The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-08-25
The Man With the Bundle.

We have met him. Burly, broad
s~houldered, a little careless both in
dress and gait, as if consciously op-
posed to precision of any kind; and
his tace-from the shining curve OF
the smooth shaven chin to the CLEAN
OF gold spectacles that sit astride his
nose-beams with e~xhaustless good
numor. About five o'clock p. m. in
his hour, when you cal generally
see him heading as if homeward, and
carrying hitherward u brown paper
enveloped parcel. From a long
familiarity with this feature of his
personality We had come to designate
his otherwise anOnymOusness as 1.-The
man with the bundle"
1t may have been Imagination on
u part, but as we met him, the
other cold afternoon, his ACE seemed
so absolutely radient with the heat
Ofgeuial benevolence that we thought
the thermometer 1T the corner of
Milk street went up two degrees as
he passed. We determined to make
an efinrt to know more about him.
Presently III desire was grati1ed.
Entering a store on Washington
street, who should be standing at the
counter, closing at the same instant
the lid of a magnificent w~ritlng-case
and a bargain for its purchase, but
orr radl-nt-faced friend.
"To what address shall we send
this?" said the clerk, with a tone in
dicating extreme respect.
"Nswhere," responded the Pur-
chaser; II always carry my own
bundles"
Eyes. sir; but this is heavy, and it
will be a pleasure for us to send it."
"Young man," replied the other,
II always love to take something
home at night, to show my wife and
children that l have not forgotten
them while at my business, and [
wouldn't give a pin to make any
body a present, unless [ carried it in.
to the house myself. [ want to see
'em take 1t. Besides, sir, | never
allow anybody to be bothered send
ing things home for me that L can
carry myself. 1 began life by lug
ging about parcels as a dry goods
mans boy, and many is the weary
mile of sidewalk I've trudged to car
~ a yard of ribbon, or a paper Of pins
to somebody too proud or too lazy to
carry it for themselves. I haven't
forgot my old thoughts, and what's
nor though times have changed
with nee since then, [ amt ashamed
to be seen in the streets with a bum
de-"
Eyes, sir; but this is heavy"
mo matter, Pm strong" and out
he went with such a glow on his face
that one could imagine it lighted ap
the now dim sidewalk rods ahead, as
a locomotive reflector Eliminates the
track.
Another well-known street face
passed him at the door coming in.
Purchasing a Congress knife, the
newcomer said in a sharp and dicta-
torial tone:
"Send it to my house INC. fifteen
hundred and something Washing
ton street,, Immediately; l shall
want it as soon as I get home"
1.-TWO different men," suggested
we, as the clerk closed the door after
him.
Very" was the reply. "The man
with the bundle is Mr.. -, the hon
est owner of hundreds of thousands
and there never was a subscription
vet that didn't get his name for
something handsome. Tho other
failed last week-all there was
of him to fail-and isn't worth his
salt; but he had rather take the COM
merciaI disgrace of failure at any
time than the social disgrace of be-
ing seen in the streets with a bum
die"
Two different men indeed! We
shall take off our hat the next time
we meet Mr.. -- on the SIDEWALK.
Long may he live and carry bundles
to make people happy.