The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-31
For the Sunday sentinel.
ONE OF THE MANY.
By MRS. sALIIE A. RAMAGR.

II was a bitter cold night, and the wind
pierced the poor ragged boy who stood, half
frozen. at the street corner. He was suffer
ing. not only from the keen breath of the
icy wind, but from hunger, for all day long
ne had walked up one street and down
another asking for work or begging few
crumbs, only TO be refused and turned away
from the half opened door, for he was only
one of the tramps, and they, the world says,
are not to be employed or fed. He rubbed
his rough hands together, trying to warm
the red fingers and chapped wrists, but all
in vain; they grew colder and sitter. He
held his tattered jacket closer over his
breast but the rags fiuttered with every puff
OF the wind, 80 that the purpling flesh was
exposed His boots-they were old soles tied
with rags to'his feet-did not keep him from
the icy pavement, and the blood was chilled
If be stood still, and the rough bits of bricks
or the stones cut the quivering skin if he
walked His face was not delicately featured
nor. possessed OF manly beauty.
His hair laid in great unkempt
masses over his brow, and he
was sadly in need of soap and water. He
was simply poor outcast boy, despite his
sixteen years OF wretched life, living, none
knew how nor cared TO learn. He was one of
the great mass of the nation, every one of
whom might be saved when children, but
are lost. almost always lost when the years
have done their hardening work, and as men
they have neither faith nor trust in any, and
enjoy the confidence and love of none up
on EARTH Joe Smith was debating no ques-
ton OF past or future life, of national or
municipal treatment of the wretched poor.
he was only trying to solve the problem of
when or where he would get something to
eat. some place to sleep, something to wear,
but first of all something TO eat. He walked
along until he came to bakery, and the
hot, rich odors fioated fresh and delicious
out OF the door, and we're like sweet incense
to the poor starving lad People passed in
and out carrying the warm bread, and Joe
would have given his right hand for single
loaf but nobody noticed the gaunt white
face pressed against the window pane, or the
trembling body that skunk back into the
darkness when the light streamed across the
pavement. II was 50 bitterly cold that
the tramp moved slowly on, pushed
and iostled by the hurrying crowd. The
streets soon opened into the broad country;
the houses were farther. and farther apart,
and the wind blew free and wild Two or
three times Joe fell, bruising his face on the
hard clods, and once the warm blood trick
led down his cheek from cut on his head
and he grew faint and sick. He was hu-
man being, you know, and could feel pain
and anguish as sensibly as the more fortu-
nate ones of earth. He stopped at the gates
of splendid mansions, but he was afraid of
the growing, fierce dogs, and he went on,
not knowing nor caring where. Far ahead,
on one side of the broad turnpike, he saw
the lights Of another home, and he deter
mined, even If he was torn in pieces, to ask
for food, believing it better to die pleading
for help than to perish out in the fields
alone. He dragged his stiffening limbs
along, warming his hands under his jacket
the best he could, hoping, praying-if he re-
membered how to pray, that somebody would
give him a bone ora crust, anything to stop
the fearful graawing of the unsatisfied appe-
tite that was making maniac Of him, de-
throning his reason and will, Food he must
have, and the long fingers cIutehed the rags
that wrapped him. and held tightly to them,
as if strength LAP in the grasp. There were
50 many boys he had seen dozens and
scores of them, who had all they needed or
even wanted-food, clothes, books, friends,
homes-and he. well, he had nothing but
life, and just now he reckonedt that more of
a curse than blessing. Have you ever
watched every hope die, every avenue to
happiness barred. every friend perish or
leaYe you. and wlsh. aye. sometimes pray,