Daily Republican., 1881-12-29
A CUPOF CDLD WATEH.
How Near MaA beeaMo the Mul
ierer Of has De,iverer.

1t was night at th4 Michigan Central
Station in Dstroit--.aJe, dark, silenI
night, aud on, v a few dim lighJs broke
the gloom into dark shade vs., that were
m Dre fearful than utter darkness, aud
no traveller was so unfortunate as &c
be co'DPolled to ,inger in this dreary
Ipaco.
A; least that was the impression the
vast silence gave, Dul there were two
travellers who, when no trains were
coming or going, waited in the depot
through the cbill morning hour. Ont
| was "A man who had come by the latest
train, and whom the conductor helped
into the depot ami who, through wea.
1 riness, had fallen asleep on the cush-
ion. He WIS ,ickat3d throu gh, apd his
, destination was the grave; no one had
need to look at him twice to soe that he
had almost reached the end ot his last
|JOuruov
The other passenger was on the road
to rula; he, 100, h>d nearl y arrived aC
he term,inus; at least, Ii, paliid, sin
marked face, and Ill ass )rted, ragged
clothes, seemed to indicate that he had
nearly tolci.d the foot OF the ladder j.;
the world lad taken his measure and
named him tramp" but he had
wrought his own ruin; low and evil As
be- was he never blamed any one but
himself.
This man had ben watching the
sleeper for II long time, had noted his
weakness, his respectable appearance,
and that he had a walch-cEaln at his
vest po ket and Il respectable satchel
Il der his head; and he crept near,
nearer, with the one horrible thought
upprrluost--he would rob tbs d,lug
man He had no far of the IL 1t. He
huggei the biSene,s Of il to his SOU.
Euo no dad fear tina: some would come
IN and interrupt his project If the
man moved Why, a turn Of the
wrist a. his throat would settle him.
He did not move. T1e tramp took the
satcnel and the watch simultaneously
and was ready TO hy, h0t, the sick man
merely groaned f'trlt!N rs his head
dropped on the cushion, In the face OF
actual death he slept as quietly as u
child on It's mothers breast.
As the tramp looked with greedy eyes
at the watch to note its commercial
value he started aud shlvercI as if an
Off ial hand had been laid on his
start, Il wildly at the face Of the
sick man and back 10 the watch, which,
with open case, lay in lis hand; then he
something that had tho name
OF "Gou' in it, and instantly it was
back III the pocket OF tae rick man,
and the Satcnel was under his head
again.
What had he Se9n'
The picture OF Il captain in the South
ern army, wearing the COniederat
uniform A fac. that rrSe,nbied tnat
OF the man, who, when he a., dying OF
thirst, aud was about to he trIustiXsd
by rebel bayonet, gave hin Il draught
OF spring water, anr, n,I"S hIm ON
his own h Jrse, III net nm 10 tie North
and said
"W hen you meet Il vaulaisbed man,
spare him, rs | have spaced yOu.'
And hd I'll srd his blue cap III tine air
aud swOro 10 reiutmD"r.
NV they had met AGAIN.
An hour later ID cdrrj...e drove i'll
haste to the depot and nr,t Of all Il
child cams running in. She lOOkrt At
the tramp q moment, then ncSltl'ed
and then Aung herself on the PROSTATE
nau.
"urandpa. dear grandpa wake up. ,
We've come To take you home.
A Gentleman ana lady hurried in.
"Father," said the lady, ineeiins by |
him, I'VE missed the time, but here We
are now. Do wake up"
rh tramp wa, iaunlng him with his
rai a certain dignity WIS in his face
anu manuer as Le did ~. Tne sick Tan
opened his eyes, smiled teebly and
Sii:
"Giye--lBa-I- lIink--Oi,-- water.
Tue tramp bionglt th" Mater and |
kneIt as he lift, Il tur he!p,r's hCa and
paced the cup Oi water to iho cold .lps. |
W irI be .,d back there Ta- snilB
!" led upon item, and The llly and the
Ii Tie glri sopDrd aloud.
Tue tramp lose 10 his feet, but ms
; iu.ins maunec was gone. /
"fne baJtlo Is most over, he SAID
.entiy ale told me 10 remember, and
did would nave dicd for uiH.'
He has done better; he has lived for
lin, and men touch their hats
. him now, VINO three mOnths ago
yonll have SpurneI him ir,m their
luOrs.
Romance, do you say :? No, My dear
ir, it is reality !-Detroit Free Press.