Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-07-07


poor and dirty and vulgar himself once, and
now regarded all such attributes as personal
reflections, 80 to speak. So he stepped frown-
ingly into tho fine carriage that was in wait
ing, and ratified of.
The next citizen who stopped to look on
was a political economist, who spoke three
times week on ameliorating the condition Of
the working Masses His soul sickened at the
injustice of society, he used to say. He paus-
ed long enough to make a shirt-cuff note on
the fearful increase Of crime among children,
and then he, too, passed along, shaking his
head.
And then came another millionnaire-one
of those constantly haunted by the fear of be-
ing themselves reduced TO poverty some day,
despite their present wealth. And so this one
clutched his purse tighter than ever, and gave
place to the two giggling women who were
the next comers.
Does not some writer say that sweet charity
and holy pity dwell ever in woman's gentle
breast But these were women OF the period,
and so they shuddered in one breath, "Ugh
what horribly dirty little creature" and then
minced on toward the matinee.
Meantime the brisk merchant first mention
ed walked rapidly up Market street, like man
every moment of whose time meant coin. But
when he had gone about three squares his pace
for some reason seemed TO grow slower and
slower, and from time to time he jerked his
head impatiently and said "Pshaw !" indig-
nantly TO himself, as if engaged in combat
ting some unwelcome mental impulse which
persisted in presenting itself to his considera-
ton.
The fact was, this brusque, imperative man
Of trade was troubled with that not too COM
mon affection of the heart called humanity
It was 50 unnatural and singular disease for
grown man to possess nowadays, that the
merchant was very properly ashamed of it ;
but it seemed as if this was an hereditary af-
fection, for it persevered in making itself felt
and impelled its possessor TO do all sorts of
inconsistent things, in the most absurd man
ner possible. Left to himself, the merchant
was wealthy, respectable, a man of influence
and church member-in fact he possessed
all the necessary qualifications for being self
ish, uncharitable, self-centred and inhuman
Therefore 1t irritated him to the last degree,
just when he was about, for instance, to imi-
tate his wealthy neighbors and avoid subscrib-
ing to some charity or perpetrating any other
kind action, to have this absurd little inborn
imp of humanity actually torment him into
doing the very thing his worldly training
taught him TO most avoid.
He had noticed too, that this disease
which is not an epidemic, the reader must un-
derstand-always affected him worst when
AuObN nhBBl anu COultultu Hb Oh
this particular morning he was in an unusual
ly serene mood he was not surprised, only an
noyed, to find that familiar little voice in his
breast kept saying:
Remember the dear little child you kissed
when you left home just now. Suppose it
were sitting there, instead of that miserable
little waif, crushed and despairing Come,
stop thinking of how your neighbor Jones
would act, and go back and see If you cannot
do something for the boy"
As we have said, he fought against this ri
diculous impulse for time, but finally turned
and retraced his steps with that sort of half
injured, shame-faced expression many men
put on when they set about a good action, for
some as yet unexplained reason.
whats your name ?" he grufy asked the
boy, who by this time had been pitched upon
the seat of the wagon, which was about ready
to start.
''Snub, replied the small hoodlum, eyeing
his interrogator moment in a sort of despair
ing stupor. The house of correction for six
months, which he knew was the fate that
awaited him, was more-much more-to him
than the disgrace and punishment it implied.
1t meant, in addition, just what bankruptcy
and ruin does to the business man. Long be-
fore his release the particular street corner
on which he sold papers, the sole and equita-
Dio Albht W WulCu ne uhu Q6l6uu6u
| from his fellow merchants at the expense of
many gamely- fought battle and bloody nose,
would be gone forever
"Snub what" said the merchant.
"Walker-or suthin like that" said the
grimy midget after a moment of attempted
recollection. ''The boys just call me 'Snub,
that's ALL"
"Whyf
He shook his head, but the shape of his in
fnitesimal nose supplied the necessary infor-
nation.
where's your mother2"
"Gone dead"
"When ?"
"Dunno-long time ago-'fore dad run
away"
away where ?"
'"' sea-"
"And so you shift for yourself and sell pa
pers. HIM Why do they call you a wharf
rat?
Dunno. amt no rat" said the red-headed
pigmy explanatorily, warmed into some show
of interest by the kind voice of the stranger.
"Well, no." laughed the other, "you are
hardly big enough for rat you're more like
a mouse, and SO I'll give you crumb."
just then the wagon started, and the mer-
chant stepped into cab, telling the driver to
drive to the city hall and be quick about it, as
he was missing an engagement at the Mer-
chants Exchange. Snub watched the queer
gentleman out of sight with kind of apathet-
| ic curiosity. The rat was so Injured to "chaf-
fng" and the other species of street amuse-
ment, and so used to ridicule on account OF
his puny frame and bristling red hair, that il
did not surprise him to see this gentleman 60
off like every one else, in spite of his clear
eyes and kind voice. Snub did not remember
to have ever heard kind voice before in the
| IL - 10 I,efa ha
still musing over the novelty when the wagon
turned into Merchant street. and the shadow
of the jail again fell over his benumbed little
soul.
But the man with the kind voice was there
before him, chatting affably with the captain
in charge.
"How much will the malefactor's forfeit
bail come to ?" he asked, as the exposure
charge was booked.
"Ten dollars, replied the clerk.
II an angel from heaven had risen out OF
the floor to slow music, and offered Snub q
whole potpie at once, after two days fast
rendered necessary by poor trade, as he had
dreamed one did, he would not have been as
surprised as he was then to behold the stran
ger take from his pocket handful of dazzling
gold and toss down a shining ten.
"There, Mr.. Mouse" he said, sis your
orumb Your bathing bill is settled"
"Does yer mean kin go now, mister p
gasped the prisoner, for moment too stunned
to grasp the fact,
"Yes," replied the gentleman and then,
with wink at the clerk, added "But you
know only lend you this money. l expect
you to pay it back in year."
But even while they were all laughing quite
heartily at so rich joke, the wharf rat raised
his clenched little paw, and said with an ear
nestness that made even the calous specials
look around;
"I'll do it, sir-indeed will. Ihope may
be struck dead if 1 don'tl"
"Well-ahem sec that you do" said hi
benefactor, with assumed gravity, 'or ohal
think you not mouse of your word"
II hope 1 may be struck dead - repeated
the pigmy solemnly-so solemnly, indeed
that the merchant felt sort of lump in hi
throat as he searched his pocket for ten-cen