The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-05-28
The Man and the Brick.
2 IN, Y. Evening Post., p ~,

Inc Hkdn9anu tnes esBrick.
/ 0lH3@ iN.sY. Evening Post.}'9a,, = ~
A well known citizen liyinginot many
blocks from Union Square relates an in
cident somewhat in this wise:gE q ,SEd
One bright morning in the eimouth of
November, some years ago, Il was pre-
pairing to 90 down town, when the lser.
want informed me that man was wair.
ing at the front doorte see me- s,sTell
him I'll be down In o ,moment,' said 4
On going TO The door a man OF tall stat
ure and robust appearance, calling me
by name, requested assistance, saying
that he had a large family, a wife in del
icate health, and no means 10 procure
food for them "Youappeaf to be strongi
and heaii,Iy why don't yod#Stk2' ask
ed I. isSguply, sir. for the reason that
cannot pressure wofk 2 ~ q q
Not having any work to give him, II
thought / would test the sincerity OF his
intentions. "If / give you work, what
pay do you want?" Anything. sir,
you choose to give me, so long as ] can
obtain means for my suffering family"
."Verv WE'LL" said I; II will give you 25
cents an hour if you will carry brick
on your arm around the block for FIVE
hours without stopping" "Thank you,
sir; will do it," After hunting awhile
found a brick, placed it on the mans
arm, started him on his walk, and then
went down town to my business. 2
Not having the least faith in the man. S
promise / thought but little more of il,
vet as / knew / should go back in five
hours determined to see if he perform
ed his work. My business kept me away
rather later than | expected, SO l had to
forego my usual walk home, and took a
Fourth avenue car to be back within the
five hours. 4 tn ai 9gfal 1i6-
| AS 1 approached the corner OF the
street where / reside / found great
crowd of persons gathered--two 6re.en-
gines, hose cart, and book-and-lad.
der truck Upon inquiring where the
| fire was i was informed that it wss.s
false alarm, and that what brought the
people together and occasioned the agi-
tation was the spectacle OF tall mar
carrying brick on his arm around ths
block for nearly five hours. The neigh
bors were looking at him from the win
dows and doors as he passed along;
some thought he was crazy. but wher
spoken to his answer was :"Don't STOP
me, it's all right" As be interfeied witt
no one, he was allowed to walk on un
disturbed. "Where is the man now 2'fl
asked. "There, you can see him at The
other end of the block, walking with his
head down." was the answer. 80 ti
He was just about turning the corner
and waited until he had performed the
fcircuit, then taking him by. the arm
marched him to my house, followed by Q
lot Of boys. In the meantime, the fire
men, engines and hose cart ratified off -
The man was thoroughly tired out wher
I took him into my hall and seated hin
on chair, while my servant went for {
little wine and something to eat. ! paid
him forthwith dollar and a half. H,
Informed me that while making one O
his turns q lady came out of a house anc
inquired why he was carrying that brick
and on his giving her the reasons he re
ceived dollar. The object soon becsm,
known, for as be passed the houses small
sums were given to him BY different per
sons, and he was we'll satisfied with hi.
1day's work. "But," said he, "what shal
/ l do tomorrow" "Why,"n said I, "gt
early in the morning to the houses from
which you received the money and asl
| for work, and no doubt you will fint
some one who will put you in the way 0
getting it; then report to me-" Th,
| following afternoon he informed me tina
he had been sent to German who KEEP
| a pork establishment on Third avenue
and who wanted a clerk, to keep BIZ
books. He was to get S. week if hi'
work proved satisfactory, and his duties
began on the following day. Bsfor,
leaving me he asked for the brick which
had brought him such good luck, and
4 gave 1t to him. Within the year ! as
/ certained that the man had been trans
ferred to larger establishment Of th'
same Kind with salary of 81, ,000..
/ Three or four years after this wa
riding in street,car, when well-dress
ed man accosted me with smile, ant
asked me If knew him. Seeing mi
hesitate he said: Don't you recollec
the man who carried the hrick2''
| He informed me that be was doing
prosperous business on his own account
had laid up money, and expected sool
to build himself house'up town.
"What became Of the brickp" | in
lquired. 6. a..si.ea5 ayaI II
1 "That brick, sir, has always occupiet
a place on our mantel-piece,a e,and we valu
it as the most precious OF our little pos
sessions. 1t has made our fortune +