Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-14
The Helping Hand.

It was more than fifty years ago that
beggar named Anthony stationed
himself regularly at the Barrier de
Passy, soliciting aims from every
passer. by with an astonishing degree of
pertinacity. This spot was not far
from Paris and nearly every Sunday
n Young man walked from that city to
take the diligence here, which con-
viewed him to his mothers house in
Versailles. Anthony's opportunities
were very annoying, and to rid himself
of these, rather than with q desire to
help the beggar, he always bestowed a
trihe in charity.
One day in summer, on reaching the
barrier, he found Anthony, as usual,
exercising his lungs to the utmost,
vociferating loudly, For the love of
heaven, bestow your aims on poor
man, messieurs ct mesdames the
smallest trife will be gratefully re-
ceived." In the midst OF his outcries.
middle-aged gentleman stopped and
looked at him. The gentleman had o
pleasant face and was handsomely at
tired, and the beggar instantly contin-
ued louder than ever his proclamation
of poverty and need of help.
mon Dieu |" exclaimed the stranger,
"what are you making such noise
for? there is no need of begging unless
you choose"
Monsieur is pleased to jest" re-
piled Anthony.
by no means; was never m ore
serious" replied the other. "You
lead an idle life, and it is wrong"
"But have no other means of get.
ting my living" said Anthony.
care you lame?'
"No, monsieur"
care you blind p
mo, monsieur"
"Well, you are not deaf, and GER
tainly not dumb, as any one half mile
off can testify. Now listen to lesson
from my experience. L was once a
beggar, but the scales fell from my
eyes in time to abandon so disgraceful
a business. left Paris, and went into
the provinces, where 1 begged old
rags, and soon collected enough to sell
at o good price to a paper-maker in
Paris. continued these efforts until
I was able to buy rags to sell again,
and, by diligence and perseverance, I
at length became rich enough to pur-
chase an ass with two panniers.
Through honest toll, my business con-
tinued to increase, and see the result, I
own two houses on one of the best
streets in Paris and have 10, 900 crowns
q year. But remember !" and the old
gentleman put an exclamation point,
in the shape of an emphatic fcrefinger
on the nose of Anthony, "my success
came through honesty. All l can add
is go thou and do likewise Here is
crown to begin with, it is more than
had but If you prefer your present
life, and I find you here next week, I
shall report you to the police"
With this threat the stranger de-
parted, leaving the youth and the
beggar in O state of amazement. In
he stood, with the crown in his hand,
his eyes and mouth wide open, gazing
intently ut nothing. Suddenly he
darted away. and was never seen again
in the guise OF u beggar.
Many years after this the young man
had business in town, and strolling
through the city, he entered book
sellers shop to purchase book that
had called forth considerable criticism.
Three or four young men we're busily
engaged, while stout, well-appearing
man was giving orders, with the air OF
aproprietor.
His face was very familiar to the new.
conner, but it was not until he spoke
that Anthony and the bookseller were
discovered to be identical. The recog-
milton was mutual. Anthony grasped
the young mans hand and led him
back into well-furnished parlor, and
then gave him his history, from the
time they parted ut the barrier.
He said he had followed the strangers
advice, bought rags with the crown,
and was prosperous. lie finally be-
came the partner Of paper manufac'
turer, and married his daughter, and
could now count his ten thousand a
year.
That man was a true benefactor, u
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 like the fellow
who fell among thieves. You were
stripped of common sense-a goodly
raiment to hold on to, while was like
the Levite. I came, and looked at you,
bestowing weekly pittance to help
confirm Incidence, and then went on,
leaving you in the mud. But that
stranger was the good Samaritan-he
gave helping hand and dragged you
out of the mire. "--Chicago Alliance.