The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-23
The Man Who Felt Sad.

He entered hardware store on Wood
ward avenue about ten o'clock Saturday
morning, and, taking a seat by the
stove, he beckoned to the proprie Er,
and said
est down here-I want to speak with
you"
He 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 overcoat was
drawn in at the waist by wide leather
belt.
"Can we do anything for you today
asked the merchant, as he sat down.
The sad man slowly wiped his nose,
slowly turned around and slowly re-
piled
"Sir, it makes me feel sad when I
reflect that We have all got 20 die 70
Yes-um," replied the merchant.
christopher Columbus is dead I"
continued the sad man, and who feels
bad about it-who sheds tear over his
loss ? He is gone, and we shall never
see him more You and must sooner
or later follow him, and the world will
go on just the same"
"Then You don't want anything to-
day p queried the merchant after
painful pause.
"And King James is dead /" ex-
claimed the sad man, wiping his moss
again. I" Is anybody weeping over his
loss ? Don't folks laf an laf, and don't
the world go on just the same? Sir, it
may not be week before you and I
will 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 all got to die" re-
piled the merchant as ne tossed a stray
nail over among the eight pennies.
Andrew Jackson is dead, continued
the sad man, a tear falling on his hand.
Yes, Andrew has been gathered, and
a good man has gone from among us.
Were you acquainted with him ?"
81 believe not, was the answer.
"Well, he was a fine man, and many
night l have laid awake and cried to
think that he would be seen among us
no more forever. Yet, do you hear any
wailing and sobbipg? Does anybody
seem to care a cent whether Andrew
Jackson is dead or living? You or [
may be the next TO go, and the world
will move on just the same as if we had
never lived"
"The world can't, of course, stop for
the death of one man, no matter how
great, said the merchant.
That's what makes ne sad-that's
why l weep these tears !" answered the
man, wringing his long, peaked nose
with vigorous grief. civilian Penn
Is dead. Once in a great while | hear
some one express sorrow, but as a gen.
eral thing tie world has fOrpOttan vii
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 wheR you think he has gone
from among us?"
81 never have time to think of these
things" answered the merchant, fond
ling the coal stove shaker.
"Ani Shakespeare is gone too p ex-
claimed the man, his chin quivering
with agitation, "we may sigh, and sigh
and sigh, and wish, aud wish and wish,
but poor Shaky will never be seen
moving with us again They have laid
him away to sleep his long sleep, and
bright lamp has been extingUished for
ever"
''Weli, did you want anything in the
line Of hardware ?" asked the merchant,
as he rose up.
"Can you speak Of hardware to me at
such a time as this ?" exclaimed the sad
man. knowing my sad feelings, see-
ing these tears and listening to my
broken voice, can you have the heart to
try and force hardware upon me ?"
The merchant went over to his desk,
and the sad man wrung his nose again
aud went out.-Detr0it Free Press.