Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-08
SOMETHING CURIOUS HAPPENED.

SOMETHING CURIOUS HAPPENED.
A boy ten years old, pulling heavy
cart loaded with pieces of board and
lath taken from some demolished
structure-an everyday sight in all our
cities. Tired and exhausted, he halted
under shade tree. His feet were
bruised and sore, his clothing in rags,
his face pinched and looking years older
than 1t should. What must be the
thoughts of such child as he looks out
upon the world-the fine houses, the
rich dresses, the rolling carriages, the
happy faces of those who have never
known what it is to be poor? Does it
harden the heart and make it wicked, or
does it bring feeling of loneliness and
wretchedness-a wondering If the rich
mans heaven is not SO far from the poor
mans heaven that he will never catoh
sight Of their pinched faces?
The boy lay down on the grass and in
five minutes was fast asleep. HIS bare
feet just touched the curbstone and the
old hat fell from his head and rolled to
The walk. In the shadow of the tree his
lace told story that every passer-by
could read. 1t told of scanty food-of
nights when the body shivered with
Sold-of home without sunshine-of
young hfe confronted by hooking
shadows.
Then something curious happened. A
Iaboring mana queer Old man with
woodsaw On his alm-crossed the street
10 rest for a moment beneath the same
shade. He glanced At the boy and
Enrned away, but his look was drawn
again, and now he saw the picture and
read the story. He, too. was poor. He,
100, knew what 1t was TO shiyer and hun
ger. He iptoed along until he could
bend over the boy, and then he took
3rom his pocket a piece Of bread and
1neat-the dinner ne was to eat If he
found vork-a1G laid 1t down beside the
Rad. Then ne walked carefully away,
booking back every moment, but hasten
dag out OF sight as If he wanted to es-
cape thanks. Men, women anu children
dad seen it all, and what lever it was
The human heart Is ever kind and gen.
Hrous, but sometimes there is q need of
key to open it. A man walked down
from his steps and left o. half-dollar be-
side the poor mans bread. A woman
RaIked down and Left good hat in place
Of the old one. A child came with pair
of shoes, and a boy brought a coat and
vest. Pedestrians halted and whispered,
and dropped dimes and quarters beside
The first silver piece.
Something curious had happened.
The charity Of q poor old man had un-
3ocked the hearts of score Of people.
Then something strange occurred. The
Ninched-faced boy suddenly awoke, and
sprung up as If it were crime to sleep
there! He saw the bread-the clothing
the money-the score Of people wait
ing around to see what he would do.
He knew that he had slept, aud he
sealized that all those things had
come TO him as he dreamed. Then what
did he 10? Why he sat down and Gov
cred his face with his hands and sobbed
hike grieved child. They had read
hTm sermon greater than all the SER
znons Of the churches. They had set
mis- heart to swelling and jumping until
"a choked him. Poor, ragged and
wretched, and feeling that he was nc
more to the world than stick OF stone
he had awakened to find the world re-
garded him as q human being worthy of
aih and entitled TO pity.-DetroH Free
Press.