The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-08-16
Chr qnteIligsr1tt1.
PoErs IN a STREET CAE.

Il @|NsNNAA
Before me walked figure that seeme'
to have sooms difficulty in getting along
It Was that Of man very slightly mad
and very commonly dressed. At first,
distant suspicion Of liquor came upon me
not altogether unnatural, because tn
locality was not q stranger to the sight o
drunkenness, II was the east end Of TIL
fairy; steps up steep embankment, hRt
to be climbed to reach the street cars, Ny
suspicion was soon dIspslled, however, Al
l looked . little closer. The man was par
TALLY blind, so took hold OF his arm auc
assisted him up the steps, during which
operation his tongue was busy telling me
where be came from and how ne got along
that day, Landing him safely on the TOP
oil the stairs, l led him 10 the street cars,
and, supposing him In need, deposited q
ticket, The car was soon tolerably full
when he began 10 search his pockets. He
brought out massive pair OF green spec.
tacles, which were tied together BY n
green thread, These he fixed upon his
nose and around his Uranium, while he
continued 10 talk tueut'y aud elegantly,
as II he hsd sn audience OF listeners. He
soon had, ioF every person In the oar was
curious to know what he had to cay.
Alter having fixed his green goggles 10
his complete satisfaction, which was o task
Of some i've minutes, be further dug into
bis pockels, Of which there were quite q
number, This time collection OF pamph.
let's appeared, some wrapped up nicely in
paper, others having the appearance
Of being handled much. ladies
and gentlemen" he said, clearing
his cracked voice, ~ have q little
collection here that would like
10 cell 10 you. They are poems by poor
blind man, and that Ia myself. viii you
please look at them?" With this be held
out the pamphlet In his hsnd and the
passengers took them To scan them over,
contemplating meanwhile II they had q
dime TO spare on q blind mans poetry.
Opposite myself sat remarkably pretty
young Womsn with frank, CHEEKY face,
sparkling black eyes and around and
about her were climbing two little ones,
the very picture OF herself, onlythelr eyes
were still brighter and beAmed like black
diamonds. As her hands were busy
showed her one oil the pamphlets. ~
can't TeSd, sir" she smiled with Il Q frank.
cot possible innocence. "John always
reads for me-you know, John Ia good
reader" OF course, | knew. such
eyes, / thought, "And woman 60 we'll
dressed and can't read" "Indeed can't !"
she repeated, as Il seeing my thoughts,
After all, she could read, II not letters, at
least my thoughts "but | will buy one II
you think they are nice aud John will
like them" "Well, let me see," said,
what they are, spiritual songs and ballads
bYJ. U. Devices. Here Ia a preface giving
he author a good character aud rsylnS
that he Ia q tnun oil no learning, that he 10
very poor man aud supports a sickly
companion. Given at Pomeroy, Ohio,
&C., &c. Here is The "Tribute to a De.
parted Sister" to the air Of "How firm a
Foundation"
Shes gone from the class room, the friends she did
And Joined With the saints 10 a cla,, room above,
And there Shs can tell d the prayeIf4nd tears
Oi that bltSNd Rsdsemer Who banlShtd her iearI.
Here 10 q piece called "The Orphan's
Rest" 10 which occurs this practical
passage:
"He went Cd to hl, labsr with spirit lIGht snd Free
Aid with WageI pu chased come sugar, rice and tea"
Here the lady with the Two children
said che would buy one for John and she
gave me her poCkotbook to take ont q
dime for her, because she had to hold the
children. ...........
Meanwhile our poet was taking away
yoluably, telling Of bis wonderful expert.
enCe, and that he also, like the lady that
had just bought one Of bis collections, new
er could read or write, but he could ~.
cite any oil his numerous poems oil perfect
from memory. He did q good business
that evening In our car, Ia fact, he had
not halt OF the pamphlets lef. when he had
made hat the route. To many he was
great wonder and number would not
believe that he wrote every thing In the
little book. They did not know OF the
inner lie Of the poet, and that the man as
they saw him before them was not the pc.
81 at oil, but the peddlar who tried TO cell
bis wares. ...a
AZ we came further up town, In o place
where q glass.houhe was sending forth its
fierce CLEANS, tall, majestic figure enter.
ed the car and took seat. High forehead
pure complexion, large, warm eyes, also
armed with spectGCles, he took o seat and
also began iumbliugin his pockets. He
also was q poet, an American poet: but l
was not afraid that he wanted to sell his
pamphlets. He was man In good cir.
cumstances; not only poet, but hard
working man otherwise. He wSs, 90 10
speak, The Poet LaureAte OF cur city, who
had once, though unwittipRIy, yet not
10 bis discredit, competed with Alfred
Tennypon. He THE author Of q number
Of dramatic works, and his poetry was aim
Ing Of q high atandsrd He was q hne Shake.
spearesn scholar, and the president oil that
club. These two poets, one In the fore.
most corner oil the car, palaverlng still
about bis poetic dOings, and having rivet.
ed the attention Of the car audience upon
himself exclusively other occupying
the turthest down corner, his eyes deVour.
ing some critical notes In the Literary
| World, and not hearing or not caring what
"the cursed multitude was about (as
Goethe has III were an interesting Study
TO me; their difference oil culture, oil sur
rounding circumstances and Of physical
condition, The poet Of the carpet bag, ped.
ding bit own ware, sick, puny, suffering.
The other, thepoet Of culture, Of splendid
phy steal health, enjoying o fixed salary
Ii one Of our industrial Institutions; what
q contrast they presented, what exttemes
In the broad republic Of the county.
The slsnting beams Of the departing sun
fell into the car nnd cast their lights upon
The thin, emaClaled lace Of the blind poet
and revealed lines Of helpless gtiel, that