The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-03-25
THE BEGGAR.
4 TRUE STORY.

A TRUE STORY.
One cold, windy morning, the last
Sunday of December, 1S49, a half-na-
ked man knocked timidly at the base
ment door of fine, substantial man.
sion in the cityo Brooklyn. Though
the weather was bitter, even for the
season, the young man had no cloth
ing but a pair of ragged cloth pants,
the remains of flannel shirt, which
exposed his muscular chest in many
large rents. But in spite of his tat
tered apparel and evident fatigue,
as he leaned heavily upon the railing
of the basement stairs, a critical OBJ
server could not fail to notice a con-
scious air and dignity and the marked
traces of cultivation and refinement
in ! is pale, haggard countenance.
The door was speedily opened, and
disclosed a large, comfortably furnish
ed room, with its glowing CRATE ofan-
thracite, before which was placed a
/ luxuriously furnished breakfast table.
A fashionably attired young, man in a
brocade dressing gown and velvet
slippers, reclined in soft fa1tts,tiI,
busily engaged in reading the morn
! isg papers. The beautifal. -yeHEg
wife had fingered at the table giving
to the the servant in waiting her or
ders for the household matters of the
day, when the timid rap at the door
attracted her attention. She COM
manded the door to be opened; but
the young master ofthe mansion re-
Piled that it was useless-being no
one but some thievish beggar; but the
door was already opened, and the SYM
pathies of Mrs. haywood enlisted at
once.
"Come into the fire." cried the
young wife, impulsively, "before you
perish"
The mendicant, without exhibiting
any surprise at such unusual treat
ment Of a street beggar, slowly enter
ed the room, manifesting q painful
weakness at every step. On his en-
trance, Mr.. haywood, with dis
pleased air, gathered up his papers
and left the apartment. The cempas-
sionate lady unwisely placed the
half frozen man near the FIRE, while
she prepared bowl of fragrant coffee
which, with abundant food, was
placed before him. But noticing the
abrupt departure of her husband,
Mrs. haywood, with clouded counte-
nance, left the room, whispering to
the servant TO remain until the stran>
ger should leave.
She then ran hastily up the richly
mounted taircase, and paused before
theentrance of a small laboratory and
medical library, occupied solely by
her husbani, who was physician and
practical chemist. She opened the
door and entered the room. Mr.. May
wood was sitting at a small table with
his head resting upon his hands, appa-
rentIy in deep thought.
Edward" said the young wife,
gently touching his arm, Il fear |
have displeased you; but the man
looked so wretched | could not bear
to drive him away" aud her voice
trembled as she added-"You know
that | take the sacrament to-day"
"Dear Mary" replied the really
fond husband, 81 appreciate your mo-
tives. l know it is pure goodness of
heart that leads you to disobey me, but
still I must insist upon my former
commands that no beggar shall ever
be permitted to enter this house. 1t
is for safety that | insist upon it. How
deeply you might be imposed upon in
my frequent absences from home l
shudder to think. The man that is
now below may be but burglar in
disguise, and already in your absence
taking impressions in wax of the diff
ferent keyholes in the room so as to
enter SO ne night at his leisure. Your
limited experience of city life makes
it difficult for you to credit $50 much
depravity. 1t is no charity to give to
street beggars; it only encourages
vice, dearest
1T may be so" responded Mrs.
Haywood, "but it does seem wicked
not to relieve suffering and want, even
if this person has behaved badly-and
We know it But viii promise you
not to ask another into the house"
At this moment the seryant raped