The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-02-16

A matter rough to look at, but sound
inside.
Lots of folks affect to sneer at O.
constable; look down on him in a
way, as if he was naturally mean and
no account.
But Constable John Frick, has q
soul in him, and a heart as soft as a
woman's. Indeed, he has been called
chicken-hearted on account hewouldn't
kick stray dog, nor tramp on sick
kitten.
But this is neither here nor there.
Constable John Frick is going to tell
some of his own experience on duty.
/ mind the day well when received
the paper to warn certain family
that they must "get out" that is
leave the house of Landlord Craigly,
because it was an awful stinging cold
day in March, when the wind seemed
to be tearing things to finders round
the corners of the old frame buildings;
and whistled and howled in way to
make base burner head boss of the
ranch.
Rooms and in great rambling
barn of a place, one of a dingy block
down by the river; grimy looking
brick building that had once been a
warehouse. Now the long narrow
wilderness of storerooms were cut into
little cubby holes to live in at both
ends with just one window for light and
dark passageways to pass in and out.
I remember l thought they were mis-
erable places for Gods creatures to
live in, and awful weather to put a
family out onto the sidewalk in.
I may as we'll own up that Consta-
BILE John Frick had "no heart" for this
part of the business. Of course the
landlord had a right to his rent.
That's evident. If the tenants didn't
pay they must go out.
All the same Constable John
telt mean and uncomfortable.
To save his neck he couldn't account
for it, but it seemed as if something
would keep. on suggesting: Suppose
there is a delicate woman and lot of
little children?"
For answer, the soul of Constable
John Frick kept on responding: "Put-
ting 'em out into the cold roadway
such stinging weather will be miserable
business, make the best of it, and his
heart clicked" strong against it.
. But this was borrowing trouble.
And it wasn't "business.
1t might be that the man-Carl Sew
holm was his name on the writ-would
20 out peaceful. 1 know 1 prayed
strong it might be so, though it would
be fees out of Constable John Frick's
pocket if he did.
Room 6 in the rear on the ground
floor. I had to reach it through a
saloon. Curious how saloons seen to
be everlastingly mixed up with poor
families who have to be put out into
the street.
Who kept the saloon never knew.
There was a greasy-faced, fat bellled
bulk of a man, in a brown knit woolen
jacket, behind the bar, and a slim
young fellow crouched against the wall
to one side, boozy, stupid from the
effects of liquor or beer.
1t pretty nigh made me sick to look
at this young chap; he was so frowsy
and rumpled and filthy, as if he had
been rolled in a dust heap and then
raked through the gutter.
Mr.. Sevholm. AS 1 looked at him I
involuntarily said to myself: "God
help your wife and children!"
The greasy-faced man jerked his
thumb over his shoulder to Indicate
room 6, and raped for admittance.
Never was SO surprised in my life.
Expected to find a slatternly, frowsy
woman to match the sodden husband,
and a mess of dirty, squaling brats,
tumbling about the floor in confusion.
Nothing of the kind. Hyou'll be-
lieve, / found q slimbuilt, pale-faced
little woman, sitting in a low rocking
chair with wee baby on her lap, try
ing to COO it out of the fretful pain it
was in.
One day-and not very far away
either-she had been as pretty as a
picture" But this was past. Trouble
of mind had got in it's awful wearing
work, making her delicate face thin and
pinched and death-like, and the big
eyes unnaturally bright.
There was q pretty fair show of
tidyish furniture, only it looked as if
discouragement had fallen like a mil
dew on it and the mistress had lost all
heart in trying to keep it trim and
shapely..
could see that as plain as a big
signboard. Trouble has its own stamp,
and if you've seen it once, you know
it again the minute you set your eyes
on it.
Iswear, I felt bad looking at the
discouragement, the troubled look on
the woman's face, and the wee sick
baby on her lap-remembering the
sodden brute of husband outside. /
made my voice tremble so, when went
to explain my busines, that / don't
believe Imade myselfunderstood. But
she was expecting what l came for on
account the landlord had handed in
his notice to leave. She tried to smile,
poor thing, faltering out the words that
She supposed was the constable.
II was an awful sick smile, though.
1t made my heart ache to see it. 1t
was sight more pitiful than a frown.
1t may seem a strange admission to
make. but Constable John Frick apol-
oeized for doing his duty. Actually
SAID he was sorry Tor having to do 1t.
Then he touched the weeny cheek of
the baby with his rough fingers and
said he hoped it would soon be we'll,
and otherwise talked in q way some
folks might have thought was ridicu-
lous in aconstable.
But then, if a man has soft, tender
heart, being constable won't change
it. you know.
When the landlord came to the
'squire's office, four days later, ana
peremptorily ordered the things put
out of rooms and z, Constable John
Frick felt about as blue as he had ever
felt in all his life. He hadn't been
able to get that delicate little woman's
sad face out of his mind, nor the sick
baby nor the drunken wretch ola hus-
hand