The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-03-21
II Was an Hungered.n

1t was slee,iug fast. Evening was
falling. The streets we're almost dc.
serted.
Suddenly voice at my elbow said,
" 1 am not titfor work aud have eat
en- nothing to-day,
/ looked at the speaker. He was
an able bodied man, but had lost both
arms by amputatiou no was evident.
ly a discharged soldier, He was pale
too, as IL from recent sickness, or
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 il aud continue to hold my UNI
brella aud book; and to crown all, the
street car for which had been wait.
ing, at that moment came up.
az have nothing to day." I said,
turning from the man and hockoning
to tho driver.
l heard a sigh, as l turned, and
was on the point Of roconsidering my
decision, but reflected that if miss
ed this car l should have to wait ten
minutes on the corner. "Besides," |"
said to myself, "somebody else will
be sure to give him something"
But my heart smoto mo, whom, on
looking after the man, l saw him go
sadly down the street with bent head.
Once thought of stopping the ear,
ovortaking the man, and giving him
half dollar. But while | hositated,
tho car passed the corner, and he was
out of sight. II was too late.
l did not cat my dinner that day
J with the usual appetite. l could not
J 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 man s
look haunted me. In vain my little
daughter, seeing me abstracted, sang
her sweetest ballads. In vain my
wife sought to "cheer me up, NJ she
said. even dreamed of the man,-
If l had known where to find him, |
would have gone the next day, to sat
isfy myself that he had received as
sistance.
But the impression gradually wore
off. There is so much suffering now
in great cities, that almost every one
becomes hardened to it. persuad-
ed myself finally that the man had
: been helped by others. "There are
so many societies to aid soldiers"
| said. 1t was uncomfortable to think
0 otherwise.
0 One morning about four days after
y the interview, my wife was reading
the paper, when she suddenly laid il
/. down, and cried, "How dreadful"
v / do not know how il was, but ]
= felt sudden chill. 1 thought in
stantly Of that mans wan face. Blu
l said carelessly, as 1 broke my egg;
v "What is it, my dear2'
ooh such a horrible story.
discharged soldier, his wife and chill
: dren, dying of starvation. At leas
> the wife is dead, and one of the child
=, rem not expected TO live. None hav
had anything to eat for four days
: They were found in an old out house
The husband is said to have lost boil
his arms at Gettysburg"
My hand trembled so much that
long before my wife had finished,
. had been compelled to lay down m,
a egg unopened. She was loOkin
u at the paper and did not see me.
had no appetite after that.
y rose Immediately, and FASTENED dow
. town, for l was sure this was the ma
/ whose petition l had rejected.
1 went straight to see HIM. I ha
u the paper in my pocket, and it direct
ed me to the miserable out honsC
j. where the sufferers had been found.
Ie Quite a crowd had been collecte
t, outside. But a policeman at tn
II door permitted no one to go in. IL
n knew me, however, and on my expires
sing my wish, allowed me to enter.
e, A sheet, furnished by some poo
neighbor, was spread over a still
= waxen face in the corner; little gin
was sobbing beside il; and ma
bowed with grief sat at the foot. A
: the sound Of my footsteps he locke
up. 1t was the same wan face l ha
repelled at tho corner Of the street.
= Since that day | have never turne
~ away from old or young who had ask
'r cd aims. Better give to thousan
d, who are unworthy, than refuse on
III that is really in need.
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~ n