The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-05-30
A LESSON FOR HARD TIMES.

But the bands redOuble
True affection twined.
A LESSON FOR HARD TIMES
If one of the characters out o
Dickens novels had walked into th,
room, L could not have been more
surprised. 1t was press day wa.
very busy in my sanctum, when
heard the door open and a curiou,
shufling noise followed. which made
me look up for moment saw, as
| supposed, crippled beggar, shut
fling his way on his knees towards
my chair. / waved him away with
my hand" Nothing for you," ]
said resolutely, a little impatiently
possibly, and turned back to my
desk. caught up the broken thread,
and wound off the completed SEN
tence from the editorial distaff. But
the beggar was not repelled. He
answered something; with divided
attention 1 could not make out what.
Nothing for you," 1 repeated,
somewhat more vigorously than be-
fore. The answer was plain enough
this time; and in a tone that COM
manded attention." am no beggar,
SIR -ar
had got to the end of my SEN
ltence now. Two or three weeks
ago had been studying the parable
of the good Samaritan. Perhaps
the recollection Of two very pious
men who were in so great a hurry
to get to the temple that they, could
not attend to the unfortunate, may
have had some influence on me. 1
laid down my pen and went to the
unknown. ..-.,...,.-
He was on his knees; his legs from
his knees to his feet were useless
appendages, which dragged after
him and produced the shuffling sound
which first attracted my attention.
His whole body was disjointed; his
arms alternately hung down like
the wooden arms of a great toy. and
moved about in grotesque attempt
at gesture-like the toy arms when
the image is pulled by the string
from below. When he spoke he
wormed and twisted his head from
side to side. and contorted his face
with the vigor of his endeayor, as
though the words were stored below
and could be brought up out of re-
luctant throat only by a wrestling
and invincible will. But his eyes
was clear. his brow high, and his
whole face, when in repose, not un-
handsome.
II have got something to sell,
sir, and it is no humbug, ether"
Then I noticed for the first time a
leathern bag slung oFerhis shoulder.
With curious spasmodie twist he
dove into it and brought out n tin
box labeled "Prof. IS soap
warranted to take out grease spots,
etc.. etc. In this as in every motion,
his arms, and hands, aud fingers,
made wild attempts before they sue
ceeded in their purpose, like those
of a two or three months'aOld babe
that had not yet come into posses
sion of itself.
"What brought you into this con-
dition. my friend" said |. looking
down upon him.
was born a cripple. sir" he an
swered. g Sut," lie added quickly,
as though he saw some sympathy in
my face and would refuse it, Won
must not think that / suffer, for I
don't. | have no pain; it is only
weakness; weakness of the spine,
the doctors tell me, so that | don't
have good use of my arms. or legs,
or face. Bat / don't suffer. ! am
not unhappy" 5.s ~
could hardly look in his face
were so distressinglY labored. ]
rarely give to heggars; for that very
reason 1 am always reluctant to. turn
away any one. from the ganetn who
is sweeping the street crossing up
who is endeavoring to earn an honest
living. l bought his patent soap
and gave him the price Ia quarter
He turned to go away; I should
have as soon thought of Offering
charity TO any other independent
merchant as to him. but ] stopped
him with Question. 1t needed but
a very little touch of sympathy to
open his heart. He told me his
history. transcribe it here as well
as lean. but am painfully aware
that it loses character in the trana.l
cribing: -ta
My father was a mechanic. /
was always. from my birth, as you
see me now. He supported me till
/ was twenty-eight. But / didu'ti
like it. / wanted 10 be seif-support-
ing. ssnsa.r. s.s5---sf~g.s, sFeI "a
| noted a curious feature Of his
language. 1t was that Of one born
in the lower ranks but self-edncated
by courses, OF reading outside the
literature. Of his companions. 1
thought this at the time !. il was con-
firmed by . suggestive hint hint afser-a
ct told my father. He laughed
a me. What can you dog said he.
/ told him that ne could not always
support me he must die some day.
and ne had no money. The Lord
will lrovide,' said he. But that did
not suit me. / I2resolved if could
not have my own way / would run
away" s5fAs 1i s@4M At
There was something patheticalIy
humorous in this picture of man~
boy of twenty-eight running away
on his knees from tyrannicat father
who despotically insisted on provid-
ing for him. Whether he actually
did run away or not, he did not tell
me. and / did not ask him.
aS 9 zla