Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-11-29
that was doing the groaning
now. When finished, after many in
terlineations and corrections, it read
as follows:

When deprived Of his feathery vest,
seized his leg In my strong right hand.
And dissected his meaty breast.
BY this time / had got into the
spirit of my undertaking. The lines
ran off the end OF my pen as smooth
ly as water runs of ducks back.
With a confident smile finished the
last verse.
The next morning had 10 fill up
the hole in Il ten-cent piece with soap
and ashes in order TO deceive the toll
| taker at the elevated railroad station.
/ All the way down town l read and
reread the alleged poem, trying to
perfect il. When | arrived in New
York hesitated before the big news
paper offices, afraid TO go in. AT last
/ managed to pluck up courage
enough TO go up stairs, where, con
trary to my expectations, l was
| kindly received and was told that my
poem would be read, and il il pos
sessed sufficient merit il would be
printed. Twas encouraging, 10 be
sure, but what was | going To do in
the meantime for the turkey
The day was spent in the usual way
running around looking for a job and
finding none. | managed, however,
to earn fifty cents by carrying some
coal. 1t hurt my pride TO do it, but
the faces of the children rose before
me, and | would almost have com
mitted murder just then.
With heavy heart | started TO
walk over the bridge just after sun
set The wind blew cold from the
northeast, and | buttoned my coat
close to my chin. 1t was starlit
night. The great towers loomed up
above me like entrances TO some
gigantic temple. The river rushed
and swirled below, and reflected in
silver CLEANS the light from the
electric lamps | could see the little
waves capped with foam. 1t was IA
fascinating sight, and felt strangely
drawn toward the river. For time
forgot the babies aud Nellie. Be
hind me was the great, roaring
city, with its thousands OF men and
women struggling for existence. l
had been trampled under foot in the
crush. Why should | return and
renew the battle As brooded over
the river, chilled to the marrow by |
the searching wind, the water seemed |
to beckon me. Its shifting currents
whispered Gomez it's shadowy, |
cleaning riffs, its miniature mael- |
stroms seemed to my excited fancy to
say: Here's rest for you. Wen |
bear you away to dreamland, where
hunger and pain and sorrow are
drowned in the nepenthe OF ternal
rest
In this state of partial unconscious
ness began to climb up the railing
to reach the roadway below, when
policeman touched Inc on the shoulder
and told me to ''move on L did
move on, but In q dazed, uncertain
way, until reached the Brooklyn en-
trance. Here the crowd from the
cars was pouring out in the street
like a torrent, and i'm the crush | was
hustled about and at last stumbled
into the arms OF stout man muflied
in an old army overcoat. He held
NE away from him by my arms.
Then he shook me and said:
What's the matter with you, Tomi
Ye amt drunk, be YER
There was something familiar in
the voice, and looking up | saw the
homely face OF Sam Jones, Of Shan
daken, before me. Then came an
other shake, and this time l came TO
myself again.
by George, Sam, I'm glad to see
you" | stammered.
"Well, let's 90 an get somethin' to
warm you up. You're near froze,
man"
'Thawed and melted by steaming
cup OF coffee, told Sam all the sor-
rowful story. How the children
would be waiting at the station for
me expecting the turkey / had fool
ishly promised them and my inability
TO procure it, was interrupted by
from Sam such as:
"Well, I'll be blessed! You kin bet
yer boots them kids is goin' to hav'
their turkey! Bgoshl / alters did
say that the city's no place fur
farmerp
Under the cheerful influence OF
Sans sympathy soon regained my
lost courage. He insisted that we
should go to the nearest grocery,
where he picked out the biggest
turkey he could find. Then there
we're two quarts OF cranberries, three
big mince pies, a package OF candy
for the children, bunch OF crisp
celery, and other things appropriate
TO Thanksgiving Day.
When Sam left me at the elevated
station he pressed a s5 bill into my |
hand, despite my protests, with the
remark:
Now, you take IL, old man. / got
good price for my truck this season.
Sides that am only lending it to ye.
Ye've got to pay me every cent backl'
With parting hand shake he dis
appeared. As the train ratified along
over the shining rails / could see the
lights Of the big bridge fading away
behind me. The river rushed below
lust as it had done one brief hour be-
fore. but its turbid waters had no
fascination for me now.
/ wish every man and woman who