Huntsville gazette., 1882-08-12
" Dickens nutchman."

O.d Charlie Langneimer, ssDickens'
Dutchman," who on Wednesday last.
after four weeks freedom. was sent
back to the Eastern Penitentiary to
complete his eightieth year on earth and
his forty-third year in prison, was
heartily glad to return to his old quar-
ters after his experience with the ssphil-
anthroplst'' who attempted to reform
him after his last discharge Old Lang
helmer says that soon after his release,
IN June, he received letter, $50 nice
dot L could not read him. from doe
tor residing at Spring Mills. small vii
lage in Center County. He took the
letter to his son-in-law and found that
the writer desired to reform him. The
OLD man was invited to come on to Cen
ter County; was told that the best OF
care would be taken of him, and that
his only work would be to attend to the
flower garden and to employ the artistic
taste which he had exhibited in decorat-
ing his cell in improving the grounds OF
his patron. The benevolent gentleman
had prudently neglected to send any
money Or ticket to old Langheimer, but
kindly referred him to George w.
Childs for the wherewithal to pay his
passage. The venerable jail-bird, ac-
cording to his own story, went to Mr..
Childs and showed him the letter. The
benevolent proprietor of the Ledger, al
though he knew nothing of the philan-
thropist beyond the bare fact of his ex-
istence, kindly supplied Langhemer
with railway ticket, and, after giving
him liberal allowance of money and
good advice, sent him on his wav re-
joicing.
Langheimer reached his destination in
the evening and was welcomed with
open arms by his patron. But the morn
ing dispelled the old mans visions of
pastoral tranquility and floral bliss Not
a flower was discernable about the
place, but the philanthropist smiled
blandly and benevolently as he intro
duced ''Dickens' Dutchman" to large
wheelbarrow, a spade and an old ak,
and informed him that he could emnloy
his artistic taste in cutting sod from
along the railroad track, hauling it to
the top of the high lawn, a distance of
several hundred feet, and laying it there.
Langheimer meekly followed his instruc-
tons, but the barrow was heavy, the
sun was hot, the ax-handle was rough,
and the memory of his old cool, cozy
quarters in the Eastern Penitentiary
came regretfully back to the veteran
prisoner. For two weeks, however, he
remained at his work upon the lawn
More and more strongly he felt that this
kind OF reform was not congenial, but
the dread of a new misfortune was upon
him. He heard that the philanthropist
was sodding bis lawn in the expectation
of summer boarders, and shrewdIy
guessed that he himself might be de-
signed as a benevolent side-show to at
tract literary rusticators. This was
more than the old man could bear, and
he begged to be allowed to return to his
old home.
AS blistered hands, unaccnstomed fa-
tigue and exposure, and growing dis
inclination to work were fast making
him white elephant upon the hands Of
the philanthropist, the latter was willing
to yield him up, and gave him return
ticket and So as a godspeed. Thus ac-
coutered, Langheimer at once started
for Philadelphia. Humbled and satiated
of philanthropy, he remained for one
week without stirring from the house of
his son-in-law. On fine, sunshiny day
he strolled out for the first time. Again
the siren spell Of an open door and an
ungEarded money-till allured him, and
again he fell. This is old Langheim-
er's story of his experience with his ben
efactor, and as he told it to an old friend
he ioyously surveyed the narrow limits
of his cozy cell, and said:
"I guess dat dish is de best blase for
me after alls. Philadelphia Times.