Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-19

his friend, though he had often wondered
what had become of him.
1t happened that the wife and family of
Warder Smith were members of Mr.. Bam-
lett 5 congregation. The warder himself.
was, by the nature of his official duties.
compelled to attend the ministrations of
the prison chaplain, but as a private citi-
zen in the bosom of his family he was well
known to the curate Mr. Bamlett thought
it could do no harm to Micklereed to
recommend him to the favorable notice
Of his guardian, so he sent a message to
the warder, asking him to step around and
see him as soon as he was off duty.
Good evening, Smith, said he. when
that worthy put In an appearance; L want
to speak to you about No. 119.'
The set visage of the warden relaxed in
to a kindly grin.
Rum customer, sir, amt hep" said he.
when | took his work to his cell this
morning, says he, as cool as you please,
All, my warder, suspoSe. Well, you
look decent sort of fellow, and dare saw
we shall get along well enough No. 49,
says l, don't you know its against the
rules to talk unnecessarily? oh! blow
the rules says he, I m only here for three
weeks, and | mean to enjoy myself III
report you, says l. No, you won't says
he, you re not that sort. Bless d if did
report him, either. Oouldn't do it, some
how"
Il am afraid, Smith, said the clergy
man, ''he does not realize his sad position
[ will try and awake him to it. Mean
while, be as lenient with him as you can
without neglecting your duty. know him,
that is, met him, years ago, and feel
an unusual interest in him.
Just what he told me this afternoon aft
ter you d gone, sir; only he put it in rather
a queer way, replied the warder. =" War
der, says he, you know that good gentle
man? Yes, says |. We'll. he's an old
college friend of mine, and would be much
distressed if he heard | was under punish
ment, | know you wouldn't like to trouble
him, so pray let us hear no more about re-
porting. Talk about check, prize pig
amt in it with him. | suppose he was
only a kidding of me about the college,
sir"
alas! no, :" replied the clergyman, Ibis
story is true; we were at college together
What has brought him to this | cannot i'm
agine. Does he seem to you at all mad ?"
''No, sir, not bit, !" said the warder
promptly, ''as eggsentric as you like, but
not mad. was attendant In an asylum be-
fore | came here, and | know lunatic
when | see him. Bless you, sir, he feels
it more than he pretends"
I'm glad to hear it, Smith, very
glad. But be as easy with him as you
can. -
''All right, sir Trust me for that. He's
not one of the sort to give real trouble.
I've read his case and fancy he really
was precious hungry when he broke them
lamps. Starving men have done worse
things to get meal before now. Good
night, sir"
Charley Micklereed had always had a
peculiar knack of enlisting the affections
of those about him. As a sort of human
cork floating on the sea of chance he never
seemed to have any aims, and consequently
he had no interest to clash with those of
others. Therefore his acquaintance had
always looked kindly upon him and been
ready to do him small favors.
Mr.. Bamlett had several other interviews
with his friend, and strove to all appear
ance in vain to exercise the spirit of in
difference from his breast. Its no use,
my dear fellow said Charley to him one
day; Il don't believe your theories about
responsibility and all that. Wish I did,
but | don't. The serious trouble of life to
me is hunger, cold and illness. Should
soon have been in for all three if | hadn t
smashed those lamps AS it is, with my
moderate appetite, I'm fairly warm and
comfortable for a fortnight yet, and I'll
bet you what you like there's philanthro-
pist waiting for me, when I get outside,
with the offer of situation.
But you will stick to work if YOU get
1t? asked the clergyman.
''Of course I will, if the work will stick
to me, > replied Mr.. Micklereed. II don t
pretend to be in love with work like so
many humbugs nowadays, but | bow to
the necessity of it. Honestly, l tried
all | could to get. job before | came
here
But then what character had you? -
began his friend
Character! what has character to do
with it?' interrupted the prisoner, isn't
the right to labor the pet theory of the
present day? Besides, there was nothing
against the character. I didn't drink |
didn't steal. | didn' even lie. The last
head-master saw, after seeming satisfied
with my answers to all his questions about
my competence, had the impudence to ask
what were my religious opinions, and he
showed me the door when | said | hadn t
any"
"Do you really mean to say Micklereed, ="
demonstrated the clergyman, ''that you
cant see that your boast of indifference in
religious matters was rightly fatal to your
chance?"
''Of course | can't see it," replied the
perverse Individual, unless you maintain
that he who fattens oxen must himself be
fat. | gave up the schools though, after
that, and tried the docks, but they wouldn t
have me there Then it was prison Or
workhouse to get meal, and chose pris-
on as being easier to get into than the
other place
Mr.. Bamlett sighed and gave it up for
the present. ''Have you any complaint to
make?' he asked mechanically as he pre-
pared to leave the cell.
Eyes, by Jove. I'd almost forgotten,
exclaimed the prisoner. ''Smuggle me in
a bit of tobacco the size of a small pea the
next time you come. | can't sleep without
it. Wish | could, for it must be uncom-
monty nasty to swallow.
The GOODNESS of the request took away
Mr.. Bamlett's breath He told his friend
he would not on any account commit such
a breach of the trust reposed in him. For
five minutes they argued the point. The
clergyman pleaded conscience; the prison
er pleaded the duties of friendship. The
question was left unsettled, but the next
night the prisoner with amorsel of tobacco
IN his mouth, slept better than the man
who had supplied him with it. The Rev
Mr. Ram left : conscience was tnpdar and