The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-02-24
Selerf Story.
"A REAL GENTLEMAN.

spring Of lS-. / lived at the West then
10 one of those hali-rural cities for which
the West is famed. ! had started on,
for drive.
The air was as balmy as in June; the
mud in the streets had dried up,the birds
we're gong mad with joy-the hum oI
bees and the fragrance OF the blossoms
mingled with the song OF the birds.
Soon l vas gally speeding along the
gravel road; down through Dublin, as
we called the poorer quarter OF the town
Though the real Dublin is handsome
and well built city J out into the country,
The horses seemed to share my enthusi.
ssm in the drive. and ] have no doub,
they did. Their sleek, glossy coals glis
tened 10 the sunshine, and they srched
their necks and moved proudly, knowing
we'll the hand that held the reins, and
loving the tones Of the voice behind
them.
The odors OF the great Dublin Pork
Packing Establishment we're waited to
us as we dashed past its great walls and
noisome vaults; past the squalid cabins
Of squatters; pest the great distilleries.
with their tall chimneys, belching clouds
of smoke that seemed to come from sub
terranean fires; past great rumbling
country wagons, with hal!.drunken drl-
vets, going home from the distilleries
with the money from the sale of their
loads OF corn, except what they had
spent for groceries and calico, or drank
up IN whisky past slowly ploddlng farm
teams. with sober farmers 10 gray--and
women seated in stlaight-hacked kitch.
en- chairs in the old tarm wagons), in
costumes OF all shades and colors, with
calico un-bonnets hiding faces old. and
peaceful, or young and giddy, alike; past
rafting and noisy vehicles Of all sorts,
out into the soft and sponge-like roads,
bordered by the green fields aud the
whispering trees of the country, where
rattle and sound ceased.
just ahead OF me / saw walking on
the road very small boy. He was
dressed in plain clothes, known as Ken
lucky jeans On his head he wore, even
thus early in the spring, plain straw
hat; over his shoulder be carried bum
die tied up in red silk handkerchief and
slung upon stick. in bis hand he held
his great heavy shoes, while be tugged
on mantully and wearily, sore OF foot
aud sore Of heart, had no doubt.
l Idrove quickly past and then stopped
and looked hack and waited until the lit.
tie fellow came up.
"Halloa!" said "don't you want to
ride ?"
"To he sure do" said he.
"Then why didn't you ask ma:" said
"Because," said he, II had asked 90
many vines and been refused go often
that had got discouraged, and l didn't
think you would let me-" with some en-
phasis ON the "you>"
"Well," said, "get in +" He stood
looking hopelessly up into the cushioned
and csrpeted buggy and down at his
bundle and his stick and his heavy soiled
shoes.
81 am afraid I ain't very clean." be
said at last.
"Oh! never mind" ssid. "Get in !;
this vehicle was made for use +"
I'D better leave nv stick" he said.
"No, mol" answered you may want
it again"
And so he climbed in and the bundle
was slowed away under ihe seat and the
stick put down between US.
II never rode in such carriage before
and | don't think ever saw such nice
horses" be went on and his eyes fairly
sparkled.
"Do yon want to driver"
NAV II"
"Yes, II you know how" And 1 gave
him the reins and we we're friends at
once.
"Who did you ask to let you ridew !
asked.
"Oa! all those men in the great farm
wagons"
"And what did thev sayY'
"lf they had q load they said they
couldn't, and II they had no load they
only cracked their great whips and rat
tied by the faster. and yelled at me to
get out of the road"
Sand you didn't ask me. Did You
think because l had nee horses and
ine carriage, and wore good clothes and
looked like q gentleman, that therefore /
wasn't onep" said laughingly.
"Well-yes--l'm afraid / did; but"
he continued looking me squarely 10 the
face, edo gentlemen always let boys ride
when they want to ?"
1t was my tnrn to be q little bit pux-
zled and l said, 81 don't think they do,
but gentleman is one who always does
all he can to help others and to make
them happy"
"Well," said be, 81 think you are o
gentleman, at any rate"
And 90 ] said: "Will you tell me who
you are. for l think you are q gentlemen
alsop' and yet he hsda't said "thsnk
you" in words ouce all this time.
Then he toll rue bis story. His mother
J lived in log cabin in little clearing in