The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-06-06
WHOLE NUMBER $40.
All About a Brick.

All About Brick.
A well-known, citizen relates an Incl
dent somewhat in this wise: One bright
morning in the month of November,
some years. ago, / was preparing to go
down town, when the servant informed
me that a man was waiting at the front
door to see me. ti1i@ bga sid0iiia
"Tel him I'll be down in a moment, ent, "
said I. 80
p On going to the door man of tall
stature and robust appearance calling
me by name, requested assistance, say
ing that he had large family, wife in
delicate health, and no means to procure
food for them. lf.tss.. .5,if DIS, ,59.s.7 (.
You appear to be strong and healthy
why don't you work ?" asked I. -
ID" Simply, sir, for the reason that I can
not procure work." 2 !. f..tss,,.,
Not having any work to give him,
thought Iiwould test the sincerity Of his
intentions. lrs.i 7:s.ii wei I'll
"If | give you work, what pay do you
wantf' on s'i 'i2''''
Anything, sir, you choose to give me,
so long as Lean obtain means for my suf-
fering family"
Very weil,p said /, 'Iwill give you
twenty-five cents an hour If you will
carry brick on your arm around the
block for five hours without stopping.
"Thank you, sir; will do il" Isi
After hunting awhile I found a brick,
placed it on the mans arm, started him
ron his walk, and then went down town
| to my business. s{afjHg 0f
Not having the least faith in the mans
] promise, thought but little more of it,
yet as knew 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, and
took "a Fourth-ayenue car tor be back
within the five hours. ,.,z.-es ~,
AS I approached the corner of the
street where / reside Iefound great
crowd of persons gathered, two fire
engines, a hose-cart and a hook-and- lad.
der truck Upon inquiring where the
fire was, i was informed that it was a
false, alarm, and that what brought the
people together and occasioned the agi.
tation 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" 59d
AS he interfered with no one, he was
allowed to walk on undisturbed.
"Where is the man9' asked.
!" There, you can see him at the otheI
| end Of the block, walking with his head
down." was the answer.
He was just about turning the corner
and I waited till he had performed the
circuit, then, taking him by the arm,
marched him to my house, followed by &
lot of boys. In the meantime the fire
men, engines and hose-cart ratified off
The man was thoroughly tired out wher
1 took him into my hall and seated hin
on chair, and my servant went for. {
little wine and something to eat.I. .paie
him dollar and half He informed
me that, while making one of his turns
lady came out of house and inquiries
why he was carrying that brick, and OF
giving her the reasons he received a dol
lar. The object soon became known, fo
as he passed the houses small sums wer
given to him by different persons
and he was well satisfied with his day
work.
i" But" said he, "what shall I do to
morroww s6l 81 aa. ..a-.e
"Why," I replied, ego early in tn
morning to the houses from which yol
received the money and ask for work
and no doubt you will find some one VIII
will put you in the way of getting it
then report to me."d
The following afternoon he informe,
me that he had been sent to German
who kept pork establishment in Third
avenue, and who wanted clerk to keel
his books. He was to get five dollars
week if his work proved satisfactory
and his duties began on the following
day. Before leaving me he asked for tn
brick which he had brought him sue
good luck, and I gave it to him. Within
the year l ascertained that the man ha'
been transferred to larger establish
ment of the same kind with salary o
one thousand dollars. -.s,...,s 49,.
Three or four years after this l wa
q riding in street car, when q well
dressed man accosted me with smile
and asked me if l knew him. Seeing m
hesitate, he said =
"Do you recollect the man who one
carried the brick?' ..l ..4s azi.
He then informed me that he was dc
ing prosperous business on his owl
account, ahad laid up money, and ez
pected to build himself house u
town.
"What became of the brickT" I in
quired. a5a
That brick, sir, has always occupie
place on our nantelpiece, and W
value it as the most precious of GU
little possessions. 1t has made our fol
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