The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-07-09
ALL ABOUT A BRICK.

\ correspondent of the Ereatng P"S
gives the following account of Il persona
experience:
One bright mornin. in the month OF
November, some wears aTo | was pre-
pairing to 30 down town. when the serr-
ant informed me hat Il man was waiting
at the front door To see me. Tell him
III be down in a moment. said |. Oh
going to the door Il man of tall stature
and robust appearance. calling me by
name. requested assistance. saying that
he had 4 large family, a wife in delicate
health. and no means to procure food fol
them. 1"n appear to be strong anu
healthy: why don't You work ," asked l.
Simply. sir, for the reason thar | can
not procure work.
Not having any work to give him,
thought ! would test the sincerity of his
intentions. IF give you work, what
pay do you want - Anything. sir. you
choose to give me, long as | can oh.
l't'i iA''iiH i'i my Nhi'iiiiS
"i cry well. said |, II will give You
twenty-five cents an hour. ii you vii
carry a brick on your arm around the
block for five hours without stopping.
''Thank you. sir; | will do it After
hunting while ! found a brick, placed
it on the man ) arm, started him on his
n. 4
business.
Not having the least faith in the man
promise. ] thought but little more Of it.
yet, as knew | should be back within
the five hours. determined to see if ht
performed his work. My business kept
me away rather later than | expected. Sc
| had to forego my usual walk home. anu
took Il Fourth Avenue car to be back
within the five hours.
AS | approached the corner of the
street where | reside. found a great
crowd of persons gathcred-two fire en-,
gineS, hose cart. and a hook and lad
der truck. Upon inquirng where the
fire was, ! was informed that it was a
false alarm, and that what brought the
people together and occasioned the agi-
tation. was the spectacle of tall man
| carrying 4 brick on his arm around the
block for nearly five hours. The neigh
bors were looking at him from the win
dows and doors as he passed along: some
, thought he was crazy. but when spoken
to. his answer was: " Don't stop me: its
all right AS he intertered with III
one, he was allowed to walk on unds
turbed. &" Where is the man now?"
asked. There, you can see him at the
other end of the block, walking with his
head down, was the answer
He was Just about turning the corner
and | waited till he had performed the
/ circuit, then, taking him quietly by the
arm, | marched him to my house. follow
ed by a lot of boys. In the meantime
the fireman. engine and hose cart ratified
OFF. The man was thoroughly tired ont
when took him into my hall and seated
him on a chair, while my servant went
for Il little wine and something to eat
| paid him forthwith a dollar and Il half
He informed me that while making one
! of his rounds lady came out of Il house
and inquired why he was carrying tina,
brick, and on his giving her the reason
he received dollar. The object sool
became known, for as he passed the
houses small sums were given to him by
different persons. and he was we'll salts
fed with his days work. But said
he. what shall do tomorrow %
Why" | replied, go early in the
morning to the houses from which you
received the money and ask for work.
and no doubt you will find some one who
will put you in the way of getting it
then report to me- The following after
! Ia i,(,,p,nl thnt hn h,I
sent to a German. who kept pork es
adjustment on Third avenue and who
wanted a clerk to keep his books lie
was to get five dollars week if his work
proved satisfactory: and his duties began
on the followin. day. Before leaving
me he asked for the brick which had
it to him. Within the year ascertained
that the man had been transferred to d
larger establishment of the same kind,
/ with a salary Of one thousand dollars.
Three or four years after this ! was
/ riding in 4 street car, when well dress.
ed man accosted me with a smile. and
! asked me if ] knew him. Seeing me
hesitate, he said: Don't you recollect
/ the man who carried the brick -
He then informed me that he was
doing Il prosperous business on his own
account, had laid up money, and expect
ed soon to build himself Il house III
town.
What became Of the brick ." | in
uured.
That brick. sir, has always occupied
a place on our mantelpicce, and we value
1t as the most precious of our little pos
sessions. 1t has made our fortune.