The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-06

the money If it had been necessary to
pawn my nat.
"Do you let impostors swindle You in
that manner 7" inquired an acquaintance.
A journalist who has knocked around a
daily paper for dozen years has seen
every phase of human life. Men, women,
and children have swindled him or sought
to; people have lied to him his money has
told direful tales of distress, and he ought
to be able to correctly read human nature
"1ll bet that boy is professional beg.
gar" continued my friend chucklipg at the
idea of my being swindled. None Of US
care for the loss of shinplaster on the
street while every one feels vexed and an
noyed at the idea of being swindled out of
single penny. I could not say that the
boy was not swindler, and yet would
have divided my last shilling with him.
"Whyf"
I told my friend why, and 1 will tell
One day last year when the wild wind
blew the snow over the house roofs and
around the corners in binding clouds, and
when the frosty air cut ones face like a
knife, boy of ten come up to me as
waited for the car. He was thinly clad, his
face betrayed hunger and suffering, and in
q mournful voice he pleaded -
Pm hungry and cold"
why don't you go home 9"I asked.
~ havn't any"
"Aavn't you any relatives"
Not one."
" .Hs long have you been herer'
"Three weeks"
The boy spoke in that drawl which pro-
fesslonal beggars assume. / believed, too,
that had seen his face on the streets time
and again. hardened my heart and said
"Boy, know you, and if catch you
asking any one for money again I'll have
you arrested"
He moved away quickly. 1 argued that
this proved bis guilt, forgetting that a
homeless, friendless waif might evince fear
when entirely innocent.
Five hours later, when night had come
and the wind had grown to a fierce gale,
the boy halted me again as l plunged
through the snowdrifts. did not see him
until he called out:-
"Misther, I'm almost starved, and I'll
freeze to death if 1 can't get some place to
Sleep"
The same thin, ragged clothes. hardly
comfortable enough for June weather-the
same whine in his voice. felt like giving
him money, but the fear that he had been
sent out by his parents to beg restrained
and angered me. Catching him by the arm,
/ yelled out
"see here, boyl If you don't own up
that you are lying to me I'll take you to
the station
Through the binding storm saw his
white face grow paier, and he cried back
"Don't take me-don't. Yes, 1 was
lying"
released him and he hurried away,
while walked on, hattering myself that
had played sharp game and done the gem.
erous public good turn.
An hour later, when the night had grown
still wilder and colder, some one knocked
at my door. 1t was timid knock, and I
wondered who could send a child abroad
on such night When I opened the door
that same boy was on the step, his face
blue with cold, his whole form shiyerinp
and look of desperation in his eyes.
"Please Mister" he begun, but stopped
when he recognized me.
was puzzle to know why he should |
have followed me home-why he had Sc.
iected me for victim and traled me 30 |
persistently. might have argued that the |
storm had driven people off the street, and |
that the freezing, starving boy had, 10 his |
desperation, called at the house, but /
didn't. Had it been any other boy or any
other person asking charity 1 would have |
given promptly and freely. But was an
CRY at his trailing me-angered that he
thought he could swindle me- and grabbed |
at him and inquired:
Boy, what is your name 2"
he leapeo back, and standing where the
furious storm almost buried him from 81 ght.
he answered:
"Gil."
81 know you, sir" shouted, and he
moved away without another word.
May the Lord forgive me for that nights
work but You might have acted the same, |
When morning came, after night so bitter
that policemen were frozen on their beats. |
opened the front door to find that boy on |
the steps, frozen to death. knew, as the |
dead, white face looked up at me through |
the snow, that had wronged him with my |
suspicious, but it was too late then-the |
angels had opened to him gate leading to
apiace where the human heart and it's IN
worthy thoughts can never enter. Poor
Gil! A warm meal or a shilling would have
saved his life, and 1 drove him out to his
death.
This is why give wien 1 am asked now.
know that l sometimes give to the un-
worthy, but it would be better to give all |
possess to an impOstor than to have another
homeless waif creep back to die on the |
spot where had unjustly accused him.
THE VALUE OF EDUCATION.
Jack was heard calling across tho fa1ca