American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-04-17
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 proprietor and said :
Sit down here-l want to speak with
you"
He was q 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 anxlous-looking,
and his battered 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 replied !:
Sir, it makes me feel sad when 1 re-
feet that we have all got to die"
Yes-um," replied the merchant
christopher Columbus is dead" con-
tinued the sad man, land who feels bad
about it-who sheds q tear over his loss.
He is gone and we shall never see him
more! You and I must sooner or later
follow him and the world will go Just the
same"
"Then you don't want anything to-
day." queried the merchant after pain
III pause:
anybody weeping over his loss? Don't
folks laf and laf, and don't the world go
ON just the same? Sir, it may not be a
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 got to die" replied
the merchant as he tossed stray nail
over the eightpennys-
"Andrew jackson is dead 7" continued
the sad man, tear falling ON his hand.
"Yes, Andrew has been gathered, and .
good man has gone from among us. Were
you acquainted with him?"
az believe not" was the answer.
"Well, he was q fine man, and many
. night have laid awake and cried to
think he would be seen among us no
wailing and sobbing? Does anybody
seem to care q 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 new
er lived"
"Ths world can't, of course, stop for
the death of one man, no matter how
great" said the merchant.
That's what makes me sad-that's
why weep these tearsr answered the
man, wringing his long, peaked nose with
vigorous grief. William Penn is also
dead. Once in great while hear some
one express sorrow, but as q general thing
the world has forgotten William 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:"
I never have time to think of these
things" answered the merchant, fondling
the coalstove shaker.
"And 6hakespeare's gone, toop' ex-
claimed the man, his chin quivering with
agitation. 1--WE may sigh, and sigh, and
sigh, and wish, and 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 a bright
lamp has been extinguished forever"
"Well, did you want anything in the
line of hnrdware?" asked the merchant,
as he rose up.
Can you speak of hardware to me at
such q 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 to his desk
and the sad man wrung his nose again
and went out-Detr0it Free Press.