent of
which yoN are welcome to, will help YOU
along. Come, boys he added, how many
will follow suit 20
"Well, there's mine" said Jim, laying an
K on the pile, land nine,'' said dozen vol
ces, as each hand deposited an equal amount.
until they had quite pile Of bank bills.
"Therc, stranger take that, and may God
prosper you," said Zeke, rendering hin, the
money.
mo, no, gentlemen" lie answered, IL
thank You for your iberaIity, but I cannot
take your money. I am no beggary all I |
ask is that [ may be allowed to do my work
without being disturbed"
But you must take it, urged Zeke, |
growing warm, eve owe it to you, and you
shall take 1t. We've done you great wrong
we've abused you-and we have no other
way of making amends. Besides if you
won't take it, it will be spent before Monday
morning, and know, that for my part, it will
De much better to commence the week with
he consciousness of having appropriated my
money in a sensible way, than with foggy
1ead, aching limbs and empty pockets, which
always follows free and easy'
StIthe stranger hesitated. "Take it, take
t, for your sisters sake" said two OF three
oces.
II accept it, gentlemen said the Quaker,
as you say, for my sisters sake and I ;
o7o to be able some day to return it, princi-
al and Interest,"
"Quaker" left for Paris shortly after, and
] a few n 5nths We had the satisfaction of ;
caring that his sister was com pletely restored
} sight, and thatthey were on their way home. ,
| have heard from them several times since. ,
lis "lines have been drawn in pleasant +
laces,' and he is now a judicial functonary
ncighooring State, Kentucky.