Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-08-08
All About a Brick.

what in this wise:
One bright morning IN the
month of November some years
ago, / was preparing to 60 down
town, when the servant informed
me that a man was waiting at the
front door to see me. "Tell him
I'll be down in a moment" said
i. On going to the door man
of tall stature and robust APP
pcarancc, calling me by name,
requested assistance, saying that
he had large family, wife in
delicate health and no means 10
procure food for them.
"You appear to be strong and
healthy; why don't you work.?
asked l. "Slmply, sir, for the
reason that | cannot procure
work"
"Not having any work to
give him, 1 thought | would
test the sincerity of bis inten-
tions. "If I give you work,
what pay do you want?' any
thing, sir, you choose to give
me, so long as | can obtain
means for my suffering family"
every WE'LL" said l, 81 will give
you twenty-five cents an hour
if you will carry a brick on
your arm around the block for
five hours without stopping.
Thank you, sir; | will do ii.
After hunting awhile | found a
brick, placed it on the mans
arm, started him on his walks,
and then went down town 10
my business.
Not having the least faith IN
the mans promise, | thought
but little more of it, yet as |
knew l should go back within
five hours / determined to see
if he performed his work. My
business kept me away rather
later than 1 expected,so | had to
forego my usual walk home, and
took a Fourth avenue car to be
back within the five hours.
AS I approached the corner
of the street, | found a great
crowd Of persons gathercd--two
fire engines, a hose-cart, and a
hook-and- -ladder-truck. Upon
inquiring where the fire was, |
was informed that it was a false
alarm, and that what brought
the people together and occa-
stoned the agitation was the
spectacle of tall man carrying
a brick on his arm around the
block for nearly five hours. The
neighbors were looking at him
from the windows and doors as
! he passed along; some th6Hehi
he was crazy, but when fpoktnl i
to his answer was: "Don't
stop me; it's all right" As lie
interfercd with no one, he was
allowed to walk on undistul bed
"Where is the man now?
> asked.
"Therc, you can see him al
the other end of the block, walk
: ing with his head down." was
c the answer.
r He was just about turning
the corner, and / waited until h
had performed The circuit, thcl
taking him quietly by the arm
$ [ marched him to my house, fol
t t. lowed by a lot Of boys. In th
meantime the fircmen, engines
,me e and hose-cart ratified off. Th
h h man was thoroughly tired on
nd VIXEN l took him into my ha
%ie % and seated him OH a chair
a while my servant went for a III
ID. tic wine and something to ca
r. r. I paid him forthwith dolls
at and a half. He informed n
nd that while making one of b
at turns, q lady came out of a hou;
p and inquired why he was CT
lr- rying that brick, and ON h
! giving her The reasons he T.
les ceiyed a dollar. The obje'
Of soon became known, for as
u passed the houses small sun
m were given him by different pc
nts sons, and he was we'll satisfi'
% with The days work. "But
10 said he, "wbat shall / do to-mo
: row?" / replied, "go early
: the morning to the houses fro
which you received the mon'
and ask for work, and no 6ou
you will find some one who W
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