The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-08-27
lack Of proper food and care Thena bet.
Ter scn.imen, stirred his heart He Was

lack Of proper food and cars Then bet.
Ter sentiment stirred his heart He Was .
narrow souled man. bot not hard hearted.
Take your lantern and come ahead,
Martin; no morguc on my premises. y
can help IT, I"
They stepped out into the chill and
darkness. carefully locking the door be
| hind them As precaution against lawless
intrnders As they left behind them the
tall lumber piles with their sweet scent oil
the wood. and approached the border OF
Mission creek, nalsral poisons filled the
air, aud host OF unsavory odors assailed
them. Reeking vapors seemed to arise
from the putrid heaps aud clutch at their
.hroats with phantom fingers. Their feet
slipped. aud sank into the masses OF fos-
tering decay. II was Brswster's first visit
TO this portion Of his recently acquired
possessions. and the thought came to his
mind that il Was poor stick OF man
who would deny fellow creature the hos
pitality Of such an accursed spot. on other
grounds than that OF its total unftness
for human occupancy. Suddenly Martin
brought up with short step, swinging
his lantern around to illuminate the spot
for his employers inspection.
"Here we are, sir.
Brewster leaned forward and deserted q
low, irregular structure, not four feet
above the ground at its highest point.
His pre.conceiyed notions OF the style OF
building operations pursued in the primi-
tive dwellings we're completely overturned.
Instead OF neat aud shining rows OF tin
cans, rising tier upon tier into preten-
tious and fanciful structure, he beheld a
rude framework Of refuse boards, imper-
fectly covered with rusty strips Of tin, an
humble defense against wind and weather;
the merest apology for a covering. He
had time to take but oursory glance at
these details, when weak voice from the
interior hailed the visitors.
Who's there?"
Brewster hesitated an instant before re-
plying. He could not announce himself
as q friend, for his mission was far from
friendly. He resolved to present himself
on strictly neutral grounds.
"Your landlord" F"
''Sorry not to give you more fitting
reception, mine host, but as I'm hardly in
shape TO receive company, If you'll be
kind enough to slip your bill under the
| door"
Brewster's dignity was offended II
was all very well for him, the man OF prop
erty and position, to condescend to ad-
dress joke to the vagabond who tres
passed on his domain; for the rascal to pre-
sume jucular tone toward him, in turn,
was intolerable! He thought OF the un
, derwrters and the Increased premium, and
iaterrUpted the fellow augrily
Come, now, This won't do! Get out ol
here aud away with Yop.
Sorry to be snable to comply with
your polite request. sir, but don't think
| could walk very far tonight
"Humbug! want you to understand
that You are on my ground, sir. Every
moment you stay erdangers my property
. Out OF this place 10 two minutes or III
, have you under arrest.
Brewster had worked himself into fin'
: rage, and ielt that he was aoquitting him
self with credit. His self l.congratulatory
'mAditations wess Interrupted 10y anoye
,at withan tho tfsmp's donicile. Th'
m, It section OF the ROOT was pushed
hight. y hand, and tall. erect 6gnn
by th. 'She apertn..-" like lsok'in
.p ,pso ~, .nf0us- w. more tia. 'ns .a, unsa
'ne,poA' oome' y spparition >u'e'
pected nature Of /. a.. !"
Brewster TO fall back ". ''''h ~ u he
had seen ghost. He VII w ianciiu'
man. but the uncanny locality. 's noi'ome
smell. the curling wreaths Of 'p"'' tue
moon struggling to pierce the thi. s,ei'
Of vspor overhead, coupled, perhaps, W. 'n
the afternoons "reminiscences, carried him
back twenty years, and be was in the pens
of Andersonville, waking from troubled
sleep to see the thin form OF Lenoir steal
ing to his side at midnight, to thrust into
he lads pocket a crust OF bread saved
rom his own scanty rations. He put the /
recollection Of that wretched experience
'esolutely from his mind, but it left its
impression. Along with visionary plans {
u riotons feasts and gluttonous ndul-
'ences commonly planned by hungry men
n such extremities. to be carried out in
ase of release. be hail taken one solemn
sth. He had vowed that If ever he es. I;
sped from that wretched hole, so long as ,
'e lived and had IT 10 his power he would
ever fail to feed hungry human being.
hrough all the fluctuations OF his bust. g
ess career and the manifold duties OF his
usy life he had kept this pledge inviolate
5 many a drunken loafer and disreputa.
10 hummer in Steuart street could attest.
'esolve bad grown into principle OF u
ction, and principle into habit. He re.
allied this custom now. +,
Here. sir, this will get you round
zeal down yonder. nodding in the direc.
on OF the cheap eating houses in Fourth >,
rect. as be extended quarter be had
ttrscted from bis trousers pocket. care h
lily weighed il in bis hand to make sure !,
,st be was 10 no danger of giving away a q
old piece by mistake
"Do you think that il wanted charity n
would be occupying this pslsiial man
on and fasting until refuse garbage seems ia
mess for Q king'" ~