The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-06-14
THE AMATEUR BEGGAR.
sfnst anvthiBr Boss 2

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IstaHed, as sthough . dozen of Prof.
TSndalfs elecffic batteries had been
discharged through me simultaneously,
and confronted specimen, of the pur-
est water, of the Celtic race. He was
gracefully indulgiug in the pnenviable
luxury Of ashort;clsy pipe, as he leaned
his elbow on the gateway of the family
pig-stye.& No, L had lost nothing, and
vet felt very much like detected
thief as | nervously replied in the mega
tive to the inquiry Of the squatter lord
of tbe locky domain on whose premises
was trespassing.
III thought you was a lookin' for
suthin,n rejoined the Irish self-appoint-
edflord Of the manor.
Looking for somethipgl had been
prowling in search OF something for
nearly Two hours among the shanties,
the children, the goats. the cows and
the dirty ducks and geese which seem
to love 10 congregate around the bound
aries of the Central Park. | had been
stared at by idle men (for it was Sun
day, and clean shirt sleeves were the Or
der M the day. had been thoroughly
appraised by slatternly women; had
been followed by, goats, and unwashed,
unkempt, 7stockingless children, and
growled at by ours, but this naturalized
citizen was the only being who had SO
far verbally expressed any curiosity to
learn what brought me there. He, Ger
talnly, at first mistook me for a poultry
stealer, or detective police officer, for
in the words Of the old rhyme:
lie eyed me up. he eyed me down.
As though owned one-half the town."
Endeavoring to assume an air of su-
preme indifference, l pursued my
search, and shortly afterward, much
to my joy, Gghted on the very thing /
was seeking for-au old worn out and
discarded boot. clutched it with all
the eagerness OF a diamond digger; and
stuffing it.into the pocket of my over
coat, | retraced my steps, muttering to
myself, 1T don't match very well; but
perhaps, 30 much the better.n Ny Irish
friend had evidently been watching my
every movement, either from feeling
of suspicion or, of Unsuitable curiosity.
And, Is l passed his wooden castle, he
turned his head slowly, and, after a law
ish expectoration, remarked to his next
door neighbcr, Z" Bedad, that mans as
mad as the divil." Had he really been
aware of my intentions, it is probable
thathe Wonid have rendered his sdjec-
tives-in the superlative degree, and
much more forcibly.
The fact is, like Don Quixote, the
spirit Of adventure was strong upon me.
But, unlike Don Quixote, l had no
faithful Sancho Panza to perform my
bidding in the way of making prepare
ions. Nor have l any Cervantes to
chronicle my deeds. But they were far
from heroic. / was simply going beg
ging, and wanted another worn out
boot to complete my outfit in true pro-
frssional style. 1 had one that had
purloined from an ash-barrel on Third
aveRue. had also hat that had
PICKED up from gutter in my neigh
borhood; and had purchased an old
pair of pantaloons and a frock-coat,
which had once been black, but had
iaded INTO green-brown shade of color,
from an old clothes store in Avenue b.
IN this regal apparel proposed to en-.
Ter INTO competition with the aristocra-
cy q. .eeggardom for the charitable sym
pathies OF the well-diessed and cold.
scattering promenaders ON Broadway.
BelisarlussX his 1da .obolum.r vas fo
be fo4 70 n8el Louis Philippe. besr;no
for eentimes at the corner Of The Rns ds
la Paixsasshis enemies were SO fond of
picturing him, should be an inpooent
compares -wish the imPosture on the
purse-srings Of the public which BRO.
posed TO perpetrate. Dim visions of
founding an asylum for aged beggars
out of the profits of my days work
foated airily through my brain; and,
lost in the pleaslrable contemplation OF
my adventure, regarding with the eye
oI an art st my worn-out boots and tat
sred apparel ~ they lay, ready to be
aonned, upon chair before ME, be.
heve that for the moment, begging, as q
means Of gaming livelihood, almost
rose 10 the dignity of a profession in
my eyes. -
rqtting my begging costume into a
sa,c1el, sought the rooms of n tbeatri.
eai friend who had promised 10 aid me
~ . Dslet de ciambre for the occasion. He
sM also TO use his green. room knowl.
s'se IN toning down my rather exuber.