St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-04
HIGGINS CONVERT.
He Puts What He Is Taught Into
Practical Operation.

Hiram Higgins was a very good fell
low and he quite acceptably filled the
office of clerk in dingy den in the
city. He was a great theorlst, was
Hiram, and although he was model
clerk and very deferential to old Skin
ner the head of the firm, he did not
think that this world was at all we'll
managed, He was Socialist and one Of
the chief spokesman at their meetings.
He even spoke at the outdoor gather
ings on the London streets on Sundays
and his one object in life was the max
ing of converts to his theories. He
sometimes held animated discussions
on Socialism in the third-class COM
partments in which he came and went
to his place of daily drudgery, when he
could find listeners.
One evening on his way home he got
into the usual argument and quite de-
molished all that was brought up
against his theory. He thought the
wealth of this country should be divided
up. Why should any man come to the
office in the city at ten and leave at
four and have Flo, 900 year, while he
worked hard at his desk from nine to
six for only e2 week? He had old
Skinner in his mind, although he men,
toned no names. On one listener only
did he seem to make any impression.
He was evidently one Of the unem-
ployed who was in hard luck. His
clothing was ragged and bad, and it
was quite plain that he was ready for
the great divide whenever Mr. Higgins
or any one else could bring it along.
He interrupted Higgins talk with such
remarks as "'Ear, ear" ..Bloomin'
right We are Never spoke truer
word than that ..Sarve 'em bloomin'
well, Fright, say T., etc, etc
One by one Higgins auditors got out
at their different stations. until Hig-
gins and his convert were left alone.
'I'm very much oblig'd to ye, L
am" he remarked. '.fur the way ye
laid into them blokes. / get off at the
next stop I'd like to hear the end O
that argy ment, would. Perhaps We
wouldn't came with a pore man to his
diggins and have a cup O. bitter? /
like to ear You talk. do. =
well" said Hiram, much lattered,
81 wouldn't mind pint of bitter with
a friend. Although we have only
known each other half an hour, yet / |
think we may call each other friends.
All the world should be friends. .
Right We are, ma mate, and ere |
we are, !"
They got out and walked together
i'm the direction the convert indicated. |
gave himself entirely up to his.
guidance, while he himself talked UNI
ceasingly and found his travelling COM
panion a good listener.
..And arn't ye ashamed 10 be seen
D walking along the streets with aseedy
bloke like me, mate? An you nice
dressed gentleman. =
sI'm no gentleman, my friend, /" said
"and am proud to be seen
with you. work hard for what get, I
and little enough it is can tell You.
TOO bloomin' little, says ]. replied
the convert; ..but think on pore bloke
ike me, 90 carn't find no work to do. =
.Tt's hard" sighed Hiram, every
hard. !"
"But it does me good, it does. to ear
. gent like you argify. =
'sI'm glad to hear you say that.
ike to meet inquiring mihs And, kzsL
he way, I'm going to speak &C tnE
,pen air meeting next Sunday in Ham
nersmith. I would like to have You
,ome.
.rneeae. Likes open air meet
ngs. does.
The two had walked along through
maze of disrepntable lanes and mar
ow streets until they were near the
liver. Here they turned into a .sno
aoroughfare' and from that into 4
court and then up a dark stairway.
safind yer feet, said the convert, as
le led the way, ssthis ere blooming
tair's bad. it is.
They entered small dark soom hear