The Portland daily press., 1881-11-09
Lord Beaconsfield's Florin

bGdCOuSu0ld
The great Earl did not often, of late years, go
abroad alone; he was usually to be seen with
his well-gloved hand in the of the faithful
Cory. But sometimes within, and sometimes
exigences of affairs sent him out by himself.
On one occasion, towards the close of his adj
ministration, when "perils did abound as thick
as thought could make 'em,' he found it nee
essary to be whirled with all possible speed to
Hatfield, where Lord Salisbury was confined
by illness. By some miscalculation he reach
ed the Great Northern Station at Kings Cross
good half hour before the departure of the
train. He was not the man to fret and fume
over this. He lit a cigar, and whiled away the
time on the bare windy platform, taking a peep
ut the bookstall of the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, and at the many little industries
around, from acquaintance with which recog-
nizable persons are usually debarred. The
sharp boy in charge of the weighing machine
cried in lear voice which echoed through the
station, "Try your weight, sirl'' and offered
him box Of lights He looked at the boy and
the chair: but he was not to be tempted even
by a sharp boy to do more. AS the half hour
decreased to quarter railway porters and pas
sengers began to appear on the platform, among
whom there could not fail to be some one who
would recognize his lordship. First one and
then another person was arrested. in the anx-
ious pursuit of luggage or the leisurely pur-
chase of an evening paper (frst edition., and
made to turn and look again at the striking
face which Pinch and photography had made
familiar to all. OF course the whisper went
round, and in less than a minute, when he re-
turned along the platform, there were huh
dred eyes levelled at him by men who, of
course, held respectfully saloof, Eand seemed
as he passed to be intent on the title of their
newspapers or on the fagstones beneath his
feet. He encountered curious earnest look
here and there, which gave him warning that
he was being discovered. Soon there was not
creature on two legs in the station but knew
that Lord Beaconsfeld was on the platform,
and the gathering eyes became an embarrass-
ment. "a play-actor or preacher" as he
said once, ''soon gets used. no doubt, to having
thousand pairs of strange eyes fixed on him;
but an ordinary parsonage never feels 80
uncomfortably naked and unsheltered as
when, by some accident, he stands the silent
centre of silent crowd of eyes before and be-
hind
He took his ticket, and went to take his seat,
of the departure of the train) He was stepping
into the carriage when his walking-stick slip
ped from his hand and fell through between
the foot board and the platform Instantly
man who was Standing by-a workman OF some
sort connected with the railway-jumped down
crept under, and returned with the stick
which he handed to the great man with his
cap off and with very creditable obeisance
His lordship looked at him.
"And have you," said he, my good man,
risked your life to oblige me? You deserve,
sir,"-putting his hand in his pocket-"you de-
serve"-drawing it out and glancing at the
coin-"the Victoria Cross" saying which he
put into the mans hand, form.
Let any one look at the reverse of the coin
and he will appreciate the mot.
Conceive the OVERLOOKING pride and exulta-
tation of that poor man as he turned away
among mates and spectators! His eyes
were filled with curious kind of delight,
which tingled out at his hard finger tips and
set his tongue a-wagging. He had to repeat
again and again what the great man had said.
"Ah, now, he's smart un, amt he? 'Risked
your life; says he, dry satirical like. But,
bless you, knowed warn't going to move
just then. All, and SO did he. He's sharp un
he is. You deserve the Victorian Cross, says
he, and gimme this. Ha, hal"
The cross on the coin was pointed out to him;
and ''You must bore hole in it and wear it
around your neck, said some one.
"Ah," said he, Eyes I'll bore considerable
hole in it by supper time see if don't?"
The train passed snorting out of the station.
The man with the form beckoned to two or
three of his friends, and they hurried away to
have a convivial glass. Arrived at the bar, he
looked at his form and at his friends; no, he
thought, he would not change the precious coin
yet.
you'll stand treat, won't yer?" said he to
one of his friends. I'm fain not to break into
it just yet" Then turning to a group of stran-
gers in the place, he laughed and exulted.
@I,a soosl I.a + ord poao oil ryi'-
mme t with his own hands in there on the
platform" They were, of course, interested;
and he recounted the story, ending with, " You
deserve the Victorian Cross, and gimme
with his finger the semblance of a cross on the
coin.
His mates, having drunk their liquor, slipped
away to their work, and left him talking. His
new friends invited him to drink, and he drank.
Then he wandered out with them, with his
hand in his pocket and the form itching in his
hand, quite oblIvious OF his work. He came
upon some waiting cabmen, and stopped to let
his exultation and his story overflow upon them.
They were little skeptical in look and tone,
as their vocation inclines them to be toward
other mems stories, and he turned away some
what offended.
He passed on into the street. and stood on the
curhstone. He looked on the many passers-by
much as a new convert to revivalism might;
they we're ignorant of him and of the marvel
GUS story he had to tell. But, like the religious
PEELED for relief to talk about it. The nearest
and most likely person to listen was the cross
ing-sweeper. He went to him and told him,
speaking pretty loud in the hope OF catching
the ear of some idle passer-by. But it was all
expended on the crossing-sweeper and his
broom; and, after all, the poor man heard him
grudgingly (why had it not been his luck to
get the lorin?), and he who deserved the Vic
toria cross turned away discontented.
He must tell his story-and spend his fiorn-
yet and he paused just a moment-would it
not be pleasant to have the coin to show? But
his story must be told, therefore an audience
must be found. Fit audience, he guessed, could
only be found in a public house bar; and he
crossed the road end entered the wide, easy
door of the Railway Arms. He called for a
glass and threw down the form.
THAT there half-dollar, said he, "has just
come out of the pocket IF his lordship the Earl
Of Besconsfeld."
MOP exclaimed the landlord, turning it
over in his hand. "You don't say sop' So
the story was told again to the admir-
ing landlord, the landlords wife, and the bar
maid.
"He's smart chap, now, amt he?"
.'That he is. And can't he give it 'em in
Parlymentl'' said the landlord. But look here,
il was you, I'd keep that f1orin for keepsake
If you haven't any other money, |. IL treat you
70 that glass"
The man thanked him, and encouraged him
self in the spirit of the poets words, 'Fit audi
ence let me find though few"
Presently others entered the bar, and he
turned himself about to fresh efforts of drink
ing and story telling (Which are not necessarily
allied)
By and by he went into another tavern. He
found it an agreeable occupation, drinking It
the expense Of others and telling tale to his
own credit and glorifcation. But here he was
tempted. perhaps by that foolish spirit of beer
he had imbibed, TO make an addition to his sto-
~, which threw discredit on the whole. He
concluded thus
''Can ], nv good man, do anything for you?
bis lordship says that, as he's a stepping into
the train. If ye ever want anything says he,
call at the House OF Lords
Downing street, you mean" said listener,
with wink aside.
'I mean Downing street." said he, accepting
the correction