The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-30
e Lesson for Hard Times.
BY LYMAN ABBOTT.

If one of tne characters ont OF Dickens
novels had walked ito tho room would
not have been mole furnrised. 1t was
press dsy. was very busy in my sanctum
when heard the door open and O curious
shuffling noise followed, which made me
look up for momen, rom my paper. 1t
was but for .momer' saw as l sup
posed crippled beggsr, shuffling his way
on his knees toward my chair. l waved
him away with my hand-"Nothing for
ycu,' 1 said resolutely, little impatiently
possih.,, md turned back to my desk,
caught up the broken thread, and wound
of the complete sentence from he editorial
distaff. But the beggar was MT repelled.
He answered something; with divided at
tention l could not well make out what
"Nothing for you," repeated, somewhat
more vigorously than before. The answer
was plain enough this time aud in tone
that commanded attention Il am no beg
gar, sir"
had gotten to the end of my sentence
now. Two or three weeks ago had been
~ lying the parable of the Good Samari-
tan. Perhaps the recollection of two very
pious men who were in so great hurry to
get to the temple that they could not al
tend to the unfortuIate 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 10 his feet were useless appendages,
which dragged after him and produced the
shuffling sound which first attracted my at
tention. His whole body was disjointed ;
his arms alternately hung down like the
wooden arms Of great toy, and moved
about in grotesque !attempt at gesture
like the toy arms when the image is pulled
by 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 thorgh the wordt
were stored below and could 10 brought up
out of reluctant could be brought up oui
of reluctant throat only by wrestling
and invincible will. But his eye was clear,
his brow high, and his whole face, when in
repose, not unhandsome.
az have got something to cell, sir, and il
is no humbug, either"
Then | noticed for the first time leath-
ern bag sluDg over his shoulder, With 9
curious spaemodic twist he drove into II
and brought out tin box labelled Prof
IS soap; warranted to take out grease
spots, etc, etc. In this as in every othel
motion his arms and hands and fingers
made wild attempts before they succeeded
in their purpose, like those of two OF
three months old baby that has not yei
come into possession of itself.
"Whst brought you into this condition,
my friend ?" said looking down upon him
81 WAS born a cripple, SIR" he answered
"But he added quickly, as though he saw
come sympathy in my face and would re
fuse it, ''you must not think that suffer
for don't. have no pam; 1t is all weak
cas-, weakness of the spine, the doctors tel
me, 80 that l don't have good uee of my
| arms, or legs, or face. But don't suffer
And am not unhappy"
could hardly look in his face when hs
was speaking, his endeavors were 30 dis
tressingly labored. l rarely give TO beg
gars for that very reason i am always re
luctant to turn away any one, from tn,
gamin who is sweeping the street crossingl
up, who is endeavoring to earn an hones
living bought his patent soap and gav'
him the price-a quarter. He turned TO gt
away IL should have as soon thought of of
| fering charity to any other Independent
| merchant as to him. but stopped him with
a ques' Jn. 1t needed but very little toucl
Of " ethy to open his heart. He tolt
Gu u Ty. transcribe ii here as wei
- rat am painfully aware that i
4 los,a 'cter in the transcribing.
"My Iather was mechanic. l was al
VII n m my birth, as you see me now
t'n lrted me till was twenty-eight
NJ .idn't like it. l wanted to be self
supporting"
/ noticed curious feature of his Ian
guage J. was that of one born in the low
er ranks, but self-educated by courses o.
reading out side the literature OF his com
panions' thought his at the time 1t wa
confirmed by a suggest ye hint afterwards
~ told my father. He laughed at me
What can you do p said he. told hin
that he could not always support me I; HI
must die some day, e. ! he had no money
| THE Lord will provioo, said he. But tba
did not suit me. resolved If could no
have my own way would run away"
There was something pathetically hu
morous in this picture of man boy o.
twenry eight running away on his knee
| from a tyrannical father who despotically
insisted on providing for him. Whethe
he actually did run away or not he did mo-
tell me, and did not ask him.
II bought this recipe for soap. At frs
/ hired man to 60 round with me ant
take care of me, but that did not pay
Then went to hotel, and hired porte
to dress and undress me. In the day TIM
took care of myself"
All this and much more-for am com
pressing long story into a short one-witl
| lsbored speaking; and labored listening
too, for II was not always quite easy to tel
what was the word which the corkscrev
brought up. Like an old cork 1t was broken
and often came up IN fragments.
az never expected to get married for