The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-12
is this seat engaged. sif

|
"Yonr money and ticket are both gone.
Probably You do not appreciate the man
fold beauties of such q position; l do
not think it possible except by exPeri'
enee."
at would certainly be an undesirable
situation; | can see that clearly enough.
Pardon the question naturally suggested
i-were you ever 50 placed"
/ "Onee, only once"
"How was thatT'
F'You wish to profit by my experience
| Well. l don't know that mind telling
you the story. II may serve TO amuse
you, if nothing more" And be con-
tinued as follows:
at occurred quite a number OF years
ago. and over what road ! was travelling
at the time is Of little consequence. l
had taken the early morning express
train and being somewhat tired and
Altogether sleepy, and stretched my
self upon the seat for as comIortAole
nan AZ circumstances would admit.
I slept souDdly, for could in those days
sIeeb well almost anywhere, and did not
o,vake until the conductor came for my
,;cLot The essential bit of pasteboard
cn,,Id not Ire found. | was positive
boJ purchased a ticket; indeed, l re-
rnembered distinctly having shown 1t to
the baggage-clerk at the time OF cheek
-, nv trunk. The conductor grew
impatient, passed to the end OF the car;
on5 returned to me. / had not found
| the ticket but had made the discovery
| that INV pocket book also was gone.
/ evnlained to the conductor that my
norket had been picked, and in proof OF
INV story showed him my baggage-check
n was useless. If you have travelled
much YOU are aware that virtuous
conductor takes no mans word; in fact,
all men have designs upon the company s
dividends except himself. 1t was per-
fectly natural, therefore, that the faith
full steward in question should say
The check is all right; but how do l
know that it belongs to you? will take
the money for your fare, or stop the
train and put you off, as you choose. :"
"What could l do? Protestations
amount to nothing, and my fellow-p2s-
sengers, with the usual tendency OF
humanity to trample upon fallen man,
showed clearly by their looks and ex-
preston that they thought me sneak.
ing rogue, who would steal passage if
| could. They had paid their money;
why should not pay mine? Few men
would ever see heaven if judgment
we're rendered by jury-except them
| selves.
| Nv search for the lost ticket had
brought to light about a dollar and
eight cents. This, | told the conductor,
was every cent | had about me. He
| said it was fifty cents short of the usual
| fare to Lauderdale City, but that ne
would pass me through for it rather than
stop the train. l gave it to him. From
| Lauderdale, a city of much importance,
/ could write to my partner for money
It would certainly be as well rs to tramp
ten or dozen Of miles back to the~c city
I had left, and when | would be no
better of being equally stranger
there.
AIN due time found myself at Lau-
derdale; went to the best hotel, tele-
praphed for mony, and wrote an expla'
natory letter to my partner. This busl-
ness attended to, / sailed out to see
what sort of a place Lauderdale City
MIGHT be. There was nothing for me tG
do but to amuse myself as best could
until the money should come, and de
termined to make the most of my invol
untary holiday. As / strolled leisurely
Inn the main street, newsboy darteo
out of a paper office. crying, Daily Ban
ner; extra edition; all about the murder
great accident on the E road, etc
Have an extra?"
"I took the sheet and thrust my hano
in my pocket for the money, without
moments thought. You may imagin'
nv feelings when compelled to return
that two-penny bit of paper to the boy
with the muttered excuse that had m
: change and the utterly contemptuou
: expression of the boys face as he re
ceiyed it. | Immediately stepped int
the Office Of the Daily Banner, and Wrot
J paragraph descriptive OF the recen
mishap, taking care to make 1t as anus
r ing as possible. When completed,
. handed it to the clerk. lie read i
7 laughed, and took it into the pr
!. vate office. Coming back in few mil
5 utes after, he told the book-keepe
o to give me fifty cents. TWAS not mucl
e but it was more than expected. Wei
4 | continued my walk until | mail
!. reached the end of the street, whlc
a terminates at the end of The stree
!, which terminates at the s. rive
here spanned by long, covered brldg
| crossed the bridge, and was surprise
t to see on the oppos te side that Woul
D be required to pay toll. a young 81
9. came to the door of the little toll-om'
5, as stepped up to it, and inquired no
ct much l should pay, drawing forth n
n. solitary shinplaster. %, she said, WI
e a smile and a slight blush, we do NJ
u charge ministers anything,
: It was not a bad joke, but Suppress
:, the laugh that rose to my lips, al
= tbankin9 her for the consideration show
~ u 10 the clergy, turned about and !
le traced my steps to the hotel, not wit
= : mt some slight twinges of conscien
~ for allowing the mistake to pass, q
= q taking advantage of it. The remand
% of the day was spent very quietly,
~ ~ was also the evening which followed.
"a " Nv first duty next morning was
7" seek some knight of the razor. a
=, noticed pleasant little shop at no gre
ca distance from the hotel, in my walk t
re rrevious dav. and thinking that shou
ln' 80 no better by looking further,
- nairad to that. There was IN after
ne snce only boy about twelve years o
1e Tho stated that his father, the propF
"a "a tor of the shop, had gone to nell
1Iu hor;ng CITY. and would not return
=! fore Ioon. Without any hesitation
e. "a reouested the loan OF q razor, and P
'nae ceeded 10 operate on myself. Wh
lly th,,. oceupied. the customers began
s los nresent themselves, expressing great
hu satisfaction upon learning how matt
m .mce stood. Now, although I am Pre-
iHs hs man. 1 am not, thank God, cursed y
I !, that species Of vanity which preyen.
~ = te eTsarse9m doins1 ertain kinds o. nor
s,f- kish gssg leAuse they are NOT Z, 3
& I tee4s<GaS aSVsk was an opportunity one
Ia for me TO earn the price OF nay preakl
ss.sd / took advantage Of II, ana foia sne nas,.
-. - man that entered after had comps
- shaving myself, that / would shave Z
=. ;, did so. Others coming N, I snA
them also. In fact, did quite 2
business for couple OF hodrss e
the unfortunate individuals VINO =
under my hand had any DOUBT 8.
5 the my fitness for the business taes -
5 the " expressed none. At the exp paEA1lu i
the this time, BEGAN to khink tnAs !
old done sufficient, and feeling ratnss -.
leiRh nc CRY, having had no bfeaktasts ~ ~
.;lfcE, the proceeds with the boy ana PREP
81. e to return to nv hotel But I ~ J. :,
.. done yet. As was brashing ~ :
hs i young daHdifed speciuen g nA..,. q.
81 ", came in, and resolving that ns 3.
) l be the last, went to work upon -. n.
rdsey When be came % pay me- : Y ~ !
rls say the least, somewhat suFp t..sl =. :
od ioI him deliberately produce ny oN. 4. 4
.o,st1a hook. the one hsd Lost. StanulnS