Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-07-24

harm to Micklcreed to recommend
him to the favorable notice of his
guardian, SO he sent 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;
81 want to speak to you about No. 49,"
The visage of the warder relaxed into
a kindly grin.
Rum customer, sir, ain'E hep" said
he. When | took his work to him this
morning, says he, as cool as you please:
.Ah, my warder, [ suppose. Well, you
look decent sort Of fellow, and [
dare say we shall get along we'll
enough No. 49, says /, don't you
know it's against the rules to talk un-
necessarily?' oh! blow the rules
says he; I'm only here for three weeks
and | mean to enjoy myself 'I'll re-
port you, says l. No, you WON'T says
be, you're not that sort Blessed If |
did report him, either. Couldn't do it
somehow
"I'm afraid, Smith, said the clergy
man, The does not realize his sad posi-
ton. will try and awake him to it.
Meanwhile be as lenient with him as
you can without neglecting your duty.
| knew him-that is. | met him years
L
him"
'Just what he told me this afternoon
after you'd gone, sir; only he pu: it in
rather queer way" replied the ward
er. 'Warder,' says he you know
that good gentleman Yes, says I.
Well, he's an old college friend of
mine, and would be much distressed if
he heard | was under punishment. [
know yoC wouldn't like to trouble him,
SO pray let us hear no more about re-
porting Talk about cheek: prize
pig amt in it with him. [ suppose he
was only a-kidding Of me about college,
SIR"
alas! no." replied the clergyman,
his story IS true; we were at college to.
gether. What has brought him to this
l cannot imagine. Does he seem to
you at all mad ?'
mo, sir, not bit,'' said the warder
promptly, ''as eggsentric as you like,
but not mad. | was an attendant in an
asylum before [ 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"
Cali 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 atfec-
tons of those about him. AS sort of
human cork floating on the sea of
chance he never seemed to have any
aims, and consequently he had no in
terest to clash with those of others.
Therefore his acquaintances had al
ways looked kindly upon him and been
ready to do him small favors.
Mr.. Bamlett had several other inter-
views with his friend, and strove to all
appearance in vain, TO exercise the
spirit of Indifference from his breast.
"it's no use, my dear fellow" said
Charley to him one day; q don't be-
lieye your theories about responsible
ity and all that. Wish | did, but |
don't. The serious troubles of life to
me are, 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 fair
ly warm and comfortable for fort
night yet. and III bet you what you
like there's philanthropist waiting for
me when get outside with the offer of
a situation"
'But will you stick to work II you get
to" asked the clergyman.
''Of course / will if the work will stick
to me-" replied Mr.. M;cklereed. II
don't pretend to be in love with work,
like SO many humbugs nowadays, but
bow to the necessity of it. Honestly,
tried all [ could to get job before l
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
wasn't anything against my character
/ didn't drink. didn't steal. | didn't
even lie. The last head-master I saw,
after seeming satisfied with my answers
to all his questions about my compe-
tence, 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, MCKEE
reed" demonstrated the clergyman,
that you can't see that your boast of
Indifference to religious matters was
rightly fatal to your chance
''Of course I can't see it," replied the
perverse individual. ''unless you main
tain that be who fattens oxen must him
self 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
a meal, and [ chose the prison as easier
to get into than the other place"
Mr.. Bamlett sighed and gave it up
for the present. "Have you any com
plant to make ?" he asked mechanical
ly, as he prepared to leave the cell.
eyes. by Jove, I'd almost forgotten"
exclaimed the prisoner. ''Smuggle me
in bit of tobacco the size of small
pea the next time you come. I can't
sleep without it. I wish could, for it
must be uncommonly nasty to swal-
low"
TIE GOODNESS Of the request took away
Mr.. Bamlett's breath. He told his
friend he would not on any account
commit such breach of the trust re-
posed in him. For five minutes they
argued the point. The clergyman
pleaded conscience: the prisoner plead
ed the duties of friendship. The ques-
ton was left unsettled, but next night
tho prisoner with q 1norcol of tOhoooo