American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-04-20
All About q Brick.

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All About q Brick.
A well known citizen living not many
blocks from Union Square relates an in
cident somewhat in this wise:
One bright morning in the month OF
November, some years ago, was pre-
pairing to go downtown, when the
servant informed me that man was
waiting at the, front door to see me.
ss Tell him I'll be down in a moment"
said L. On going to the door. man OF
tall stature and robust appearance, call
ing me by name, requested assistance,
saying that he had large family, a wife
in delicate health, and no means to pro-
cure food for them. &C You appear to
be strong and healthy; why don't you
work P" askedI. 'sSimply, sir, for the q
reason that can not procure work.
Not having any work to give him, L
thought would test the sincerity of his
intentions. "If I give you work, what
pay do you wantP' '.Any thing, sir,
you choose to give me, so long as l can
obtain means for my suffering family"
Sc Very WE'LL" said 1, 81 will give you
25 cents an hour if you will carry brick
on your arm around the block for hve
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 downtown to my business.
Not having the least faith in the mans
promise, 1 thought but little more of it,
vet rs 1 knew L should be back within
five hours determined to see if he per-
formed his work. My business kept me
away rather later than | expected, so
had to forego my usual walk home, ana
took a Fourth Avenue car to be back
within the five hours.
AS 1 approached the corner OF the
street where 1 reside l found great
crowd of persons gathered-two fire.
engines, a horse-cart, and hook-and-
ladder truck. Upon inquiring where
the fire was, was informed that 1t was
a false alarm, and that what brought
the people together and occasioned the
agitation was the spectacle of a tall man
carrying a brick on his arm around the
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 when
spoken to his answer was: ''Don't stop
me; it's all right As he interfered
with no one, he was allowed to walk on
undisturbed "Where is the man nowF"
[ asked. ''There, you can see him at
the other end of the block, walking with
his head down." was the answer.
He was just about turning the corner
| and waited till he had performed the
circuit, then, taking him by the arm,'I
marched him to my house, followed by
lot Of boys. In the meantime, the ire
men, engines, and hose-csrt ratified OH.
The man was thoroughly tired out when
l took him into my hall and seated him
on a chair, while my servant went Tor a
little wine and something to eat paid
him dollar and half. He informed
me that, while making one of his turns,
a lady came out of Il house and inquired
why he was carrying that brick, ana on
his giving her the reasons he received
dollar The object soon became KNOWN
for as he passed the houses small sums
were given to him by different persons
and he was well satisfied with his days
work. "But," said he, ''what shall
do to morrowP' Why" | replied,
3. 90 early in the morning to the houses
from which YOU received the money ana
ask for work, and no doubt you Will
find some one who will put you in the
way of getting it; then report to me.
The following afternoon he informed me-
| that he had been sent to German, who
kept a pork establishment in Third
Avenue, and who wanted clerk TO
keep his books. He was to get 50 4
week if his work proved satisfactory,
and his duties began on the following
dav. Before leaving me he asked for
the brick which had brought hum such
good luck and gave it to him. With
i'm the wear | ascertained that the man
had been transferred to a larger estab-
lishment of the same kind, with saih-
! ~ of ~ 900.
Three or four years after this l was
riding in a street-ear, when well dress
ed man accosted me with a smile, and
asked me ii | knew him Seeing me
hesitate, he said ''Don't you rccollect
the man who carried the brickP"
He then informed me that he was do
ing prosperous business on his own
account, had laid up money, and eX-
pected soon to build himself Il house up
town.
What became of the brick?" | in
quired.
That brick, sir, has always occu-
pied place ON our mnnts' iece, and we
value il rs the most precious of our little
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