The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-07-18
He Wanted 10 Go Home.

An incident of the Fourth of July
celebration in Boston, apparently, has
recalled to Mr.. B. p. Shillaber, (widely
known US the originator of the quaint
Mrs. Darlington sayings) the following
story, which he tells in the Boston
Post:
ITO ride in a barouche, when his
heart is on foot on any occasion in
which he is interested, makes one feel,
if he is sensitive, as if he were some
commodity of trade 'toted' along for a
market, and the force of this remark
is in the application of it, suggesting d
little story regarding ar occurrence in
the Boston Post office twenty-five
years ago. at that day-and l sup
a reputation for benevolence which
brought many good people, seeking con-
tributions for good objects, to the
printing offices, Of which class of
seekers the Boston Post had a goodly
share. They rarely went away dissat-
listed, and about all who made appeals
to the printers charity were decayed
members of their own fraternity, who
having exhausted all their resources of
health, credit, and reputation, desired
to go home'-the tender plea which
always touched the compositor's sensi-
tive heart. But one man ON the Post
can reach the incident which describe,
and he may have forgotten it.
Late n day, as l was alsne up
stairs, where l had been promoted to a
desk, the door opened, and there stag
gered in III object of the most disgust
ing character. Wretched to the last
degree; from hat to boots misery
claimed him as its own, and he was so
drunk that it was with great difficulty
he could lift his head to address me.
Before he did so 1 recognized in the
forlorn being before me al up-country
editor of some prominence, of good
ability, and a printer of great excellence.
The first words he uttered were: Il
want to go home.'
"'Well,' said 1, hardening my face
against the intruder, why don't you
go?'
He looked at me as well as he could,
holding by my desk, and then he hic-
coughed q confession of his degrada-
ton, his having squandered his money,
ending with the police-station from
which he had been released only on con-
dition of his leaving town, and this was
prevented by his having no money. Not
a silver remained of the princely for
tune which he had collected from
Boston advertisers and he wanted to
go home.' My sensibilities were
touched, and l told my %impecunious
and unwholesome visitor that l would
try to raise the money among the
printers, which 1 did, and soon return
ed with the amount.
81 found the poor wretch half asleep
on a heap of exchanges, and on inform
to- ,on tlnf tln frott, fA-.h io ln,.a hal
LETT, but he would take the change and
plainly that this could not be. He was
not a safe custodian of the funds, and
in the morning l would see him on his
way. lie drew himself up, with
drunken gravity, and told me he could
not agree to my terms. He left the
room, but in a moment returned and
said: Like Shakspeare's apothecary,
my poverty and my not willconsents."
but where shall l sleep to-night?"
1.-THE Parker house was not built
then, and so l took him to a house of
entertainment for u and beast, and
left him in charge of the proprietor.
But the next morning he came in,
worse in condition than the previous
day, having found by some means the
deepest deep of human degradation,
and, without making any inquiry, l
took him by the arm and started with
him for the depot. A most homogeneous
pair, and it seemed hat every %acquain-
tance of mine in Boston was IL on a
walk, and his track lay right across my
path. Every one stared as We went
jostling along, and many were evident
ly disposed to divide the same equally
between us. l put a business face upon
the matter, however, and surged along
with my repulsive charge, until, as we
neared the depot, he stopped short and
drew me into doorway.
"'Look here said he, trying to look
sober, let's argue this thing. Now, am
Ia man, with all the God-given attri-
butes of a man. or am / a side of ig-
noninious sole leather? If I am a
man, with the gifts aforesaid, give me
the money and let me go myself; if am
a side OF ig%nominious sole leather,
then mark me ON the back and let me
go as freight
mo sir;' said l., 1T is my intention
TO send you home, where you so much
desire to go, and where your anxious
friends are no doubt looking for you.'
But, see here he continued, Il
want to see a man up here who will be
very much disappointed If l don't call
On him.
81 am sorry to interfere with your
arrangements, but go you shall, and
nOw.'
sHe paused a moment and repeated.
MY poverty and not my will consents
and we moved on to the depot, where 1
bought his ticket and put him on the
train, with his face toward home. As
the train moved out of the depot, he
appeared at the door, and, taking his
hat in both hands, he made me a
profound bow.
about a fortnight afterward I re-
ceived a letter from him dated sProvi-
dence Jail,' the burden of which was I