Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-05-16
A Lesson for Hard Times.
BY LYMAN ABBOTT.


not have been more surprised 1t wa
press day; was very busy in my sanctun
when l heard the door open and a curious
shuflling noise followed, which made mi
look up for moment from my paper. |
was but for moment; | saw, us | sup
posed, crippled beggar, shutlling hi
way on his knees toward my chair.
waved him away with my hand" Moth
ing for you,' | said resolutely, IL little i'm
patiently, possibly, and turned back TO my
desk, caught up the broken thread, ant
wound off the completed sentence from
the editorial distaff But the beggar wa!
not repealed. He answered something
with divided attention l could not wei
make out what. Nothing for you" re.
peated, somewhat more vigorously thar
before. The answer was plain enough
this time, and in tone that commanded
attentions 81 am no beggar, sir"
l had gotten to the end of my sentence
now. Two or three weeks before | bad
been studying the parable Of the Good
Samaritan. Perhaps the recollection Of
two very pious men who were in so grea!
II hurry to get to the temple that they
could not attend to the unfortunate may
have had some influence on me. 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
shutlling sound which first attracted my
attention. His whole body was disjointed
his arms alternately hung down like the
wooden arms of great toy, and moved
about in grotesque attempt ut gesture-llke
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 endeavor, as sif the words were
stored below and could be brought up out
of Il reluctant throat only by wrestling
and invincible will. But his eye was clear,
and his whole face, when in repose, not
unhandsome.
Il have got something to sell, sir, and
it is no humbug, either"
lhen noticed for the first time a leath-
er bag slung over his shoulder. With a
curious spasmodc twist he dove into it, and
brought out tin box labeled "Prof. IS
soap, warranted to take out grease spots, "
etc., etc. In this as in every other motion
his arms and hands and fingers made wild
attempts before they succeeded in their
purpose, like those of IL two or three
months old babe that has not yet come in
to possession of itself.
"What brought you into this condition,
my friendP' said |, looking down upon
him.
"I was born a cripple, sir" he answer
ed. But" he added quickly, as if he
SAW some sympathy in my face, and would
refuse it, you must not think that | suf-
fer, for don't. | have no pain; it is only
weakness; weakness of the spine, the doc
tors tell me, so that don't have good use
of my arms, or legs, or face. But l don't
suffer- And | am not unhappy
| could hardly look in his face when he
was speaking, his endeavors were so dis
tressingly labored. rarely give to beg
gars; for that very reason am always re-
luctcnt to turn away any one, from the ga
min who is sweeping the street crossings
up, who is endeavoring to earn an honest
living. | bought his patent soap and gave
him the price-a quarter. He turned to
90 away; l should have as soon thought
of Offering charity to any other independ-
cnt merchant US to him, but stopped him
with a question. 1t needed but II very
little touch of sympathy to open his heart.
He told me his story. transcribe it here
us can, but | am painfully aware that it
loses character in the transcribing.
MY father was u mechanic. was
always, from my birth, as you sec me
now. He supported me till was twenty
eight. But l didn't like it. wanted to
be sclfsupporting."
noted a curious feature Of his Ian
guage. 1t was that of one born in lower
ranks, but sef.educatcd by courses of
reading outside the literature of his com
panons. thought this at the time; it
was confirmed by a suggestive hint after
wards.
81 told my father. He laughed at me.
What can you do? said he, | told him
that he could not always support me; he
must die some day, and he had no money.
The Lord will provide said he. But that
did not suit me. | resolved if | could not
have my own way | would run away"
There was something pathetically hui
morous in this picture of II man-boy of
twenty-eight running away on his knees
from tyranncal father who despotically
insisted on providing for him. Whether
he actually did run away or not he did
not tell me, and | did not ask him.
IL bought this recipe for soap. At first
| hired man to 90 round with me and
take care of me, but that did not pay.
Then went to II hotel, and hired porter
to dress and undress me. In the daytime
| took care Of myself.
All this and much more-for | am com
pressing long story into short one
with labored speaking; and laborod lis
tening, too, for.it was not always quite
easy to tell what was the word which the
corkscrew brought up. Like an old corL
it was broken, and often came up in frag'
ments.
"And don't you imagine that am mis-
cradle, sir" he added. seem 50 TO yor
because you judge me from your point oI
view. But see many n rich man, and a
strong man, and | would not exchange
with them. l have my advantages, too
Society claims great deal of yoa; but it
never claims anything of me. | am indie
pendent"
"Oh, wise philosopher. Is there any
philosophy like that of II calm content?"
"And enjoy life; because, don't you
see, sir, | have nothing to do but to study
how to enjoy it,
"Do you 90 to church?" l asked.
"Well, sir, | am member of the Bap
tist Church, but since have moved away
from the old church and gone among
strangers. don't 60 to church, for it nigh
create II sensation, don't you see."
Well, yes! did see. | imagined thi
creature shuflling up the broad aisle of :
fashionable church, or even of an unfash
able chapel, and thought he showed con
sideration for the worshippers and the
preacher.
There is only one thing l want" he
added. Il would like to get into Ii
brary."
"a library" said l. " What could yor
do in a libraryP'
"Oh, as a member l mean, sir" said he
al would like to be able to get books ou
: to read"
took down his address, and, with all
the inimitable dignity of u gentleman, HI
invited me TO cali. Then with an apology
for having taken so much of my time, anC
in an inquiry-for we had exchanged
names-whether was the " historian Alb
hott ~ he shuffled out of the door. hat