The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-09-17

else, and he hurried away
bney without speaking an
my eve on the man I saw
him rebuffed again and again, and pres
emily laid my hand on his shoulder
and asked:
My good friend. didn't | hear you
ask that man for five cents with which
to buy loaf of bread?n
He hesitated for moment, and then,
thinking that | did not recognize him,
he answered:
lyon did-you did ! have fever
sore and can't work. and haven't tast-
ed food for two days"
Il have heard Of your case before, -
! said. looking him square in the eyes,
land I'm willing to help you all can.
I II must be hard for "A man of your age,
after being familiar with luxury for
/ years and years. TO be suddenly deprived
of wealth and social position, crippled
by disease, and compelled to live rs YOU
are living now. | should think YOU
would sometimes almost be driven to the
point of suicide
"Well-ah-ahem-wel,n he STAN
mered as he took the second shinplaster.
He dropped his eyes, and saw that
he felt somewhat ashamed, although
after n moment he rallied, recovered
his assurance, and said as he walked
away:
II s'pose / might as well be dead as
alive. >
walked clear around the crowd be-
fore | found him again. He had made
pretty good days work Of il, and feel
ing more Independent he was selecting
his victim, choosing men whose liberali-
~ or innocence of mind could be read
in their faces. / stood behind him
and heard him say to kind-faced old
man:
MY wife is dead in the house, and
have no means 10 bury her,
The knd-faced man hesitated even
after putting his fingers into his vest
pocket, and said:
"Well, it's curious. | should think
that the overscer of the poor or some
other official would have authority to
bury your wife at the expense Of the
town
They won't-Ive bin to 'em two or
three times, : replied the beggar, wiping
his EYES " You don't know how hard
it is 10 have dead wife in
"Oh, well. here's ten cents, said the
kind-faced man handing over the scrip, I
but speaking as though he doubted the I
beggar's word.
A. the impostor turned away | tap |
ped him on the shoulder and said
My poor, dear man, how my heart |
bleeds for YOU, | stood there and heard /
YOU appeal To that flint-hearted miscr, \
and saw him hand YOU paltry ten
cents Can that man have heart? Can 4
he feel for the sorrow of others? Can 4
he be less than a statueY
The beggar's eye betrayed his surprise \
at seeing me again. and | plainly saw \
that he was embarrassed.
~ am poor" | continued, keeping \
my eyes on him. but YOU are worse of. 4
Your poor dead wife must have Chris
tian burial if have to return 10 Detroit .
on foot. Here is twenty-five cents. | 4
am ashamed To offer you such a beggar-
ly sum. but can't spare any more
Ga h-ah,m he stammered n he /
took the money
If YOU were a professional beggar 4
could detect the fact in your face, I
said, greatly enjoying his cmbarrass-
ment. "lou are not. One has only 10 \
glance ut YOU to see that You have cul- 4
turc and refinement. and that YOU ask \
aims from dire necessity. feel deeply \
for YOU. and wish could be of service \
in some way"
lie limped away without raising his
eyes, and | expected that ! had lost
him. lie sat down ON the steps Of II
grocery for about quarter of an hour.
and then, arguing with himself that ]
had departed. he limped into the crowd
again. followed him around and
heard him tell several different stories.
and at length tapped him on the shoul-
der. lie turned quickly, and extending
my hand. inquired:
"How do YOU do, Mr.. Grote?"
lie held on, his hand, drew i back
again, and refused to grip me, when
rot hold Of IL.
~ heard about Your house burning
down last night continued, looking
him in the eye as earnestly a. could.
l.lou have lost every thing, while 1,