The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-10-20

I which the great Newton confessed TO
have learned, and 1 felt that the little
knowledge we acquire is valuable chez
ly as teacliug u, the density OF our lS'
nora1ce.
Firms character had humorous vein
in it withal. His ability as "rc-
ce;ver" was the talk and wonder OF the
whole section in which he lived and
wrought. He never broke, his work
was accurate, and his penmauship mar
vclous. One day an operator. who
copied press on the sam, wire, visited
US, and asked George how he managed
to receive report day aftef day without
even breaking. Pointingto primitive
contrivancc consisting of two lum bering
saunders and quick switch fully four
feet square, situated on a shelf four feet
away, and which did duty as repeater
for Worcester, Finn replied dryly: 81
do sometimes lose a word, but / have
to watch that rat trap over there for
Worcester's break, and if a word slips
me can always spot it before it wig
giles through that aged threshing ma
chine"
The time came when Finn could no
longer hold the responsible position of
night report operator and he went
West.
From that time out, until recently, he
has returned to me at intervals varying
from six months to two years. He
plays the role of tho "Friend of my
Youth He has invariably appeared
without warning and uniformly in a
state OF impecuniosity. Sometimes he
hailed from New England town
where he had secured months Sub
bing," again he came from some obscure
village on a branch of the Erie railroad
where he had been buried ayear or two;
anon he spoke of having just returned
from Wyoming Territory or of having
last worked in Texas.
But his appearance. from whatever
direction he came, always carried me
back to the halcyon days of my youth.
and invoked a vision of brisk young
man stepping out of his way to perform
kindly service for round-faced cou1-
try boy come to the city to seek his for
tune. That picture will always last
Hi, wants hav, generally been modest,
and l need scarcely add that his claims
on ME have never failed of recognition.
If, in opening my purse, hav, some
times opened my lips and bcsought him
to he man, it is but common
| iustic, to him to say that he has invaria-
by promised to mend his ways. But he
has steadily gone down hill, and has
we'll nigh reached the bottom. know
better than scarcely any other man can
know, how hard he has tried to retrace
the steps taken under social pressure,
years ago, and which have led to his
decadencc, physically and intellectual
ly. He has struggled against a cruel
fate and has failed. 1t was with sin
cere sorrow that l last saw him pale,
weak and emaciat,d. judge that the
old enemy is conquered a: last; but it is
too late A more mcrciless enemy, one
on whom we may exhaust strength of
viii in vain. is obviously preying upon
his shattered frame.
Some day we shall read of his death,
and the casual acquaintance will say:
Drank himself into the consumption.
Poor fellow! he deserved a better end. {"
and will think no more about him. But
when the writer reads that announce
mcnt he will feel sad and grieved for
many day; for Finn was once kind to
a boy whose catalogue Of friends was
limited cnou III then, and to whose eyes
the tears will start TN hidden when recur-
ring Junes remind him that above the
friend of his y outh a mound rises on
which the daisies bloom and the grass
waves sadly in the summer air.-[The
Electric Age.
Anvlripr ha MofboA