The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-06-18
A LOWLY INSTRUMENT.
How a Crushed Man Was Saved
by an Irish Lad

In the seventeenth year of his life
Maurice O'Neil 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, a clean,
pleasant face, and what is no less i'm
portant to one of his trade, a power
over his tongue which qualified him to
be silent or sociable, according to the
wishes or moods of his customers.
How O'Neil came to be barber l do
not know. He had talents worthy of
n higher calling, but he probably took
up shaving and hair-cutting as a last
resort when he was poor. He was
Irish, as his name would indicate. He
had a large, clear gray eye, a wide
mouth, a set of white teeth, and mel
low, flexible voice that could sound
every chord of human feeling, and al
ternate between grave and gay with
astonishing quickness at it's owner s
will His regular work was done in a
little shop where he had a chair for the
people who patronized him, and where
he was always to 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
6
him in their own dressing-rooms. One
of the gentlemen, Mr.. Severance, was
very eminent in 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 a
child. Few men in the locality were
better known that he, and although
not a native of the city where this story
finds him, he had been a resident for
over forty years, and had latterly filed
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-
fraylng the expenses OF any election.
He used to say; my friends, if you
think 1 am qualified to undertake the
trust you offer to me, shall be haDpv
to fulfill your wishes, but l can not be
induced to help hoist myself into this
place of honor. If you bestow it free
", all the experience and ability that
God has seen fit to give me are freely
at your service.
Ii was no wonder that the poor bar
Der felt it a great honor to be the valet
~ such a man. His heart would swell
with pride as he walked along the
streets and beheld upon the huge cleo
tion rosters the name Of his patron
counled with the highest compliments;
md he often fancied that if people only
<new that he was going at this very
moment 70 dress the beard of this pop
nisr man. they would cheer him and
oven envy him his place. Maurice
1oved to report to his distinguished
l,,stoner what he heard in the streets,
ond Il was the proudest pleasure Of
80 life TO win a smile into that good
, ,- grave face, as he related
IN be [new Of the eager activity OF his
s az and told him how kindly and
- -Is1.rI the people were speaking OF
I'm The boy had a peculiar W. ~ s alIu
iittle brooue, and such was the cna l,iLl
"a biS talk that his patron rAEoiy