The Osceola times., 1884-01-26

ful of crackers and cheese, which he
munched at rapid intervals, told the
story of his raid on some free lunch |
counter.
"Yes. sir" he said, in answer to the
reporters interregatory you have not
been misinformed. My name figures
many times in the histories OF the Unit
ed States. Beyond that ! will not say.
Your looks tell that you do not un-
derstand my motives for thus concealing
nv identity. The answer is simple.
Pride-manhood Is not that sufficient"
The last words were uttered in an
emotional almost tragical manner. They
revealed, too, that the speaker was
man of more than ordinary intelligence
and learning.
"But am not yet a beggar, sir; not
vet" he continued in a scarcely less
emotional manner, although am very,
very poor. The bootblacks and news
BOYS are my friends. They have notyct
forsaken old Nosey,' as | have been
good-naturedly christened by them. The
bows bring me customers, people who
can not write. / write letters for them
and sometimes make out bills. l carry
NV tools with me. Here he produced
a bottle of ink, pen envelopes and note
paper from an inside coat pocket My
charge for writing letter ranges from
10 cents to % cents. Business is never
very brisk. though, for illiterate people
have very little correspondence"
The reporter here hinted desire to
know where the scribe slept.
where do | sleep at night? Well, |
hardly know how to answer that quest
ion. NV list of lodging places is so
long. In Railways sometimes and often
in the corridors of second rate hotels.
During the summer time | slept in the
parks. The watchmen all knew the old
man and never interfered with him.
You don't know how pleasant IT was.
The cool. signing breezes, glorious sun
sets, showering their baths OF golden
beauty and mellow crimson through the
leafy covcrets overhead. Then the
pretty little birds, hopping about with
merry chirps or singing sweet songs to
me from the swaying boughs. To awake
amidst such scene was glorious. Why.
even my morning wash at the fountain
was grand and refreshing. The air laden
with perfume from the flowers impreg-
mated the water, and made it appear as
delicate cologne emitted from an en-
chanted fountain, more mystic and
heavenly than any described in the
/. 1 IL. D,,t ola or
, now. Grim winter, with icy locks and
freezing blasts, has curtained the scene
with murky ashen clouds, and of all the
actors in these scenes | alone am left
; and probably never to enjoy such beau
ties of nature again. This old frame can
not stand much more Cold winter ii
relentless. Death and winter are con
sp;ratOrs in q common cause. To the
pooor, winter is an enemy death {
friend"
"Why do | not seek lodgings in the
station houses? Because to do tha
would be to announce myself as va
grant and to mingle with tramps. an
neither sir, but a gentleman, poor al
most to deaths door, but proud to thu
, very parlor of the palace"
: Here he was considerably agitated
} and his long, bony forehnger involun
, tarily pointed toward the capitol build
, ing as he said, in a husky tone:
"Why, sir was once leader II
that-But | forget. ] must not tel
T secrets nov. My diary will reveal all
, both military and civil, and it will re
= quest that my body be not inferred il
i the potter's field, for | am proud evel
unto death"
!. "Come on, Nosey," interrupted news
o boy: "here's a culled man wot wants ye
to write a letter fer him, an he's goln
Il to pay yer in hard cash, to-
j "The invitation was accepted with
, pleasant Good day, sir" as the ol,
\ Congressman, statesman and general
y perhaps, ambled along behind his littl
/ friend, and turned out of sight into
d neighboring alley.