St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-20
OLD DUMPS.
A Quaint MAN With a True and Ten
der Heart.


when he came in and say:
Good morning, gentlemen. L trust L
see YOU all in good health this fine day" And
some of the boys would grin, and some
would nod--and some wouldn't do any
thing: but never could help standing up
and bowling, perhaps because l knew that
mymother would have said l ought to do
it.
To be sure, he was only on salary like
ourselves. but had been at Rock " Burton 5
twenty-five years ago. and young fellows
had come and gone, a nd there he was. And
1t was gentlemanly of him, l said; and even
if he was a little snuff-colored creature with
a queer little wig, why, he looked and
could bow like gentleman, too.
said so once to Merrivale, next desk to
mine: but--well, didn't try it again. You
see. Merriyale was up to everything. dressed
elegantly sneered at everything almost,
and | came from a country town and he was
q city man.
Everybody was down on ''Old Dumps" as
he was called. especially after he made us that
speec about our conduct to the ladies.
Dumps made the speech, you know, and it
was Merrivale who said the lady only came
in to look at him. I'm sure she really
wanted TO know the way to the street she
asked for, and how she colored and hurried
out, And Dumps, with his brown wig and
stiff ways. looked to me like the gentleman
that day. and MeIrivale, with his fire curl
ing hair and black mustache and broad
shoulders, like the puppy.
THE man who calls a blush to the check
of a good woman by look or tone must have
forgotten his mother" said Old Dumps.
''When that lady asked you a civil ques-
ton she relied on her belief that you were a
gentleman. Mr.. Merivale. When you an
swered her as you did, and spoke of her as
YOU did, anyone could read your insulting
thoughts, Mr.. MeITiyale and you did not
even rise from your seat sir. You proved
that she was very much mistaken"
''Mean to say that am no gentleman"
said Melrivale.
In this instance, sir" said Old Dumps,
''you certainly have not conducted yourself
as one should"
Merrivale pulled his coathalf-way off and
pulled it on again.
''Pshaw" he said. she knows he's safe.
There'd be no fun in knocking down an old
bag of bones like that l could do it with
my little finger. But you attend to your
own business. will you, Old Dumps? l can
behave myself without your advice, and
that aint the first woman that's come iii
just for sort OF filtration. Pm used to
Just that sort of thing, | am"
''Mr. Dumps is right this time" said 1.
''Bah," said Merrivale. You're from
the country"
Thank God for it, then, my young
friend" said Dumps, and sat down.
After that Merrivale was never even half
way civil to Dumps. and the boys followed
Merrivale's lead But liked the old fell
low. When we met in the street I'd take
off my hat and shake hands and say some
Of those polite things that mother used to
teach me to say.
Who were the boys? Why, there was
Memivale. with his darling airs and his
way of letting you know that he was ia
yorite with the women.
And Carberry, who didn't care about
style, but knew the city.
And Grab, who was hard and shrewd and
smart and had stocks of his own already.
And Slower, who used to come with red
seyeS and headaches and boast that he'd been
making a night of it,
| was lonely enough in the great city,
and ! should have liked TO have joined COM
pany with Dumps and walked home with
him from church sometimes, but / was
afraid of meeting one of the boys. and
never did. But | would bow to him, and
we took our hats off to each other always
| had written to my mother that l was
doing well and liked my business and
would be down to see her on Sunday, when
was sent for to 90 into the inner office;
and there-I can't go through with i'll
can't even remember details, but L was
charged with being thief.
You'd have TO understand our particular
business, as well as bookkeeping. to know
how | was supposed to have done it: but
they believed | had robbed them of $500.
They urged me to confess. was inno-
cent. and | said so. Then they told me that
they did not wish to be hard on me. L was
young The city was bad place for boys.
They would lie merciful and only dismiss
me. Only dismiss lie without a recon-
mendation.
All could say had no effect. They had
proved me guilty before they accused me,
they said; and at last l staggered out into
the Office, The boys were getting ready TO
go home. saw they knew what had hap
pened.
''NOne of you believe this of me?" said L.
''NOne of you who know me?"
And Merriyale said: Look here, For
roster. you're very lucky to get off 500
And Carberry said: Now, come, we
know too much to be fooled. It's always
your slyboots of a good young man that
does these sort of things"
And Grab said: Il say. Forester don't
talk too much: you'll give yourself away
And Slower said: ''Oh. 90 take a glass
nf brandy and water, and don't go on like a
girl about it"
And what with shame and rage and grief.
l could have died. when out of his dusky
corner came little old Dumps, in his little
snutf-colored overcoat, and held out his
hand.
s.ATr Enrractar no coid sGT,,a ,,-,4obad
you ever since you've been here. | know
what you are. You are Incapable of a dis
honest act, and, what is more, l will prove
it before l rest. The man who respects
others always respects himself. The man
who reverences God and hOnOrs his mother
will do no dishonorable thing"
He took my hand in his arm. and. bowling
TO the others, walked out into the street
with me. / heard Grab and Slower and Car
perry laugh but MeTivale gave us a furi-
Gus look and stood, white to the lips, look
ing after us.
Mr. Dumps" said l, 81 thank you FOL
your confidence in me. / deserve It'll
this, at least: but it saves my heart from
breaking under this disgrace. How shall
tell my mother?"
Don't tell her yet" said he ''Wait
Others shall think of YOU as do soon.o
Then we went on in silence. He took mt
to his own room, where he kept bachelor.
hall. lie made tea for me and served m,
with sliced ported beef and thin bread an(
butter.
The room was strange. old-fashionet
place, enough like a room in story. anC
there was miniature of young lady il
the costume of forty years before on tn
wall over the mantel; and on book-shelve
Old calf-bound volumes, and on a stand nea