American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-03-02
II Was an Hudgered." "

falling. The streets were almost de
serted.
Suddenly a voice at my elbow
said, ~ am not fit for work, anC
have eaten nothing to-day"
looked at the speaker. He wa!
an able-bodied man, but had los
both arms by amputation: he was
evidently a discharged soldier. HI
was pale, too, as if from recent sick
ness or from scanty food. He had OF
an old, thread d-bare coat.
My first impulse was to give hin
something; but my coat was buttoneC
tight; | could not easily unbutton il
and continue to hold my umbrella
and book; and, to crown all, the
street car, for which | he'd been wait
ing, at that moment came up.
81 have nothing to. lay" | said
turning from the man and beckonine
to the driver.
heard a sigh as | turned, and was
on the point of reconSidering my de
cisiOn; but | reelected that if | missed
this car / should have to wait ten
minutes in the road. BcSdes,"
said to myself, " somebody else will
be sure to give him sOmetling."
But my heart Sm0te Inc when, on
looking after the man, saw him 90
sadly down he street with bent head.
Once thought of stopping the car,
overtak;ng the man, and giving him
half dollar. But, while heSitated,
the car passed the corner, and he was
ont of sight 1t was too late.
/ did not eat my dinner that day
with the usual appetite. | could not
get hat wan face ont of my mind
At times the victuals seemed to choke
me. What if he We're 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, |
would have gone the very next day
to satisfy my self that he had received
assistance.
But the impression gradually wore
off. There is so much suffering now
in the great cities that almost every
one becomes hardened to it. | per
suaded myself, finally, that the rnan
had been helped by others. There
are so many societies 20 help soldiers,
] said. 1t was uncomfortable 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 chow shocking"
| do not know how Il was, but |
felt sudden chill. 1 thought in
stantly of that mars wan face. But
| said ca elessly, as | broke my egg
"What is it, my dear ~
"Oh such horrible story. A
soldier, his wife and child ,
rem dying Of stal yation. At least tie
wife is dead, and one of the children
not expected to live. None have had |
to eat for four days. They |
were found in an old clubhouse. The
husband is said to have lost both !
arms at Gettysburg"
My hand trembled SO much that
long betOle my wife finished. had |
been compelled to lay down my egg
Sne was looking at the
paper and did not see me.
had no appetite after that. rose
Immediately and haStened down town,
or | was sure this was the man whose
petition | had rejected. | went
straight to see him. | had the paper
n my pocket. and it directed me to
he miserable out house where the
uf erer' h d been found.
Gu t a crowd had been collected 5
utSide, but policeman at the door :
jelm tied no one to go in. He knew {
ne, however, and oi my expressing
ny wish, allowed me enter. {
A sheet, furnished by some poor |
eighborS, was spread over a still.
,aXen face in the corner; Il little girl
as sobbing beside it; and man, |
owed with grief, sat at the foot. At q
ne sound of my footsteps, lie looked 1
p. 1t was the same wan face | had
Apelled at the corner of the street.
Since that day have never turned
way from old or young who have Z
Sked aims. Better give to a thouS- /
ho are unworthy, than refuse one Il
ho is really i'll need. IL