Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-30
THE ELEVENTH COT
[From Scribner's Monthly.I

with poverty we're the most Desperate
foolish bit of misconduct had excluded me
fIt IN the office in which 4 was employed as
clerk, and the Over-crOwded condition OF the
city prevented me from obtaining another stu
alton, even when delay and anxiety had de-
srOyed my faStldlOuSness, and when the mean
est salary would have been gratefully accepted
quickly became poor, and then soon followed
the regular train of sharp experiences with
ing round OF sickening conflicts which so quickly
broke the hghtness OF my carriage and DESTROY
ed the smOOthnCss of my face.
was then the occupant Of a small back
room on the nth floor of large hOuse on Sixth
avenue; a dreary, barren barn, scant OF furni-
ture, with draughty halls, carpetleSs stairways
and always Peryaded with chilling damp. 1
had reason to think the hHuSe was full of
dodgers, from the almost incessant opening and
Closing OF doors at all hours of the night and
Cay, though, on the other hand, L rarely heard
voice IN the vast corridors, and never on any
occasion laugh.
The place was cherries beyond comparison:
what pretty scenes Of light and fire may have
occurred behind the npmberless doors visible
from every point, do not know; there NAV
have been times of carOusal and cOnvivialitv but
L never knew when, OF never, at that dismal
period, looked upon one.
BY the middle of February the train of bitter
circumstances envelOped me very closely, and
began 10 deprive myself OF food. / accustomed
myself TO dowithOut light at night and withoutfire
In the daytime l recall that kept my bed dur
ing several entire days in order to avoid the
cold. BY the latter part of this dismal month (
was reduced TO taking one meal each day, and
even that was slender and barren enough. /
grew III and bent; and that inevitable sequence
Of hunger began to open upon me-the wide ex-
panse of theft and villisny.
1t was as reached this common point that
became particularly conscious Of a neighbor
lie performed no act that brought him to NV
notice, but regarded his incomings and out
gOings more in consequence of the utter yacuitv
Of my own mind than from any unusual conduct
on his part In fact he was exceedingly unob-
uusiye. had an indistinct idea that he was a
foreigner, gained perhaps from the fact that he
used TO smoke cigarettes necessarily, though I
never had heard him speak, and indeed could
hardly recall his figure.
From some little trifiing circumstances-cir-
cUmstances which knew only too well how no
interpret, i came 20 believe that my fellow
lOdger was as poor as myself. i could never
quite understand why, but no sooner had
arrived at this conclusion than became pos
sCsSed with the desire to find the ins and outs of
his affairs. 1t pleased me, and actually became
cheerful while Prosecuting my inquiries among
the few people whom knew. The result was
6minently unsatisfactory. 1t merely Appeared
that he came from some one of the South Amer
lean States, and that he Was unhappy, and that
he was gentleman.
/ determined, therefore, TO waylay him. and
form bis acquaintance. i never questioned nv
self IN regard 10 my object; 1 doubt if had arly
more legitimate one than the instinct to employ
myself IN some fashion or other, and think the
pursuit OF atwOuld have afforded me as much
satisfaction.
=, At dusk on a cold, snowy day, met him in
HIM He stopped. raised HIS cap, and saluted
NE IN voice OF surprising gentleness.
II antly felt the irregularity of my proceed
ing, and stammered some excuses. blunder-
ingly explained my desire To know him, and he
instantly gave me his hand. Ii was cold and
thIn; and am certain mine must have been so
iSr We both shlTered as We walked away from
the spot.
We went to his chamber. / sat upon his
bed, While he stood with his hands behind his
back in the faint flush Of light which came
IN az the dusty window. He was slight grace
iul, tall His face was thin, distress.ngIy thin.
but refined and even beautiful. His coat was
and at the skirts 1t was buttoned close about
hlS throat His shoes were Of cloth, and I
thought they were a woman's.
The room was the most wretched that ever
saw. IL was untidy, unclean. Heaps of use
less litter encountered the floor; tattered
articles or apparel were scattered here and
therei everything was awry, twisted, out OF
place; nothing stood straight, and ali lay under
q pail Of dust.
sat for thirty minutes with my hands upon
my knees without uttering word. could not
SPEAK He also was silent, and / saw his knees
yield beneath him several times. Ii was very
cold, and felt the perspiratiOn from my chilled
body run down beneath my arms.
Finally l spoke. / told him nv circum-
stances, and then he told me his. We curiously
slipped into a sort of competition I'm our various
exhibits, and for the moment we became sorry
end j said:
To-day have had but one meal, and that in
a GERMAN shop. IL was single-egg, piece OF
bread, and a cup Of Coffee
He looked at me and smiled. His teeth were
white and perfect.
Il have noting in me since a day. 1 am
empty"
All the vicissitudes and pleasures of nv sub
sequent lie have not thrown an celebrating
shade or obscUrity over this expression of his; il
always presents itself 70 me even at this distant
cay as the fullest expression Of want and hunger
that human being Is capable of making. 1t was
touching and pathetic TO the last degree; the
turn OF bis head, the glance of his eye, the
Su0ng lntOnauOn OF his voice which accom-
panied il, rise before me like "a scene of yester-
day, and turn my trials into tribes and dispense
my sOrTows for very shame.
made no direct answer, but instinctiyely
arose, as II with respect, and approached him
He covered his face with his hands, and sur
rendered for An instant; then he caught long
breath, and resolutely put his hands behind him
0gain-
lie had nothing to sell, and neither hadI. I
remember that We went through the form of
searching our pockets. Nothing was produced.
A long look of intelligence passed between US;
took his arm and we walked to the window. We
were being starved.
He raised his hand ard pinched his shoulder,
LoOk-look; see how theen-O, how meesar-
meesarable-meesarable!"
IL was showing hard, and the streets were
LIied- ne cars were running, however, and
looking coTnwards we could see the warm glare
OF the shop windows. The crowd had long since
turned homexardsl and the undennable muir.
Us. Twas weak, and knew he Was even weaker,
was thinking Of nothing, for thought was i'm
possible. was confused Presently nv friend
spoke 20 me and touched my arm; he told me
Afterwards that he spoke thrice.
Do you hear de riDg-de clang-ds scrsping
of de metal?"
"Yes; they are shoyeling the snow on the
walks; IL is clearing up"
"Ha-dep why not we too? We 20 TO de res
idence and we shovel him too
he erected himself and looked eagerly down
into the street
But we have no shoyels. They win not lend
them, for they viii think rs thieves"
He looked al me In an indcscribable way, and
Struggling his shoulders, turned out the palms
q his hands.
We die eef We stay here, that's true. And
eei We 90 maybe we find fool"
lie Put his hand on my shoulder and drew me
away from where was standing. IL often hap
Itns 10 one, that though he has been in intimate
contact with certain scenes, circumstances and
persons, both agreeable and disagreeable, for q
considerable time, yet certain moments may
occur when n vivid realization of his position
pIcSe ntS itself and diSclOscs relations which even
ong familiarity has failed TO produce: a sort OF
glimpse at immaculate truth, a view undimmsd
with hope or JOY or regret, as the case NAV he
Such a moment now occurred Ia me i hcheld
an unfatteriBg picture Of my affairs. Weakness.
Poverty, hunger, and a chance for relief
Immediately went ard got my cap and a
faithful little Bco!en tppet, which, thank God,