Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-05-04
THE PAuPER'S SECRET.
The singular Pride Of "a Man nj the
Allegheny City Home.

In the short and simple annals of
the poor" one often reads of persons
who though reduced to the most wretch
ed poverty, are still as proud in spirit
AS the haughtiest autocra;s, and pos
sess delicacy Of feeling which could
hardly be expected outside of the high
er and more refined walks of life Pau
pers they may De, but that pride refuses
to be chrushed Too sensitive To admit
that they are poor, they exert all their
powers to hide the fact from the world.
This phase of human nature was never
more strikingly illustrated than in the
llte of an aged man, who after resi-
dence of three years in the Allegheny
City Home left that institution ON
Saturday forever.
HIS story Is An interesting one. Years
ago Thomas Mulaney had a happy
home, and managed to support his
family In comfortable way. Many
pictures in memory of the domestic
happiness of those days now cheer the
old man in his declining years. Death
finally broke up the family circle, tax
ling his wife first and all but two of his
children afterward Then darker days
came upon him. Losing his corporal
vigor, and the increasing intirmities OF
old age settling down upon him, as he
WAS no longer able to work. One
daughter and son had drifted away to
distant points, and he had no knowl-
edge of their whereabouts. At last,
when he was on the verge of starvation
he was taken charge of 10y the authori-
ties and sent to the Allegheny home.
This WAS three years since, and he
WAS then about so years of age. About
year ago he learned in some manner
that his son was married and living at
Cambridge, Mass. He wrote him
letter, carefully concealing his condi-
ton, and the fact that he was in an
alms-house. This correspondence has
been kept up ever since, the son sup
posing his father To be living on a farm
at Montrose, 7. Q. Too proud 10 ask
for help, the old man never requested
his son to care for him, and too sensa-
tive to admit his poverty, he WAS very
guarded in writing his letters. But the
son judged from the letters that he was
lonely, and for the past few months
has sent urgent invitations for him to
remove to Cambridge. His last letter
concludes thus; ~ am sorry to hear
that you have not yet decided to
come to us. fear that you have some
reason which keeps you in Allegheny
county. | say now, rs | always have,
my wife and | would be only too glad
to have you with us, and will care for
you well the balance of your life"
The son is in good circumstances, and
had he had the slightest intimaiion of
his fathers condition would have readi-
ly sent money for him to make the
journey with.
One of the members of the Alleghe-
ny poor board interested himself in old
Tom, and proposed to the board to fur
nish him with railroad ticket to Bos-
ton. Some of the members doubted
Toms representations, and asked for
his sons address, so they could write
and see il it was all right. He declared
he would remain in the poor house all
his life rather than have his son in
formed Of his place Of living, and refus-
ed TO give the address. The poor d.
reciors promised to keep his secret, aud
last Friday nigh. ordered Maj. Hunker
to procure for him transportation to
Boston. When this was told to Tom
he was the happiest man in the county.
Tears Of gratitude and JOY rolled down
his cheeks, and by this time he is with
his son. The latter need never know
tho old mans ecret.-Piasb,trgh Post