Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-08-25
A LOWLY INSTRUMENT.
How Crushed Man Was Saved
by an Irish Lad.

In thr seventeenth year of his life
Maurice O'Ncil distinguished himself
by a good and great deed. The lad
held no higher or more important posi-
ton in the world than that of barber,
but he was a good barber. He had a
soft touch, a gentle manner, n clean,
pleasant face, and what is no less i'm
portant to one of his trade, n power
over his tongue which qualified him to
be silent or sociablc, according to the
wishes or moods of his customers.
How O'Ncil came to be n barber do
not know. He had talents worthy of
higher calling, but he probably took
up shaving and hair-cutting as last
resort when he was poor. He was
Irish, az his name would indicate. He
had large, clear gray eye, wide
mouth, Il set of white teeth, and mel
low, flexible voice that could sound
every chord of human feeling, and al
ternatc between grave and gay with
astonishing quickness at its owners
will. His regular work was done in a
little shop where he had chair for the
people who patronized him, and where
he was always 10 be found, except DUR
ing the hour between eleven and
twelve. At this hour every day, with
raZors, strops, soft sponges, and all
necessary materials neatly wrapped In
red-fringed towels, he went TO assist at
the toilet of two special customers out
side.
These were wealthy gentlemen who,
having discovered Maurice's superior
professional" qualities, had arranged
TO enjoy the luxury of being shaved by
him in their own dressing-rooms. One
of the gentlemen, Mr. Severance, was
very eminent i'm position and character
as well as wealth. He lived in a gray
stone house and was surrounded by a
charming family. He was tall, grave
and dignified, and yet was gentle as
child. Few men in the locality were
better known that he, and although
not native of the city where this story
finds him, he had been n resident for
over forty years, and had latterly filled
many offices of trust, to the great ap-
proval OF the people. He was now a
candidate for election to the State Sem
ate, and thus far all movements in his
behalf had been carried forward sue
cessfully, and his election seemed GER
tain. He had never asked for Office.
He had never paid dollar toward de-
fraying the expenses of any election.
He used TO say: my friends, IL you
think am qualified TO undertake the
trust YOU offer to me, shall be happy
to fulfill your wishes, but can not be
induced TO help hoist myself into this
place of honor. II you bestow it free
ly, all the experience and ability that
God has seen fit to give me are freely
at your service"
IL was no wonder that the poor bar
Der felt il a great honor to be the valet
! of such man. His heart would swell
with pride as he walked along the
streets and bcheld upon the huge cleo
ton posters the name of his patron
coupled with the highest compliments;
and he often fancicd that IL people only
knew that he was going at this very
moment to dress the beard of this pop
ular man. they would cheer him and
even envy him his place. Maurice
loved to report to his distinguished
customer what he heard in the streets.
and u was the proudest pleasure OF
his life to win q smile into that good
gcntleman's grave face, as he related
all he knew OF the eager activity of his
friends. and told him how kindly and
warmly the people were speaking OF
him. The boy had peculiar wit and
a little bfoguc, and such was tho charm
Of his talk that his patron rarely