The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-12-02
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I shou travel ! feel - though ooald u
a ford u. aud society rather demand. i, o
o mel, and climbed into the train aud waite,
for it T. start By and BY reached int,
I the capaeious pockets oi that dusler. an,
: 10 Az idle, vagrant kind of a moment
, drcw forth Po3u Gaseae, radiant viii
the usual astonishing display of all Kind,
: Of stockings In all manner oi attitude,
c save proper ones. with female figures at
$ saehed 20 them. Now | never buy and !
never read tha, journal. aud was amazed
to find it in my pocket went down
again and brought mp = couple Of beer
tickets, then l rhked again and found 8
piece Of billiard chalk, several grains Of
coffee and bit Of lemon peel, II seemed
TO me that my ordinarily well behaved and
exemplary duster had evidently been ont
with the boys last night, instead OF repos.
ing in the quiet Of the courtroom. Curious
TO know just how far this iniquity wont |
reached into another pocket aud found a
oorkscrew, three dice, reyeling in the lux.
urious siiluence of three aces apiece, anil a
poker deck containing four kings of
spades. l was ashamed Of that duxter
Not only had il been ont with the boys,
but IT had fallen among thieves, and was
itself the meanest thief Of the lot. aud un
worthy 10 be called ono OF the boys
was almost afraid TO examine the last
pocket, but finally sent down the Crap
pie and up il came with a wliskey flask,
very empty but very odorous
| began 10 wish the train would start so
that might watch my opportunity and
throw that duster, with all its manifold
iniquities on its head, into the river.
stealthily felt under the bottle and found
a pair of brass knuckles That settled it.
My duster was irrevocably bad I would
wear il as far as the first river or the first
tunnel, and would never wear il no far
ther Would the train never start?
just then gentle hand touched my
shoulder, ! started guilty aud looked
up to see a policeman. II | had been
arresetd on any charge, theft, burglary,
murder, sheep stealing, treason, anything,
| should have given right in and gone
along hadn't enough confidence in my.
self to deny anything But when looked
up | saw kind, tender-face, and heard
the pleasant voice of Methodist clergy
man.
/ beg your pardon, he said, but fear
You and ] have exchanged busters / only
noticed the change this moment, when
found some letters and lecture tickets
bearing yonr name in the pockets The |
mistake is my own, | have no doubt
am so very careless aud our busters are
so nearly alike
/ was 10 shocked that | didn't know |
what to say nor where to look, but / had
Just enough sense left to say yes, that It
was my duster he held in his hands. That
couldn't find my own in the coat room,
and took the only one that was left And |
then gave the good, innocent man the
yillainous old sin-dyed Philestine that had
been corrupting my morals in the morning.
And then to sit there and never look
around but just listen to that man Is amaze.
ment and horror. First he found the bill
lard chalk. lie didn't know what that
was, "Hmp When he found the coffee
grains-but he didn't exactly understand
them, and he Just said "Hap Then he
6shed ont the cork-screw and he seemed
to comprehend that in a general way for
he sal WHAT in staccato OF astonish-
ment that elected an encore from the en-.
tire audience. The poor mans ''merciful
that created the appearance OF
The whiskey flask was drowned ia per.
feet torrent Of applause and wild cries Of
Go on, go on, aud "More" And then
he pulled ont the Police Gate,fe and the
brass knuckles, be fell into his seat with
an audible gasp Of horror, and the whole
,ar full of people just rose ms one man and
lowled, and trampled on their hats and .
wanted to get ont and tear the bottom out
If the ear and throw il in the Shanango
liver 10 express their feeling never saw
70 much enthusiasm over such little
hing. And the fainting clergyman came
o me, holding the disreputable, character
destroying old gallows bird Of duster ia
iis hands.
Sir, be said, with patient rebuke and
'itiful appeal mingling ia his tremulous
ltterance, Sir
But l steelcd my heart against him, be-
:ause | was as innocent as himself, and il
vas the pulpit and the rostrum for it.
$50 way, | said, don't bring it around
Ierel Don't Won point that thing at mel
faint minei You claimed il yourself!
DON'T dare to charge me with III Throw !,
under tho car! Burn it npl won't !.
AVE il Don't you dare
But the Clergyman held it out toward
ne and raised his right hand appeatngly
0 heaven. Just before the tableau began !,
o tell with the jury. however, the porter ].
anne painting down the train. He had an !,
innocent looking dnster ia bis hands with /,
packagesoi Sunday school papers.bulging
a one pocket, and Moody hymn book
ATTEND in the other
"Gentmen," be said "de barkeeper sent
ne doxn and he says as hog somebody
as don run away wid his duster. and he
rant 1t sent bAck or be make il pow 'ful
ively for dc man what took il IL he have !,
. come after IL hisself
That settled IT, The clergyman took !,
il own ulster and gave up the robe Of un- !,
righteousness 10 the ambassador Tie i
lan on the wooa-boK Iaade q generally !,