Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-10-11
STORY OF a TOY BANK.
IL Tells OF n Mans Love for His Ben
efactor.

| e1actOrs
Sitting in the Office of one of Boston's
prosperous lumber merchants the
other afternoon. enjoying friendly
chat l noticed on the desk small toy
bank. My curiosity being excited. i
remarked to the merchant:
Excepting that little box in the Office to
drop pennies in for the son and heir.
suppose?"
"Oh. no." was the reply. "That
toy has quite history; and although
it may be used in the future for the
| purpose you speak of, it never has up
to the present time, for it only came
into my possession YESTERDAY"
Still curious l inquired as to the
nature of the 'history" alluded to. and
finding the merchant rather unwilling
to tell it. 1 politely pressed him for
particulars.
"Well. you seem to be determined TO
get it out of me, anyway. so I'll tell
you the whole story of how the little
bank came into my possession, for it
is so refreshing to be able to speak of
a genuinely honorable man in this age
of shams aud impostors.
at was in 1881, and was in the
employ of large firm over the way as
book keeper, occasionally transacting
lnmber sales in the city. 1 had been
on a visit to East Boston one after
noon, making a sale of lumber, when
on returning to the ferry, l reached
the landing just as the boat departed.
l walked around the warf. and noticed,
seated on one of the benches, a young
fellow evidently in great pain, for he
was moaning and holding his head be-
tween his hands.
"A number of persons kept passing
and repasslng him while waiting for
the next boat, but no one seemed 10
notice him. l, however thought there
must be something the matter. and
when | reached the spot again where
he was seated / asked him the cause of
his apparent pain.
"He told me that he had short
time before met with what he had
thought to be tt fling accident up in
the railroad freight yard. He was u
brakeman and during the shifting of
some cars had been slightly squeezed
between them but had not taken much
notice of it for while Soon after,
however, he felt very bad. and was
now on his way to his lodging, being
unable to keep on with his work. He
said he was stranger in Boston, and
had no home further than q room in q
lodging-house. and not friend who
could do anything for him.
Feeling sure The poor fellow was
hurt much more than he thought him.
self to be, offered my help when the
boat came into the slip, and walked
with him to the cabin. On arriving ut
the city side found he had grown
much worse, but with my help he man.
aged to walk TO Hanover street
Il now began to feel quite alarmed
for him, but by cheerful persuasion he
managed to walk as far as the police
station, where he entered. and spoke
TO the Captain explaining under what
circumstances l had found HIM, and
suggested the ambulance to convey
him to the hospital.
The Captain. however, thought
that as he had been able to get so far,
he could get on horse car. and by
that means reach the hospital. felt
that ought not to leave him. and
finding that he had not cent about
him. l placed him in horse car and
accompanied him to the hospital,
where he was admitted in very weak
condition.
When l parted from him l gave
him some money, and he promised to
write or call upon me as soon as he
was able, which he hoped would be be-
fore long, and rs he thanked me for
my kindness, with tears in his eyes. l
was indeed proud man. and felt we'll
repaid for my trouble in looking after
him.
''Some three weeks after when the
little incident had gone from my mind,
/ received letter from him stating
that he should be able to leave the
hospital in few days, and that he
would call upon me at my home; and
one evening shortly after he did so.
AFTER thanking me for my kindness
again, he told me he had been injured
much more than he thought. his skull
being somewhat crushed. besides in.
jury to other portions of his body, and
during our conversation / found that
he was penniless. In as quiet man.
ner as possible pressed upon him a
few dollars to help him along. He re-
luctantly accepted my offer, and on
parting told me that l should hear
from him again when he would repay
what he insisted should be loan and
not gift.
"This occurred, rs l said, in 1881,
and had never seen or heard of him