The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-09-22
MADE "A MISTAKE.

II tsE- 7 "a !.
Yes, he may be a ,fraud-probably Is
one" replied the man under tue white
plug hat as he'replsced his change "bdt
4 inside mistake on the wrong side Of
the ledger once and 1. don't want 10 get
caught that wsv again.
,.How lwas 1t p. ..ssss -. .o,uar!
sWell, I'm neither q Christian nor q
philanthropist Fact is, I'm pretty
bard hearted man ouahe sversge, but
used to be q little wosee than am now.
Ole evening, Eve or SIX years ago. right
in front Of this very store, boy about
twelve years OF age hit'me for dime.
He had tears Id his eyes, q drawl 10 his
,poice, asii lspottea him II onus f1r.sn
impostor. He went on to say that his
father was sick AMI unable to work and
that he himself had been down With q
fever and had no strength to look for q
Job, and l laughed in dsrision and toll
him 10 clear Cut or I would give him in
charge"
"It's an old dodge" observed the man
who was smoking q corn-cob pipe.
Exactly; but 1t may not ALWAYS be .
dodge. mad pocket full of silver, and
I was too blamed mean to hand over a
dime. Suppose the boy was lying Sup
pose he wantei the money himself2 How
contemplate in me to begrudge thst tri-
ding sum to little chap who was cer-
tainly all skin and hone and evidently
needed square meal!"
But it would be encouraging vice. "
said the man With tn, check shirt.front.
"Boshl There are men in Ds.roit
who are looked upon as shining exam
Piles who cheat ami swindle the people
out OF thousands Of dollars where vice
gets q shilling. Tnis little incident ]
have been relating went out OF my mind
10 an hour, but the next day was look.
ing over an old tenement with the owner
who wan,e'l me to figure on repairs, when
whom should l come across but the bog
Of the day bsfore He was in bed and
raving with fever. In bed! Well be Was
tossing around on hear OF rags Ia
the same room was the N ,lher trying to
earn few cents at the wash-tub. but mol
having the strength to work for more
than Eve minutes at q time. Also the
father-just alive with consumption, and
occupying bed no better than the
boys"
"Same boy, eh p qaeried the corn-cot
pipe man as the hard lines in his face be
gan to melt.
The very SINE. There was q q1avel
In his voice which no one could forget
10 a day. He was raving away OF thi,
or that, but the father was q iiet and in
clined to be cheerful. As sat dowr
beside him for moment, after leaving 8
ive-dolsr bill in his skeleton hand, be
said:
".God bless you for a good man
When little Ben started out last night ",
hadn't neither light. fuel nor food 10 the
house. He met some kind hearted mar
who gave hin dollar. 1t might havs
been you. Bat for that money Goo
knows how We must have 81 fered.'
"Might have been mel When I re-
membered how had repulsed that boz
the thought stabbed me like Q knife!
was trying to say something to cheer tn,
dying man when that fever.stricken Lac
sprang up, evidently. recos snizlng my
voice, and cried out:
"'Piease. mister, don't have me ar
rested! Don't let 'em lock me up! Tn
telling the truth-I amt living!
"He came right over and got hold ol
me. and l tell you IL ever man was
broken down it was this very individual
| left twenty-five dollars there when
went away, AMI sent doctor around
but inside OF week father and son were
dead. One died blessing me and the las
words OF the other were an entresty r.
me not to call him frau1 and have bin
locked up. That's why my hani goes
down for the chink when a man or boy
strikes me for change. I'd rather give 9
thousand dollars to frauds than to have
another honest boy die with my refusa
grinding into hi. soul IN. Quad.