Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-09
COL. SELLERS IN A PAWNSHOP
John Il. Raymond's First Experience
with the Three BaIIs-A Romance.
New York Tribune /

| New York Tribune
John T. Raymond off the stage is
much like Colonel Mulberry Sellers
on the stage, with his millions in
it." He was cracking jokes with
friends up town the other day when
he pulled out his watch, on the face
OF which, in lieu Of figures are the
twelve letters Of his name, Itremind>
ed him of watch presented to him
at Mobile and a romance that was
connected with its disappearance. He
proceeded to tell it:
Ever been in pawn shop? What
pull it is the first time I've been
there. Oftenl Often! But the first
time was a wonderful thing. was
dead broke. I had a watch pre-
sented to me by the citizens
of Mobile, all inscribed and en-,
graved. I went down to Simpsons.
couldn't muster up courage to
go inside. I stood on the curb, while
the cold sweat came out on my fore~
head. [ thought every man that pass
ed was looking at me. I thought the
policemen were gathering on different
corners to keep watch of nae. [
thought that everybody was saying
to verybody else: Look at hin.
He's got something to pawn. Where
do you suppose he stole it2' [ stood
there on one foot and then on the 9th
er for nigh two mortal hours. Then
[ bolted in like mailman. Before I
had time to look around I was in a
little stall. It was dark, and J was
half scared out of my senses. But in
the next stall I heard the piteous,
wailing voice Of a woman begging for
s. more on some article. For Gods
sake, nay mother is dying she said.
and unless I get s. more they will
turn US out of the house. Then
the clerks gruff voice respond
ed, telling her to take what
he offered Eand get out, or take
her goods. 1t sounded awfully brutal
to me. I knew from her sobs that she
went out. Then he turned to me.
handed up my watch without word.
[ didn't expect to get enough on it to
last week, Judging from the treat
ment Of the woman. In fact, I was
so scared that if he had asked me
whose watch it was, should have re-
piled I didn't know, and should prob,
ably have bolted. I felt like a felon,
and must have looked like thief.
How much do you want?' he asked.
What can you loan?' I responded.
Sixty dollars he said. Gracious,
how breezy I grew. Sixty dollars!
Why, it was a small fortane My
board was only So week, and dol
lar for washing and another for sum
a t rod Two IF
ease from care. 7 grabbed the money
and was starting out without ticket,
| when he called me back for it. Once
out on the street I was making
a dash for the street car, when a wo-
man stopped me. She was weeping.
I knew instinctively it was the woman
of the pawnshop. Were you in there,
sir?' she asked. I felt like drawing
myself up to full height and denying
the damnable charge. But she was
woman, and her piteous cry was still
ringing in my ears. [ owned up
What shall [ do?' he said. can't
go home without So more. Oh. they
are monsters III there. Ny mother is
dying and [ am l.alf wild lest they
| turn us out I pulled out my roll of
money and gave her S.. She was
about to thank me when I turned and
rushed for a street car.
Nearly ten years later, while the
stock company plan was still in oper>
alton over the country, and only the
stars went from place to place. I was
in western city for an engagement.
[ was late IN getting there, and when
I rushed on the stage for the first en-
trance I couldn't understand why the
leading old lady acted SO queer.
When came off she was waiting for
me. Are you, sir, Raymond, really?'
she said. I ana, indeed Can I
speak to you moment2 I Want to
ask you if you wasn't at Simpsons
pawn shop at such q time? All nay
old repugnance against admitting [
had ever been IN such place came
up, but [ managed to stammer that
I was. Then she asked if
[ remember giving So to a young
woman on the corner ia distress. It
turned out that she was the young
woman. My mother died within an
hour she said, but the money you
gave me enabled me to keep our rooms
to bury her from. [ was ballet girl
then. Now am playing old woman
parts and dong we'll Wasn't that
great outcome of my romance? Oh,
about the watch. concluded Mr. Ray
mond, 81 was so excited that lost
my ticket, and so poor afterward that
it didn't make any difference. Inever
saw it again, and presume it went to
the melting-pot, as I have never heard
of it since"