The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-12-16
THE CONSTABLE'S STORY.

Constable John Frick. That's me-
A matter rough to look at, but SOUND
inside.
Lots of folks affect to sneer at a con.
stable; look down on him in a way as il
he was naturally mean and no account.
But Constable John Frick has a soul
IN him, and heart as soft as a woman's.
Indeed, he has been called chicken.
hearted on account he wouldn't kick q
stray dog, nor tramp on a sick kitten.
But this is neither here nor there.
Constable John Frick is going to tell
some of his own experience on duty.
mind the day well when l received
the paper to warn certain family that
they must ''get out, that is, leave the
house of Landlord Craigly, because it
was an awful singing cold day in March,
when the wind seemed to be tearing
things to flinders round the corners of
the old frame buildings; and whistled
and howled in way to make a base
burner head boss of the ranch.
Rooms and z IN great rambling
barn of a place, one CT dingy block
down by the river; grimy looking brick
building that had once been warehouse.
Now the long narrow wilderness of store
rooms were cut into little cubbv holes to
live in at both ends with just one win
dow for light and dark passageways to
pass in and out.
remember ] thought they were mis-
erable places for Gods creatures to live
in, and awful weather to put family
out onto the sidewalk in.
/ may as well own up that Constable
John Frick had emo heart" for this part
of the business. OF course the landlord
had right to his rent. That's evident.
If the tenants didn't pay they must 90
out.
All the same Constable John Frick felt
mean and uncomfortable.
To save his neck he couldn't account
for it, but it seemed as if something
would keep on suggesting: Suppose
there is delicate woman and lot of
little childrenW
For answer, the soul of Constable John
Fr'ck kept on responding: Putting
'eIh out into the cold roadway such
stinging weather will be miserable bust
ness, make the best of il, and his heart
kicked" strong against it.
But this was borrowing trouble. And
it wasn't business.
1t might be that the man-Carl Sew
holm was his name on the writ-would
go out peaceful. | know l prayed
strong it might be so, though it would
be fees out of Constable John Frick' S
pocket if he did.
Room q in the rear on the ground
floor. had to reach it through a saloon.
Curious how saloons seen to be ever
lastingly mixed up with poor families
who have TO be put out into the street.
Who kept the saloon | never knew.
There was greasy faced, fat man, in a
brown knit wooden jacket, behind the
bar, and slim young fellow crouched
against the wall to one side, boozy,
stupid from the effects of liquor or beer.
1t pretty nigh made me sick to look at
this young chap; he was so frowsy and
rumpled and filthy as if he had been
rolled in dust heap and then raked
through the gutter.
Mr.. Sevholm. As looked at him l
involuntarly said to myself: "God help
your wife and chldren"
The greasy-faeed man ierked his
thumb over his shoulder TO indicate
room 6, and l raped for admittance.
Never was so surprised in my life.
Expected to find a slatternly, frowsy
woman to match the sodden husband,
and a mess of dirty, squalling brats,
tumbling about the floor in confusion
Nothing of the kind If you'll be-
lieve, found slim built, pale-faced
little women, sitting in low rocking
chair with wee baby in her lap, trying
to coo it out of the fretful pain it was in.
Ore daV-and not very far ayyav either
she had been as ''pretty as a picture"
But this was past. Trouble of mind had
got in its awful wearing work, making
her delicate face thin and pinched and
death-like, and the big eyes unnaturally
bright
There was a pretty fair show of tidy
ish furniture, only it looked as if dis
couragement had fallen like a mildew
on it and the mistress had lost all heart
in trying to keep it trim and shapely.
! could see that as plain as Dig sign.
boLrd. Trouble has its own stamp, and
If you've seen it once, you know it
again the minute you set your eyes
on it.
/ swear, / felt bad looking at the
ldiscouragement, the troubled look on
the woman's face, and the wee, sick
baby on her lap-remembering the sod
den brute OF a husband outside. l made
my voice tremble so, when / went TO ex-
plain my business. that j don't believe
i made myself understood But she was
expecting what ! came for on accoant
the landlord had handed in his notice to
leave. She tried to smile, poor thing,