Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-15
81 Was an Hungered." {"

1T was Sleetlng last rVenlnR was
falling The streets were almost de-
serted.
Suddenly voice at my elbow said, II
am not fit for work, and have eaten moth.
ing today"
looked at the speaker. He was an
able bodied man, but had lost both arms
by amputation he was evidently a dis.
charged soldier. He was pale, too, as if
from recent sickness, or from scanty
food. He had on an old, threadbare
coat
My first impulse was to give him some
thing But my coat was buttoned tight;
/ could not easily unbutton it and con-
tinue to hold my umbrella and book;
and, to crown all, the street car, for
which | had been waiting, at that mo-
ment came up.
81 have nothing today" / said, turn
ing from the man and beckoning TO the
driver.
heard sigh as turned, and was on
the point of reconsidering my decision;
but | reflected that if missed this car |
should have to wait ten minutes in the
road. Besides" l said to myself
somebody else will be sure to give him
something" 5
But my heart smote me when, on look
ing after the man, saw him go sadly
down the street with bent head. Once |
thought of stopping the car, overtaking
the man, and giving him half dollar.
But while ! hesitated the car passed the
corner and he was out of sight. 1t was
too late.
did not eat my dinner that day with
the usual appetite | could not get that
wan face out of my mind. At times the
victuals seemed to choke me. What if
he really was starving, and no one would
help him -
All through the evening the mans look
haunted me. In vain my little daughter,
seeing me distracted, sang her sweetest
ballads. In vain my wife sought to
cheer me up as she said. / even dreamed
of the man. If had known where to
find him I would have gone the very
next day to satisfy myself that he had
received assistance.
But the impression gradually wore of.
There is so much suffering now in great
cities that almost every one becomes
hardened to it. | persuaded myself,
finally, that the man had been helped by
others. There are so many societies to
aid soldiers, said 1t was uRcomforta-
BILE to think otherwise,
One morning, about four days after
the interview, my wife was reading the
paper, when she suddenly laid it down
and cried, How shocking.
l. l-nnu, hou, ~ uac buf | falt n
sudden chill. i thought instantly Of that
man wan face. But ! said carelessly,
as | broke my egg:
"What is it, my dear
"Oh such a horrible story. A dis
charged soldier, his wife and children
diving of starvation. At least the wife is
dead, and one of the children not ex-
pected to live. None have had anything
to eat for four days. They were found
in an old clubhouse. The husband is
said TO have lost both arms at Gettys-
burg"
Ny hand trembled so much that, long
before my wife finished, had been COM
PEELED to lay down my egg unopened:
She was looking at the paper and did
not see me.
had no appetite after that. rose
Immediately and hastened down town,
for was sure this was the man whose
petition | had rejected
went straight to see him, | had the
paper in my pocket, and it directed me
to the miserable 2uthouse whore the suf:
ferers had been found.
Quite crowd had been collected out
side, but a policeman at the door per-
mitted no one to 60 in. He knew me,
however, ana on my expressing my wish,
allowed me to enter.
A sheet, furnished by some poor neigh
bors. was spread over still, waxen face
in the corner little girl was sobbing
beside it and man, bowed with grief,
sat at the foot. At the sound of my foot
stems he. looked up 1t was the same
wan face had repelled at the corner of
the street.
Since that day l have never turned
away from old br young who had asked
aims. Better give to a thousand who are
unworthy than refuse one who is really
in need