Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-17

wharf rats, as lives beneath the wharvos
here, an stales from the proioose schooners
O'nights. We be running thin all in now
for vagrancy, an on1acent exposure. by
raison ov thin going in schwimmin' every
foive minutes widont their clothes. It's
aither this raskil we've been fora wake or
more. It's no use thryin' ter catch one o.
Thin felleys in the water. They schwim
loike "A fish. begorra, thin docs. and.
they've more holes ter schlip inter than the
cells themselves, so they have"
"Ah!' said the looking man,
who was an officer OF the S. 2. G A., II
was in hopes it was case for ME" and
he walked off much disappointed.
The wharf rat ceased his low, terrified
Isniveling long enough to put in plea that
he was not vagrant, but sold papers;
that he only slept beneath the wharf be-
cause 1t didn't cost anything; that h.
didn't know that it was any harm 10 90 in
swimming, and other excuses common TO
great criminals.
One of tho officers strolled OIL to look up
an express wagon to carry their prisoner
to headquarters. This he did partly be-
cause it would involve loss of dignity to
convey so insignificant a prisoner through
tho streets, and partly because he had a
friend in the express business. who was
always good for Il" divvy" on these little
Jobs. The other guardian majcstically re-
posed, after his exertions, on hawser
post, after impressng upon the child that
an immediate cessation of its blubberins
would obviate the necessity of having his
head caved in with = club.
! Meanwhile, several other passers to and
from the ferry. loitered 10 gaze at the
strong hand of the law in full operation,
and to ask the prisoners otlense. One of
these was sleek and benevolent minister
of an uptown church, but as he was hur-
rying home to write up pathetic sermon
on the text of the Good Samaritan, he had
no time TO waste upon latter.day Philis-
tines, and so he passed by on the other
side.
Another was great mining capitalist,
but it always made him angry to look at
people that were poor, dirty and vulgar.
He had been poor, dirty and vulgar HIM
self, once, and he now regarded all such
attributes as direct personal reflections, SO
to speak. So he stepped frowningly into
the fine carriage that was in waiting, and
rattled Off.
The next citizen who stopped to look on
was a political economist who spoke three
times week on suffering ireland. and
ameliorating the condition of the work.
ing masses. His soul sckened at the in.
Justice of society, he used to say, and
pausing long enough to make shirt-cufi
note on the fearful increase of crime
among children, he, too, went off shaking
his head.
And then another millionaire chanccd
by. One of those continually haunted by
a fear of being themselves left in poverty
and want some day, despite their present
wealth. So this one clutched his purse
tighter than ever,and gave way to coup
10 of giggling women, who were the next
comers.
Does not some writer say that sweet
charity and holy piety dwell always II
women's gentle breast? But these were
San Francisco women of the period. anG
so they Uttered with one breath: " What
a horrid little bratl" and then they
minced on toward tho matinee.
Meanwhile, the brisk merchant frs
mentioned walked rapidly up Marke
street, like a man every movement o
whose time meant coin. But when h,
had proceeded about three squares, hi
pace, for some reason, seemed to 90 slowe
and slower, and from time to time he erket
his head impatiently. and said, "Pshaw.' y
Indignantly to himself, as though lii
was engaged in combating some unwel
come mental impulse that persisted il
presenting itself to his consideration.
Tho fact was, this brusque, imperative
man of trade was troubled with n most un
common and annoying affection of thu
heart, called humanity. II was so unnat
ural and singular disease for a grow
man TO possess nowadays, that the mer
chant was very properly ashamed Of it
not only that. but it seemed this was al
hereditary affection that persevcred il
making itself felt, and compelling its pos
SCISSOR to do all things in the most absurt
manner possible.
Left to himself, the merchant wa
wealthy, respectable, II man Of influence
and city magnate In fact he possesse
all tho necessary qualifications for bein,
selfish, unChalitabie, sclfcentered and in
human, and it irritated him to the last dc
cree. Just when he was about, for in
stance, to initiate his wealthy neighbor
and evadc subscribing TO some charity O
pcrpetrating any other kind action, t
have this silly little imp Of humanity &C
tually torment him into doing the YER
thing his worldly training led him mo.
, TO avoid.
! lie had noticed, too, that this disease
, though it Is not an epidemic. the readc
9 will understand-aIways affected him mos
. when most happy and contented himsel
/ and rs he was in q more than usually 81
rene mood Just then, he was annoyed, bit
c not surprised to heara familiar litllc voc
in his breast say and keep saying
= Remember the loving little child yo
!, kissed when you left home just now. SUI
Q pose it were there sitting instead of tbs
!. wretched little wait, crushed and despair
: ing. Come. stop thinking of how you
neighbor Jones would act, and 60 baC
o and see if you cannot do something for Il
boy"
1 AS ave have said, he fought against tn
Q ridiculous impulse for time, but it ende
: In his turning at last, and retracing h
steps with that sort of half.iniured, hal
e shametaced expression many men put c
Q when they set about good action, fc
i some yet unsolved reason.
y What's your namep" he grullly aske
0 of the child, who by this time had bee
= pitched upon the seat of the wagon, whic
r was about ready to start.
i "Snub," replied the small hoodlun
= Ieying the interrogation moment in so
|, of despairing stupor. The house of CORE
Q ton for six months, which he knew WI
8 the fate that awaited him, was more
much more-to his kind, than the me-
disgrace and punishment II implied.
il meant, in addition, Just what bankruptC
J. and ruin does to the business man. Lor
n before his release, the particular sire
Q corner on which he sold his papers, ar
G the sole and equitable right to occup
j. which he had defended from his fello
n merchants at the expense of many gam
l. ly-fought battle and bloody nose, wou
d be gone forever.
r. "Snub WHAT" said the merchant
}. walker, or suthin like that" roplit
y the grimy midget, after moment
d attempted recollection. The boys call n
,. only 'Snub,' that all
is "Why?"
!, JIo ehooL his hpnd In answpr alihouo