Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-05
The Helping Hand.

dlllSeEce mere, which conveyed him TO
his mothers house in Versailles. An
thongs opportunities were very annoy
ing, and to rid himself Of these, rather
than with desire to help the beggar,
he always bestowed a trihe in cbari-
ty.
One day in the summer, on reaching
the barrier, he found Anthony, as usu-
al, exercising his lungs to the utmost,
vociferating loudly, For the love Of
heaven, bestow your aims on a poor
man, ,messieurs ct mesdames; the small
est trhe will be gratefully received"
In the midst Of his outcries a middle
aged gentleman stopped and looked at
him. The gentleman had a pleasant
face and was handsomely attred, and
the beggar instantly continued louder
than ever his proclamation Of poverty
and need ofhelp.
Mon Dieu = exclaimed The stranger.
what are you making such noise Tor;
there is no need of begging unless you
choose
Monsieur is pleased to JEST replied
Anthony.
BY no means; l was never more Sc
rious, returned the other. You lead
an idle life, and it is wrong
But haye no other means ofgctting
my living said Anthony.
Are you lame:'
No, Monsieur
Are you blind?'
No, Monsieur
We'll, you are not deaf, and certain
ly not dumb, as any one half a mile
of can testify. Now listen to a lesson
from my experience. l was once beg
gar, but the scales fell from my eyes
in time to abandon so disgraceful a bus
mess. l left Paris, and went into pro-
vinces, where l begged old rags, and
soon collected enough to sell at a good
price to a paper-makerin in Paris. l con-
tinued these efforts until was able TO
buy rags to sell again, and, by diligence
and perseverance, l at length became
rich enough to purchase an ass with
tive panniers. Through honest toll my
business continued TO increase, and see
the result. l own two houses on one
Of the best streets IN Paris and have TO-
900 crowns a year. But remember
and the old gentleman put an eXclama-
ton point, in the shape Of an emphatic
fore6ngcr on the nose Of Anthony, my
success came through honesty. ALI l
can add is go thou and do likewise
ryo-a ;s q o..-- 80 49, .~,.;.t II i
more than mad; UoO Il yoL pIcler yVtr
present life, andI find you here next
week, shall report you to the police
With this threat the stranger departed,
leaving the youth and the beggar bewild-
cred that he stood, with the crown in his
hand, his eyes and mouth wide open, ,gaz-
ing intently at atnothing. Suddenly be dar-
ted away land was never seen again IN
the guise of beggar.
Many years after this the young man
had business in town, and strolling
through the city, he entered a
booksellers shop TO purchase a book
that had called forth considerable
criticism. Three or four young men
were busily engaged, while a stout,
well-appearing man, was giving orders,
with the air Of prOprietorshlp.
His face was very familiar to the
newcomer, but it was not until he
spoke that Anthony and the book
seller were discovered to be identi-
cal. The recognition was mutual,
Anthony grasped the young mans
hand and led him back into a we'll
furnished parlor,and then. gave him
his history, from the time they parted
at the barrier.
He said he had followed the stran-
gers ,advice, bought rags with the
crown, and was prosperous. He
finally be came the partner Of a paper
manufacturer, and married his daughter,
aud could now count his ten thousand
year.
That man was a true benehctor,"
continued Anthony. But for him my
earthly end might have been like the
beggar lazarus in the Bible
Hardly replied the young man,
smiling, You were more like the fellow
who fell among thieves. You were strip
ned of common sense-a goodly raim-
ent TO hold on to, while l was like the
Leyite. came, and looked at you, be-
slowed a weekly pittance to help con-
firm incidence, and then went on, leav-
ING YOU in the mud. But that Stranger
was the good Samaritan-he gave A.
helping hand and dragged you out OF the
mire.'