The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-04

Never Trust to Appearances.

S0O"A " AAuCoGOlls ~. a. 4V.Wtso WA11O
Nassau Hall was in session, and my
friend S --- was Undergoing a course
of sprouts to fit himself for district
attorney Of the Quaker City and other
places which he has SO ably and hon
orably filled. -. =. 7
A series of lectures had just been
commenced, and among the lecturers
were Prof. Henry, now of the Smith
sonian Institute, Prof. Torrey (since
deceased) and several other bright
lights in the walks Of science, but
whose names I need not give in what
have to say about trusting to appear:
ances."
To attend these lectures my friend
S--gave me a most cordial well
come, kindly promising me chair by
his side, provided would be punctual
in attendance. I accepted the invita-
ton most gladly, and every morning
at the sound of. the college bell I
mounted the Well-worn stone steps
which led to the lecture room in Mas
sau Hall, and was promptly seated by
the side OF Sat- least five minute S
before the lecturer for the morning
made his appearance.
In those days I was an early riser,
and took long ante breakfast walks
wherever was, and on one of the lee
ture-day mornings I was taking a stroll
in that part of the town Mrs. Parting
ton called the "Rhubarbs," when, in
the truck garden belonging to fine
brick mansion, I observed man, ap-
parently beyond the middle age, poor
in appearance physically as well as
garment-ically), gathering roots and
herbs, doubtless, I thought, for a ma.
tutinal meal. Poor old man, thought
|. Homeless, perhaps-certainly tres
passing in some ones kitchen, garden
-foraging among the radish, onion,
and lettuce beds, for a miserable
breakfast! wonder if you have any
bread to complete Grahamite meal
And must you wash down that miser-
able stuff with simple aqua pura, in
stead Of good, hot Mocha or Java?
Poor old man!
AS these thoughts of pity and SYM
pathy ran, their object approached
near enough for me to more particu.
larly note his appearance. His old
straw hat, his well-worn alpaca coat,
his common brown linen trowsers, and
his low, unblacked, patched shoes, all
put together, would have been dear, I
thought, at five dollars for the lot. I
put my hand in my pocket for some
change, intending to bestow upon him
enough at least for a loaf of bread. but
as he came nearer and nearer to the
fence where I was standing I saw
something in his face which forbade
me to offer the misunderstanding
which said I might hurt his feelings,
or that stranger had no right to rec.
ognize his poverty, and without be-
slowing it, or even word, upon him,
1 turned away resumed my homeward
walk, and in due time sat down to my
own ample breakfast, with many a
thought about the poor old man and
his breakfast. ere I wendell my way to
tho ':campus'' and sauntered under
the fine old elms which shade Nassau
Hall, until the bell rang for lecture,
when in few moments I was in my
appointed chair, seated beside my
friend s..
"What do we have this morning %
Botany" briefly answered s..
"Who do we have?''
professor ~ replied my
friend.
sis he good % inquired.
"Good!'' echoed S.. sWait
until you have heard him and you
will not ask that question again.
Just then the private door leading to
the lecturer desk swung open, and in
walked-my old acquaintance of the
morning, straw hat, alpaca coat, linen
trousers, low shoes, leeks, onions,
radishes, lettuce and all. I cer.
tainly was s'flabbergasted," and, while
the *'poor man" was arranging his
specimens for a lecture on botany,I had
just time to ask the following questions
of my friend: =.
''Who did you say was going to lee
ture?" 1882.
''Prof. T-y.''
-ah:er-that he?''
eyes,
'Does he live little way out of the
town-fne brick house-very large
garden, truck patch, and so on,?''
''He does. 1t is one of the finest
properties about here.''
s:Does he own it e.
eyes, and much property beside.
Why do you ask all these questions g.
"Why-I-I-came very near hand.
ing him a quarter this morning, with
a command to take it and purchase a
Christian breakfast for himself! -
''Ah, see, see,'' said my friend
81 know just how it happened-you
have been judging from appearances.
Hush He is about to commence, and
you will regret it should you lose but
a single word.''
-, .a.1o