Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-11-16
Who Followed Old Jock.
nY ". QUAD.


his business TO have row with some other boy
regularly each day, and they declared that his
escape from State prison was truly wonder.
They peerel into the dark alley down whlch
he hal disappeared and went on to say that
the Duke had no home, no character, no
friends, and that all the preachers and all the
pravers couldn't drive the devil out OF him Tor
even one miuute. That is one side OF the
story. and there wasn't much exaggeFaiion IN
the statements Of the police. As Li,t!e Eng
lish remarked:
We boot blacks is all purity bad, | suppose,
but the Baby Duke--bless your eyes Why,
he kin swear more in two minutes than the
rest Of US kin in all day, and he'd set out to
crack bank as quick as he'd pry board oil
a hen coop.
When the Duke plunged into the alley and
shook the police he felt ugly and wanted to
oct even with some one. Ola Jock, the rag
nicker. lived down there in The darkness and
filth. His old shanty was hardly III for barn,
and The old man went about in rags and al
wavs looked as if it was hunger alone that
kent his Ices moving. Sick or well, hcme or
abroad on the streets, no one minded him, and
even cats and dogs turned aside to pass bis
grim old habitation.
{" I'm 90 in and give the old calaver grand
wlitl 70 muttered the Duke, as he halted
before the shanty, and he kicked tie door open
with bang.
In the one room. family lighted by dirty,
spu,terinc candle and cluttered up with bags
OF RAGS. old show bills, cans bottles and scrSp
iron the Duke found his victim. Old Jock
was abed The boy had slepton the "haryycs,
under coal sheds. in barns and 10 boxes, bot
ne had never Ia such a miserable bed as that
before him. There was herb tea or something
Of the sort within reach Of old Jock, and II
was plain enough that the raspicker was very
ILL.,
You are a good boy to come in and sec tho
old man." whispered Jock, as the boy stood
before him, and the words changed the Dukes
plans in an instant.
d" Are you sick 2" he kindly asked.
Sick-awfulw replied old Jock, " I've
no, been out Of bed for three days and had
neither f cd nor fire. was afraid | mus!c
alone. for none of The people around here like
mo.
No one liked the old Dnko. E'eryOno's
hand was raised against him. There was
some,hug in the situation 20 call out bis sym
psthY. and goiug nearer the bed be said
hGint neither Frenoh cook nor yet
nurse bu. guess kin collaf this thing and
tnrn no a lone haud. The hrSs thing Is 10
ring up the curtain and call out that trag dy
entitled, "a good square meal. I've soi Iistle
chink 10 ny pocket, and III run out and sur
round q few caiables"
When be returned he had two or thrco eggs,
pinch Of tea, some crackers and a biz OF meat,
and in a quarter Of an hour be was ready TO
remark:
"Thc festive board will now be sot. We
can I afford all the ielicacics Of the season.
and we haven 4 got Eaters served up on six
different plates, but I've seen the'timo
wouldn't 20 back on this fodder"
Its no use. boy-l'm too near death
door to want food I'm as grateful as an old
mana dying old man, can be. bat The most
Won can do is 10 sit here with nc and see me
die. didn't know you at FIRST, but now see
you are the boy called The.Dnse.
"Yours very truly" replied the boy, as he
pu! the cup on tic old table.
Boy Do you know what | was when J
was lad like your earnestly asked old Jock.
Owned pos,oflice, may be, or drove cor b
for the Car Of Russia" replied the Duke, as
he began satisfying his appetite.
B.. 7 was wild boy !" said the old man, turn
inc his head 20 that he could survey the
gloomy room. 81 ran away from home
st,le. cheated. hated all that was good. See
where am tonight! | am dying here 10
This old hovel. feared by children, Stunned by
men and women, aad not ouc human being IN
all this wide world to clasp my hand az The
mystic curtain Of death shuts down aud makes
my soul afraid" -,
"Hain't here ?" rcproyDsly qnercd tLc
Duke. lIain't going to stay night mere WI
the green curtain comes down on the last act
Of this sad traeo iy ,,,
"Boy youyo got heart aitc- all ~ Will
ptred old Jock, Come little nearer. Let
me take yonr hand. You were good 10 come
in ard sit with me. I've Heard many bad
stories about you bu: now believe people
have wronged YOU They have been quitk to
see your faults and slow to admit that there
was any good in you. You are not such bad
boy" T, -,
/. vas the first kind word tic Duke had
heard for year. lie forgotthc gloomy mover,
the diving bed, aud the fact that men had
hunted him but an hour before, aud lump
came into his throat as be said:
"If folks nag ne around I've got to s''
even, amt 2"
q know they have been hard on you, my
bow but you've got bad name, and you Go
many bad things. I've beet just like you. ]
hated people because | thought they hated me.
I thought they weren't giving ne chance
but now look back and see that didn't give
myself chance. Here IN tonight IN
thought Of, dying, and to be buried Ike a dog :
Do YOU want 20 come TO this 2"
The puke glaacad around him, then at thc
wrinkled and hileou5 face before him, and
replied
ITS tuff"
rhnd the hereafter !" gaspel old jock,
after long silence. Boy What becomes
Of such souls as mite ?"
The Duke was silent.
% You won't leave nc, VIII you? % walled
the old man. " / wish We had more candles.
for can hardly see you Pat your hand on
my forehead. as a woman would-comc closer
10 me. boz You have beer good 20 the old
man. and ! hope you may be rewarded.
wish rner had sat DO wu aud talkel kindly %
you, instead # hunting your track Ike pack
Of wolves"
" Everybody has bin agin me - easpcd the
Duke. his heart quite broken. When Ivq
asked Tor work they've waived nc away. and
I've lad to beg aud steal or 70 bungry.-
Everybody says I'm on tic road to the gal
lows :"
q hear moaning, as Of the waves rushing
over the rock, afar oG !" musei the old man,
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