The Van Buren press., 1878-04-16
A Sarcastic Mcndlcant.

am very hungry said haggard
tramp with very red eyes, as he stood
bowling obsequiously at the side entrance
of a Conrt Street house. won't you
please, nam, be SO good AS to give me a
little something to cat. Any thing vii. do
odds and ends--cold OF warmth don
matter. for I'm not one of them high
toned, fried oyster fellers
"My husband has forbidden me to
encourage idieness by giving away any
more provisions replied the lady OF
the house. "lie says you fellows have
sort Of Free Masonry way of letting
others know every house at which you
have been fed, and 1t is sure to bring a
troop of lazy. vagabonds upon us who
would starve before they'd lift a hand
to work. So you will have to move on
and get your breakfast some place
else"
"But I'm not q vagabond, man I'm
a hard working, Industrious man. |
came on boat from Memphis to see my
sick mother who lives out near Camden,
and isn't expected to live. ! was robbed
on the boat Of every cent had aud all
my clothes, while | wac in bed. The
Captain gave me these old things. /
don't like to beg, but Camden is a good
stretch from here, and can't walk it
on an empty stomach. Think of the out
stretched arms of poor sick mother
toward her absent child, and put wings
on my feet with a few cold potatoes.
I'm just at that point where l can eat
them without salt"
II can't do it. They all have story
about like that. The last man fed had
to 90 to Columbus inside of "a hours,
to save an innocent man from hanging,
bnt two days afterward ! saw him down
town SO drunk he couldn't hold his mouth
shut"
"Wcll, | never drink If hadn't
been robbed l could show you my Mur
ply ribbon that I've worn till its ravcled
into strings. Long years ago | swore at
my mothers Bonded kuee--the same enc
who means on her couch of pain because
Pm not with her--that | would never
touch the blightning cup, and | hain't,
from that time up this minute. Can't
you help me to get there in time to com.
fort her declining hours with the joyful
tidings that have been steadfast
through all temptation, by giving me
the cold grub you had intended to dump
into the garbage-box2 I'm awful hun
gry.
81 can't help it. must obey my hus
band orders were positive said the
woman" snappishly.
"Wel. you're the most extraordinary
woman l ever saw if you do But say,
can't you give me the paper the beef
steak was brought home in, to chew as
as6 sfn and make It "S raa%s s Sp 6y tEnk
ing something better will be along pres
emily. You'll do that much toward
easing fond parents anxious heart,
won't your"
"No, won't
"Well, then give inc newspaper
and let me set by the fire and read the
advertisement of n meat market, and
show me the place where it tells all about
provisions. Even that would give me
feast--for the imagination--which has
been the extent of nv living lately. You
won't believe it, maybe, but it's fact,
that all the nourishment I've had for two
days, is the bill of fare painted on the
outside of Fifth Street restaurant Can
you think Of that and keep your stale bread
on the inside ofyour cupboard p
"Yes, can; and want you to make
yourself scarce without any more pa
laver, or shall send my boy to call
policeman" exclaimed the indignant wo-
man
even the photograph of chicken
would be some comfort said the man,
by way Of banter, as he moved off, "and
if you don't use soad in your dshwater
a few potato parings sliced up in it would
would be regular barbecue for me. Gin.
cinnati Breakfast Table