Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-09
The Pauper,s Secret.

In the 'short and simple annals OF
the poor ono often reads Of persons
who, though reduced TO the most
wretched poverty, are still as proud in
spirit as the haughtiest of autocrats,
and possess delicacy OF feeling which
could hardly be expected outside If tho
higher and more refined walks OF life.
Paupers they may be, but that pride
refuses to be crushed. 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 moro strikingly illustrated
than in the life OF an aged man, who
after residence OF three years in the
Allegheny City Home, left that institu-
ton on Saturday forever.
His story is an interesting one. YearD
ago Thomas Mulaney had 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,
taking his wife first and all but two of
his children afterward. Then darker
raj vigor, and the increasing iniirmities
of old age settling down upon him, he
was no longer able to work. One
daughter and a 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 by the authori-
ties and sent to the Allegheny Home.
This was three years since, and he
was then about eighty 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, how
ever, his real condition, and the fact
that he was in an alms-house. This
correspondence has been kept up ever
since, the son supposing his father to
be living on farm at Montrose p o..
Too proud to ask help, the old man
never requested his son to care for him,
and too sensitive to admit his poverty,
he was very guarded in writing his let
tiers. 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: 81 am sorry to hear
that you have not yet decided to come
TO us. | fear you have some reason
which keeps you in Allegheny County.
say now, as | always have, my wife
and l would only be too glad TO have
you with us, and will care for you we'll
the balance OF your life" The son is
in good circumstances, and had he had
the slightest intimation of his father
condition would have readily sent
money for him to make the journey
with.
One of the members of the Allegheny
Poor Hoard Interested himself in old
Tom, and proposed to the board TO fur
nish him with u railroad ticket 10 Bos-
ton. Some of the members doubted
Toms representations, and asked him
for his sons address, SO they could
write and sec il it was all right. He
declared he would remain in the poor
house all his life rather than have his
son informed OF his place of living, and
refused TO give the address. The Poor
Directors resolved TO keep his secret,
and last Friday night ordered Major
Hunker to procure for him transporta-
ton to Boston. When this was told to
Tom he was the happiest man in the
country. Tears of JOY and gratitude
rolled down his checks, and by this
time he is with his son. The latter need
never know the old mans secret. -
PtttSbtrg Posi-.