The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-01-17
The Beggar aud the Pape,
Merchant.

mary years since, When L was a
young man about twenty years Of age,
l used very frequently to spend Sunday
with my mother, who resided at Yer
sailles, this being the only dav of the
week on which could leave Pa'is. /
generally walked as far rs the Barrier,
and thence took seat in one of the
public carriages, to my mothers house.
When happened to be too early for
the diligence, 1 used to stop and con-
verse with beHgar, whose name was
Anthony, and who regularly took his
station at the Barrier de Passy, where
in loud voice he solicited aims from
every one who passed, with degree of
perseverance that was really astonish-
ing. n.
While Anthony was in this manner
pouring his EXPLANATIONS into the ears
of every one who came within the
reach of his voice, a middle-aged man
of respectable appearance Joined us.
He had a pleasant expression of coun-
tenance, was very well dressed, and it
might be seen at glance that he was
man in good circumstances. Here was
a fit subject for the beggar, who quickly
made his advances. proclaiming in a
loud voice his poverty, and soliciting
relief.
"You need not be beggar unless
you please" replied the gentleman.
81 have no other means of obtaining
living"
care you lame?"
'No, SIR"
"Iou are not blind, nor deaf, and
you certainly are not dumb, as every
passer-by can testify. Listen. / will
tell you my history in few words.
Some fifteen or twenty years go was
beggar like yourself; at length be-
gan to see that it was very disgracefui
to live on the bounty of others, and
resolved to abandon this shameful way
OF life as soon as | possibly could. I
quilted Paris, went int the provinces,
and begged for old rags. The people
were very kind to me, and in a short
time | returned to Paris with toiera-
bly, large bundle of rags of every de-
scription. I carried them to a paper
maker, who bought them at q fair
price. | went on collecting, until, to
my great joy, my finances enabled me
to purchase rags, so that was no
longer forced to beg for them. AT
length, by diligence and industry, I be.
came rich enough to buy an ass and
two panniers, and they saved me both
time aud labor. My business increased;
the paper makers found that dealt
honestly by them; never palmed of
bad rags for good ones; prospered
and see the result Instead of being a
poor, despi ed beggar, h we ten thou
sand crowns year, and two houses in
one Of the best streets of Paris. Ii,
then, my friend, you can do no better,
begin as a rag merchant. And here, .
he continued, sis a crown, to set you
up in your new trade; it is more than
had; and, in addition, please take no.
tice, that if | find you here another
Sunday / shall report you to the po-
lice"
On saying this, the old gentleman
walked off, leaving Anthony and my
self in great surprise. Indeed, tht
| beggar had been so much interested IN
the history he had heard, that he stood
with open mouth and eyes, in mute as-
constituent, nor had he even power tC
solicit alms from two well dressed Ia
dies who passed at that moment.
l could not help being struck with
the story, but had not time to com
ment upon 1t, as the diligence had ar
rived, in which seated myself and pur
sued my way. From that period | los
sight OF the beggar. Whether the feal
of the police, or the hops of gaining
ten thousand crowns a year, ha(
wrought the change, was net aware
1t is sufficient to say that from that day
1 forward he was never seen at the Bar
rier.
Many years aftarward It hap,
pened ii at business called me Il
Tours. In strolling through the city
stepped into a booksellers shop to pur
chase a new work that had made som,
noise. | found there were four young
men, all busily employed, while stout
good looking man was giving them or
ders, as he walked up and down, witt
an air of Importance. thought haC
seen the face Of the bookseller before
but where l could not for moment
tai, until he spoke, and then discov-
cred him to be my old friend Anthony
The recos milton was mutual. al
grasped my hand aud led me through
his shop into well furnished parlor
He lavished every kindness ON me, anC
finally gave me his history from til {
time we parted at the barrier. Will
the crown of the stranger he began, al
he had advised him, to collect rags. lie
made money; became the partner of 9
paper manufacturer; marrledhis daugh
ter; in short, his hopes were fulfilled
mis- ambition gratlied, and he coult
now count his income at ten thousanC
crowns. He prayed every day io
blessings on his benefactor, who haC
been the means Of raislng him from thl
degraded condition of a common beg
gar. Anthony is 80 convinced of thu
evil and sin Of idleness, aud of sub
slstffg on the charity OF others, that
while liberal and kind to those who arr
willing to work, no eutreaties, no sup
plicaticn, ever prevailed on him to be
stow a single penny Oh those who vii
not help themselves. .-lBritish Friend
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