The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-04-18
A Sarcastic Mendicant.

"I'm very hungry, said haggard
tramp, with very red eyes, as he stood
bowling obsequiously at the side en-
trance of Court Street house. "Won't
you please, mann, be so good as to give
me little something to eat. Any thing
will do-odds and ends cold or warm
it don't matter, for I'm not one OF
them heightened, fried oyster fellers. "
"My husband has forbidden me to
encourage idleness by giving away any
more provisions" replied the lady Of
the house. "He says you fellows have
sort of Free Masonry way of letting
others know every house at which you
have been fed, and it 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 vagabond, nam; I'm
Woodworking, industrious man. |
came up 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 and my clothes, while | was in
bed. The Captain gave me these old
things. l don't like to beg, but Camden
is good stretch from here, and can't
walk it on an empty stomach. Think Of
the outstretched arms of a 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
can eat them without salt.
"Ic 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,
but two days afterward [ saw him down
town so drunk he couldn't hold his
mouth shut"
swell, | never drink. If I hadn't
been robbed could show you my Muir
ply ribbon that I've worn till its travelled
into strings. Long years ago swore at
my mothers Bonded knee-the same one
who means on her couch of pain because
I'm not with her-that | would never
touch the blighting cup, and | hain't,
from that time up to this minute. Can't
you help me to get there in time to COM
fort her declining hours with the joyful
tidings that l have been steadfast
through all temptation, by giving me
the cold grub you had intended to dump
into the garbage-box? Pm awful hun
cry"
81 can't help it. | must obey my hus-
band-his orders were positive said
the woman, snappishly.
"Well, you're the most extraordinary
woman ever saw if you do. But say,
can't you give me the paper the beef
steak was brought home in, to chew as
60 along. It may fool my stomach for
awhile and make it brace up by think
ing something better will be along pres
entity. You'll do that much toward
easing fond parents anxious heart,
won't youP"
"No, won't"
"Well, then give me a newspaper
and let me set by the fire and read the
show me the place where it tells all
about provisions. Even that would
give me feast-for the Imagination
which has been about the extent of my
living lately. You won't believe it,
maybe, but it's fact, that all the nour-
ishment 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 of the cupboard?" 9eI1 fci
eyes, can; and want you to make
yourself scarce without any more pa
LAYER, Or | shall send my boy to call a
policeman, exclaimed the indignant
woman.
"Even the photograph of a chicken
would be some comfort" said the man,
by way of banter, as he moved off, 'sand
if you don't use soap in your dishwater
few potato parings sliced up in it
would be regular barbecue for me. ~
Cincinnati Breakfast Table.
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