Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-04-01
MIS ScEILANE0 US.
TIE HELPING HAND.

- T was more than fifty years ago that q
= beggar named Anthony stationed him.
self regularly at the Barrier de Passy, solit-
ing aims from every passer-by with an aston>
ing degree of portinacity. This spot was not
far from Paris aud nearly every Sunday
young man walked from that city to take the
diligence here, which conveyed him to his
mothers house in Versailles. Anthony's
opportunities were very annoying, aud to rid
himself of these, rather than with a desire
to help the beggar, he always bestowed
trifie in charity.
One day in the summer, on reaching the
barrier, he found ADthouy, as usual, exer-
cising his lungs to the utmost, vocifcrating
loudly, "For the love Of heaven, bestow your
aims GU poor man, mcssieurs ct mesdsmes; !;
the smallest trifie will be gratefully re-
oeived." Iu the midst of his outories mid
dle,sgod gentleman stopped and looked at
him. The gentleman had a pleasant face
aud was handsomely attircd, and the boggar
instantly continued louder than everhis proc
lsmstion Of Poverty and need Of help.
"Mon Dieuw exclaimed the stranger,
"Wiat are you making such noise for !;
thore is no need of begging unless you
choose"
..MonsiOr is pleased to iest."repliOd An
thony,
"By no means; WAS never more serious, !"
returned the other. .'You lead an idle life,
and it is wrong"
"But have no other means of getting
my living" said Anthony.
"Arc you lsmc?"
No, Monsieur"
care you blind?"
"No Monsieur"
"Teil, you are not deaf, and certainly not
dumb, as auy one half a mile off can testify
Now listen to lesson from my experience.
I was once beggar, but the scales fell from
my eyes in time to abandon so disgraceful a
business. l left Paris, and went into the
provinces, where begged old rags, and soon
collected enough to sell at good price to
paper maker 10 Paris. | continued these eff
forts until l was able to buy rags and sell
again. md, by diligence and perseverance,,
at length became rich enough to purchase
an ass with two panniers Through honest
toil, my business continued to increase and see
the result. l own two houses on one of the
best streets in Paris and have 10000 crowns
a year But remember !" and the old gen.
tlcman put au exclamation poirt, in the
shape of an emphatic fore6nger, On the nose
Of Anthony, my success came through hon.
| esty. All | can add is go thou and do ike
WISE Here is crown to begin with, it is
mora than 1 had bu. if you prefer your
present life, aud l find you here next week,
shall report you to the police"
With this threat the stranger departed,
leaving the youth and the beggar in a state
of amnzcueut Indeed the latter was 80 be-
Wildered that be stood, with fhe crown in his
hand, his eyes and mouth wide open, gazing
| intently at nothing Suddenly he darted
away aud was never again Eesn in the guise
! Of beggar.
Many years after this the young man had
| business in town, and strOilius through the
city, lie entered q book. sellers shop to pur-
chase book that had called forth consider
! able criticism. Three or four young mon
were busily engaged, while a stout, well-ap-
| pearing man. was giving orders, with the
air of proprietorshiP.
His face was very familiar to the new-com>
| er, but it was not until he spoke that Anth>
ony and the bookseller were discovered to
be indentical. The recognition was mutual
| Anthony grssped the young mans hand and
led him back into a weIl-furuished parIor,
and then gave him his history, from the time
they parted at the barrier.
He said be had followed the straagar's ad-
vice, bought RACES with the crown, and was
prosperous. He finally became the partEer
! Of paper manufacturer, and married bis
daughter, aud could now count his ten thou
sand year.
That man was true benefsotor," con-
tiDued Anthony. "But for him my ea,th>
ly end might have been like the beggar Lsz-
arus in the Bible"
"Hardly," replied the young man, smil-
ing. s'you were more like the fellow who fell
among thieves. You were stripped of COM
mon sense-a goodly raiment to hold on to,
while was like the Lsyite. I came, and
looked at you, bestowed q weekly pissance to
help confirm indOlance, and then went on,
| leaving you in the mud. But that stranger
was the good S.maritan-hs gave a helping
hand and dragged you out of the nire"
TChico9o Auidnce