The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-03-10
81 WAS AN MUNGERED.- .

1t was sleeting fast. Evening wa
falling. The streets were almost dc
serted
Suddenly voice at my elbow said
II am not fit for work, and have eater
nothing to-day"
Hooked at the speaker. He was a,
able-bodied man, but had lost botl
arms by amputation; he was evident
ly a discharged soldier. He was pale
too, as if from recent sickness, OF
from scanty food. He had on an old
thread bare coat.
My first impulse was to give him
something. But my coat was but
toned tight; / could not easily unbut-
ton it, and continue to hold my UNI
brella and book; and, to crown all,
the street car, for which ! had been
waiting, at that moment came up.
II have nothing to-day" / said,
turning from the man and beckoning
to the driver.
heard sigh as turned, and was
on the point of reconsidering my de-
cision; but reflected that if / missed
this.car should have to wait ten min
utes in the road. "Besides," said to
myself somebody else will be sure to
give him something"
But my heart smote me when, on
looking after the man, l saw him go
sadly down the street with bent head.
Once ! thought of stopping the car,
overtaking the man, and giving him
half a dollar But while | hesi-
tated the car passed the corner and
he was out of sight 1t was to late.
l 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 abstracted, sung
her sweet ballads. l even dreamed
pIfthe man. I'll had known where
10 md him would have gone the very
1 IieXBday to satisfy myself that he had
laeeived assistance,
'SNbere is so much suffering now in
great cities that almost every one be-
comes hardened to~it. / persuaded
myself, finally, that the man had been
helped by others. There are SO many
societies to aid soldiers, | said. l was
uncomfortable to think otherwise.
One, morning, about four days after
,he interview, my wife was reading the
paper when she suddenly laid it down
and cried; chow shocking"
1 do not know how it was, but /
'elt asudden chill. thought instant
y of that mans wan face. But / said
as broke my egg:
"What is it, my dear9
"Ohp such horrible story. A dis
charged soldier, his wife and children,
lying of starvation. At least the wife
s dead, and one of the children not
to live. None have had any
hing to eat for four days. They were J
ound in an old clubhouse. The hus- +,
,and is said TO have lost both arms at
gettysburg"
My hand trembled so much that,
OuS DelOic my WIG uHioueu, udVl
,een compelled to lay down my egg
She was looking at the y
,aper, and did not see me.
l had no appetite after that, l rose 3
and hasted down town,
or was sure that this was the man
whose petition i had rejected. s
went straight to see him. l had I
he paper in my pocket, and it directed =
ne TO the miserable out house where
he sufferers had been found. !
Quite crowd had been collected ;.
outside, but policeman at the door
no one to go in. He knew /
ne, however, and on my expressing
ny wish, allowed me to enter
A sheet, furnished by some poor
eighbors, was spread over still
Taxen face in the corner; little girl
Tas sobbing beside it, and a man,
owed with grief, sat at her feet. At
he sound of my footsteps he looked
p. 1t was the same wan face had J
eheld at the corner of the street.
Since that day have never turned
way from old or young who have
sked aims. Better give to thou
and who are unworthy than refuse one
Tho ia raal1v in naad Exohan0a a