The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-06-19
ALL ABOUT A BRICK.

iatcs an incident somewhat ~ this wise
One bright morning in the month of No
yenber, some years ago, Twas preparing 10
90 down town. when the servant Informed
me that man was waiting ut the front door
to zee me- TELL him IN be down in a
moment. sid l.. On going TO the door .
man Of tall ststure and robust appearance.
calling me hy name. requested assistance
saying that be had = large family. awife IN
delicate health, and no means 10 procure
food for them. 'You appear 70 be strong
AVID healthy; why d.n't sou work assedf !.
Simply. sir. for ,he reason that cannot
procure work.
Not having any work to give him, l
thought | would test the sincerity OF his in
tentIcns. III give work, what pay do you
waatf' Anything. Fir. you choose to give
ne, 70 long as ! can obtain means for my
suffering family, Very wells said |. i
will give you twenty cents an hour if you
vii. carr, brick on your arm aronnd this
hiock Tor i've hours without stopping ,
Thank you. sir | will duit After hunt.
ing awhile found brick, placed il on the
man arm. started him Un bis walks, and
then went dusn town to JusieSs.
Mt having tie least faith il mans pro-
mise, | thought but llile lnore oi it. set as
knew | should lie back WITHIN live hours
determined TO see if he performed, bis
work. But buslurss kept me away later
than expected. so had to torego my usu-
al walk hume aud took Fourth avenue car
to be back within the i've hours. =,
As | approached the corner Of the street
where reside. found great crowd Of
persons gathered--two lire engines. hose.
cart. anu hook aud ladder truck. Upuu
inquiring where the lire was, was inform.
cd that t was false alarm. and that what
brought the people together aud ,'ccasi"ned
tue agitation WIS the spectacle Of tail ulan
carrying brick un his arm around tile
Glock ior nearly five aours. The neighbor,
were looking at hun from the windows aud
doors as he passed along ; some thought he
was erSzy, but mhea spoken to his answer
was: Don't stoP me 1t Is all right Al
lie ntcriered with no one. be wac allow ed
~ walk on undistuTbed. +-.5.s..
Where Is the mau now!' asked.
There. son can zee him ~ the other end
of the block, walking with iis head down.
was the airwer. ..-es..
lie was j1st about turning tie corner,
aid waited until he performed the circuit.
then, taking him quietly by the arm.
marched him TO my house. followed by a
lot of boys Ia the meantime. the iirenlen.
engines aud horse cart ratified OF. The man
was thoroughly tiIed out when | took him
nto my hall aud seated him on chair.
While my servant went for little wine and
something TO eat paid him AfOrthwilh u
dollar aud half. lie Informed me that.
While making one Of his turns. lady came
out If huuse aud inquired why he wa,
carrying that brick. aud un his giving her
the reason he received dollar. The OBJ
jcct soun became known, Tor as he passrd
the houses small sums we're given him by
different pcrsuns. aud be was we'll satisfied
with his days work. but. said he. what
shall 40 Tomorrow Why | replied.
70 early III the morning 10 the house, from
Witch YOU received the money and ask for
work. aud no doubt you will end some enc
wlo will put you 10 the way of getting il I;
then reror, 10 me- The following after.
noon he informed me that he had been sent
to German. who kepta pork establishment
ia Third avenue, aud wanted clerk 10
keep his hooks.
lie was 10 get Eve dollars 4 week IL his
work proved satisfactory. and his duties be-
gan On the following day. Before leaving
me be asked for the hrick which had brought
him such gool luck aud gave il to him.
Within year | asceriained that the man
had been transferred 20 larger establish.
nent of the same kind. with salary Of
$1,000
Three or four years after this, | was rid.
ing IL street car. when we'll dressed man
acrosted ne with smile. and asked nc il
knew him. Seeing me hesitate he said I:
Don't you recollcct tho man who carried
the brick. 1ssvse@
lie informed me that be was doing a
prosperous business on his own account. had
laia np money. aud expected s1on TO build
himself hause M town.
What became u your bricki' | inquir>
ed.
That brick. sir. has always occupied a
place on our uunntclpieoe. aud We value il
as the most precious of uur little possess
sicIis. Ii has made our fortune.
Did you attend CHURCH to-day. ~ I
charged .ong inquired M pld planter. 10
the old time. ol one of bis slaves. o. he 70.
turned 10 bis dwelling. 'Sartin. massa. >
WIS tudjo's rely: 'an' what two mighty
big stories dat prc,cher did iell' Hush.
Cudio. yoh musGst talk that way. what sio-
ries were theys' 'why. he ie!lsde people
no man can serve two massas--now dis Is
De fust story. 'canse yon see old Cudjo
sarves you. my old massa, aud also yonng
massa John. Den the preacher says he
will lab one anl hate De oder. while the
lord Knows hate you bcfT.'
s-ss~sSs.sssssssss.ss.