Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-07-20

| SuunllHE Hulhb lOilOMthy MhtIh ihhhb hit
look up for a moment from my paper. II
was but for a moment; | saw, as supposed
a crippled beggar, shuflling his way on his
knees toward my chair. 1 waved him
away with my hand. "Nolhing for you, -
l said, resoulely, little impaiieutly, pos
sibly, and turned back to my desk, caught
up the broken thread, and wound off the
completed sentence from the editorial dis
lah. But the beggar was notrepelled. lie
answered something; with divided alien
tion l could not make out what. "Nothing
for you," 1 repeated, somewhat moro Wig
orously than before. Tho answer was plain
enough this time and in a tone that COM
mandod attention: "I am no beggar, sir"
lie was on his knees his legs from his
knees TO his feet were useless appendages,
which dragged amer him and produced the
shufIlng sound which first attracted my at
tenton. HIS whole body was disjointed ;
his arms alternately hung down like the
wooden arms of great toy, and moved
about in a grotesque attempt at gesture
like the toy arms when the image is pulled
by the strings from below. When be spoke
he wormed and twisted his head from side
| to side, and contorted his face with the Wig
or of his endeavor, as though the words
were stored below and could be brought up
out of a reluctant throat only by wrest-
ling and invincible will. But his eye was
clear, his brow high, and his whole face,
when in repose, not rnhandsome.
81 have something to sell, sir, and it is
no humbug, either"
Then l noticed for the first time a lealh-
ern bag slung over his shoulder. With a
curious spas modic twist he dove into it and
brought out lin box labeled Prof-'s
soap; warranted TO take ont grease spots,
etc. In this as in every motion, bis arms
and hands and fingers made wild attempts
before they succeeded in their purpose,
| like those of two or three months old
babe that has not yet come into possession
| of itself.
"What brought you into this condition,
my friend?" said 1, looking down upon
him.
~ was born a cripple, sir" he answered.
| But" he added, quickly, as though he
saw some sympathy in my face and would
refuse it, "you must not think that Isufier,
for l don't. l have no pain; il is only
weakness; weakness Of the spine, the doc
tors tell me, 50 that 1 don't have good use
of my arms or legs or face. But 1 don't
| suffer and am not unhappy"
| 1 could hardly look in his face while lie
was speaking, his endeavors were so dis
tressinGly labored. l rarely give TO beg
gars for that very reason am always re.
luctant 10 turn away any one, from the
| gamin who is sweeping the street crossing
up, who is endeavoring to earn an honest
living. 1 bought his patent soap and gave
him the price-a quarter. He turned TO go
away; l should as soon thought Of Offer
ing charity to any other Independent mer-
chant as TO him, but I stopped him with a
question. 1t needed but very little touch
of sympathy TO open his heart. He told
me his story:
| "My father was a mechanic. 1 was al
ways from my birth as you see me now.
He supported me till was 2s. Bnt didn't
like il. 1 wanted 10 be selr-supporting."
noted a curious feature of his language.
1t was that of one born in the lower ranks,
but self educated by courses of reading
outside of the literature OF his companions.
1 thought this at the time it was confirm
ed by a suggestive hint aflerward.
al told my father. He laughed at me.
What can you do?' said he. l told him
that he could not always support me he
must die some day, and he had 10 money.
The Lord will PROVIDE said he. But that
did not suit me. l resolved that If could
not have my own way would run away"
There was something pathetically bu-
morous in this picture of a man-boy of %
running away on his knees from a tyrani-
cal father who despotically insisted on pro-
viding for him. Whether he actually did
rnn away or not be did not tell me, and
| did not ask him.
81 bought this recipe for soap. At first
hired man to go round with me and tax
care of me, but that did not pay. Then
went to a hotel, and hired porter 10 dress
and undress me. In the daytime 1 took
care of myself"
All this and much more--fur l am COM
pressing long story into a short one
with labored speaking and labored listen
ing, for it was not always quite easy TO tell
what was the word which the corkscrew
brought up. Like an old cork, it was
broken, and often came up in fragments.
"I never expected TO get married, for
never thought that any woman whom /
would have would have me. But you
know, sir, the old proverb, Every Jack
has his Gill;' aud found my Gill. And
don't believe there is man in New York
that has got better wife than have. And
don't you imagine that 1 am miserable, sir.
1 seem so TO you because you judge me
from your point of view. But see many
rich man, and a strong man, that would
not exchange with them. 1 have my ad-
vantages, too. Society claims a great deal
of you; but it never claims anything of me.
I am independent. And 1 enjoy life; be-
cause, don't you see, sir, have nothing to
do but to study how TO enjoy it,"
"Do you go to church," asked.
"Wel, sir, am a member of the Baptist
church, but since 1 have moved away from
the old church and gone among strangers,
1 don't go to church, for it might create a
sensation, don't you seer"
Well, yes did see. imagined this
creature shuffling up the broad aisle of a
fashionable church, or even of an unfash-
ionable chapel, and thought he showed
consideration for the worshippers aud the
preacher.
"There is only one thing want" he add
ed. 81 would like to get into a library"
"A library ~ said I. "What could you
do in a libraryH"
sob, as a member, mean, sir" said he,
"I would like TO be able to get books out TO
read"
1 took down his address, and, with all
the inimitable dignity of gentleman, he
invited me to call. Then, with an apology
| for having iaken so much of nv time. and