Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-05-07
NUMBER As.
The Man Who Felt Sad.
MELANCHOLY TALK WITH THE PROPRIETOR
A HARDWARE STORE.
From the Detroit Free Fress.

A HARDWARE STORE.
From the Detroit Free Press.
lie entered hardware store on Woodward
avenue about 10 O'Clock Saturday morning.
and taking q seat by the stove, he beckoned
to the proprietor und said:
''Sit down here-I want to speakywith
you"
lie was man who looked sad from the
crown of his hat to the toes of his boots.
There were deep care lines on his face. his
eyes were red and anxious looking. and his
tattered coat was drawn in at the waist by
wide leather belt.
"Can We do anything for you to-day ?"
asked the merchant as he sat down.
The sad man slowly wiped his nose, slowly
turned around, and slowly replied
"Sir, it makes me feel sad when reflect
that We have all got to die ~
"Yes-um," replied the merchant.
christopher Columbus is dead - contin-
ued the sad man, ''and who feels sad about
it-who sheds tear over his loss He has
gone, and we shall never see him more You
and | must sooner or later follow him. and
the world will 90 on just the same"
'Then you don't want anything to-day ,"
queried the merchant after painful pause.
"And King james is dead ~ exclaimed the
sad man, wiping his nose again. ''Is any
body weeping over his loss? Don't folks laf
and laf, and don't the world 20 On Just tie
same Sir, it may not be week before You
and | may be called upon to rest from the
labors of this life. Doesn't it make you feel
sad when you think OF it ~
"Of course, we've got to die. replied tie
naaraha,r Iaf -o.l..
the eightpennys.
Andrew jackson is dead, )" continued the
sad man, a tear falling on his hand. '-Yes,
Andrew has been gathered, and a good nan
has gone from among u. Were you ac-
quainted with him
Il believe not, D." WAS the answer
'Well, he was fine man, and MANY Il
night have laid awake and cried To think
that he would be seen among Us no more 60.
ever. Yet DO you hear my wailins and s,b-
bing? Does anybody seem to care Il cent
whether Andrew Jackson is dcld or living?
You or may be the next To 20, and the world
will move on Just the same as if we had ney-
er lived"
The world can't Of cOur-e stop. .ur tlie
death of one man, no matter how great. >aid
the merchant.
That's what makes Inc sad-thats why
weep these tears. answered the man wiring
ing his long peaked nose, with vigorous grief
William Penn is also dead Once in Il great
while hear some one expIesS sorrow. bat as
a general thing the world has forgotten VIII
liam with the rest. Don't it make You feel
sad when You reflect that You will never see
him again? Don't you feel like crying when
you think he has gone from among us -
II never have time to think Of these
things answered the merchant, foudling
the coal stove shaker
And Shakespeare's gone, too :" cxclam-
od the man, his chin quivering with agita-
ton. ''We may sigh, and sigh, and sigh. AMI
wish, and wish, and wish, but pOJr shaky
will never be seen moving with US again
They have laid him away to sleep his long
sleep, and fright lamp has been eztingui-l
ed forever.
well, did got want anything in the line
Of hardware - asked the merchant a. he rose
up.
Can you speak of hardware To me At such
a time as this? exclaimed the sad man.
knowing my sad feelings. seeing these tears.
and listening to my broken voice. can you
have the heart to try and force hardware
upon me ?"
The merchant went over 10 his desk and
the sad man wrung his nose again ana went
out.