The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-31
Outside Of ellis Set.~

One cool Sunday morning, about a
dozen years ago, young man, whom
we shall here call Cabell, came out of a
fashionable church, and avoiding the
throng of carriages and gayly-dressed
worshipers, strolied down quiet street
with a wearied, bored look on his hand
some face. Life had bored him good
deal lately. He had been born some
twenty odd years ago in that stately
house at the corner, where he still
lived. He had inherited a good name
and large estates, and he knew nobody
who had not the same good fortune.
When he was a baby, nurses and foot
men protected him from contact with
any children but those of his own rank;
when he was boy, private tutor pre-
pared him alone for college; at college
he was extremely careful to associate
only with his equals. When he travelled,
he found in New York, London, Paris
''his own set living within infexible
barriers to keep off the ''canaille." He
had a profession, but with such an in
come why should he practice? He had
no relish for coarse vices, he neither
drank nor gambled; he had no taste for
fishing, hunting, old china, or rare
editions. All of these outlets into
which other fashionable young fellows
turned their energy were closed to him.
Tomorrow would be Just like yester-
day, and the days to come like to.
morrow. He would meet the same meI
at dinner somewhere; there WOULD 6e'
the same wines, and the same sauces;
at the inevitable ball or opera there
would be the same set of girls and their
chaperones, the same dreary chatter
of gossip, or criticism of the newest
prima donna or magazine story. There
they were going on with it now, coming
out of church!
The yawn he gave turned into half
sigh. Did life run at 50 low tide for
all the world?
He was passing the great Penn Hos
postital at the moment, and sauntered
into the grounds to look at some plant.
He passed the quaint old building every
day, but it had never occurred to him
to enter it. He did SO now listlessly,
scarce knowing where he went. One
of the physicians recognized him and
walked with him through the wards.
Cebell looked at the poor creatures as
he might at so.many pictures of suffer
ing. 1t never occurred to him that these
were men with the same blood, ties,
passions, as the people of his ''set."
''Who is that?'' he said, stopping sud-
denly
'That young man? He is about your
age. Mr.. Cabell, and positively he looks
like you! He is Norwegian, who landed
here year ago, with little capital;
fell victim to typhoid and was brought
to us when he had spent his last penny
and pawned even his shoes. He is to be
discharged tomorrow.
1t may have been only the accidental
likeness which interested Cabell but he
sat down by Lars Volk's bed and talked
to him for an hour; heard the story of
little Olga waiting to come out and
marry him when he should have made
his fortune by wood-carving, and of the
long years of work which he had spent
in earning the money to bring him to
the New World.
"Come to me tomorrow" said Ca
bell, pressing the lads thin hand heart
lily.
Volk came, and received money as a
loan to take his tools and cloth ou of
pawn. Mr.. Cabell had gone about
among his friends and procured orlers
for him, for Volk would take no money
as a gift.
The boys needs and his story and his
gratitude were the opening of a new
world to Cabell. He woke in the MORN
ings with the sense that he had some
thing to do and to expect. He had Wis
tied Norway and saw nothing but the
scenery and the fishing grounds. Now
it was the home of little Olga and ofold
Jan and the violinist Biorn, and all the
good people of whom Volk told him.
He found that there were other emil
grants coming to the city every week,
Swedes, Norwegians, Poles, Germans,
Russians, each with his story of his old
life broken up, and of this desperate
venture to make home in country
where all were strangers. Cabell would
not let them call him stranger.
1t was so pleasant at this great crisis
of their lives to step forward as their
friend; to help them to find a place,
work and home. Gradually he became
interested in founding colonies in the
West and South. He helped hundreds
with his money and advice; his life be-
came full. He walked now with a
quick, decided step, and his eye was
keen and friendly.
Foreign countries were no longer
spaces on the map to him, but the
homes of these his friends; of thousands
more to whom he might be- a friend.
Sometimes he visited his colonies in
Dakota, or Virginia; or, when he was
in the city, spent an evening with Volll
and his pretty wife in their snug little
home. ''Nobody," he used to say,
''need complain of en7aui, of want of
work. The highest work is waiting for
us in the street, next door, if we will
open our eyes and see it. Youth
Companion.
Unp