Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-06
4 Lesson for Hard Times.

Ii one of the characters out Of DIckenss
novels had walked into the room, | could
not have been more surprised. Ii was press
day, | was very busy IN my sanctum, when
heard the door open and curious shuilling
noise followed, which made me look up tor "A
moment from my paper 1t was but tor a
moment; | saw, as | supposed, IL crippled
beggar, shuilling his way ON his knees to-
ward my chair. | waved him away with my
hand Nothing for You, ! said, resolutely,
little impatiently, possibly and turned
back to my desk, caught mp the broken
thread, and wound of the completed SEN
tence from the editorial distaii. But the beg
gar was not repealed. lie answered some
thing; with IL diyided attention | could not
make out what Nothing for you, | re
peatcd, somewhat more vigorously than be
fore The answer was plain enough this
time; and in a tone that commanded atten-
ton. 81 am no beggar, sir.
He WAS on his knees; his legs from his
knees to his feet were useless appendaSeS.
which dragged after him and produced the
shutting sound which first attracted my at
tention. His whole body was disJolned
his arms alternately hung down like the
wooden arms OF Il great toy, and moved
about III grotesque attempt at gesture
like the toy arms when the image Is pulled
by the strings from below. When he spoke
he wormed and twisted his head from side
To side and conturted his face with the vigOr
of his endeavor as though the words were
stored below and could be brought up out OF
reluctant throat only by II wrestling and
inviuclble will But his eye WAS clear, his
brow high and his whole face, when III re-
pose. not unhnndsome.
Il have got something to sell. sir, and It Is
no humbug. either.
Then | noticed cor the first time Il leathern
bag slung over his shoulder. With curious
srlsmodIc twist he dove INTO 1t and brought
out II TIN box labeled Prot. IS soad war
runted to take out grease spots, etc. In tins
rs in avery motion, his arms and hands and
fingers made Wild attempts before they sue
ceeded i'll their purpose, like those oi two
| or three months old babe That hes not yet
come into possession OF itself
What brought you into tins condition,
my friend" said l. looking down upon
hun.
II was born cripple, sir, he answered.
'.But, he added, quickly. rs though he saw
some sympathy III my face and would refuse
| If, ''you must not think that ! suffer- Tor |
don't. | have no pam, 1t Is only weakness
weakness Of the spine, the doctors tell me,
So that don't have good usc "t my arms or
| legs or face But don't suffer. And am
not unhappy.
| could hardly look IN his fAcr while he
wus speaking, his rndeilvors were 50 dis
trcssinrly nhnrcd rarely give to hcgg1.rs
J for that very reason am always reluctant to
turn away any one, from the gamin who Is
! ,WVenlur the street CROSSINGS uu who Is en-
| dr,Noring to earn NJ honest living. bought
| his patent soap and gave HIM the prlcc II
| quarter. He turned To 90 away, should as
soon Thought OF Offering charity To- any other
mdcpcndcnt merchant us to HIM, but | stop
ped linn with a question 1t needed hut .
| very htilc touch OF sympathy to open his
| h,nrt lie told me his story
.Nlv father WAS mechanic. was always
from my birth as You see me now lie sup
| posted me tall WAS y But didn't like 1t.