The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-02
A CUP OF COFFEE.

During the war my father was living in
portion of the south where the country
was overrun with a band of wretches
known everywhere as THE Robbers. u
They lived simply on plumber, nothing
else They were freebooters that did not
dare show themselves among honest peo-
pie in the daytime. They followed no
honest avocation in the day or night.
Their meat, drink and wear were all OBJ
tained in mar2udings.
All valuabIes had TO be kept hidden
away from these thieves, though when
they entered ones premises every nook and
corner was ranSacked for things which
they carried away with a remorselesSness
unknown before among Christian nations.
Once in a night raid upon my father s
houso-tbey had robbed him half a dozen
times pFeviousIy-aL0ong oCher treasures
that were unearshed BY the villains from
the cloisters Of privacy and sacredneSs was
several pounds Of genuine coffee which my
mother had been for years hiding and keep
ing for occasions of sickness or "rainy
days" When the robbers produced this
before her eyes, displaying IL with fiendish
flourish and hellish glee, it was the last
feature that broke the patient spirit, and
she denounced the act with all the severity
of terms she could command, appealing to
the manhood OF the villains for a return of
her coffee, if of nothing else, for the sick
dependent upon her, and it was for these
that she begged.
All the manhood that was exhib-
tied on the occasion was the brute force
that oyerpowered an old gentleman and a
few ladies Revealing itself further one
OF the villains seized the aged matron-my
mother-by her cap and forced her face in
a succession of shocks down into the YES
sci containing the coffee, and telling her
at each time. to smell Of Abe lincoln
''smell Of Abe Lncoln'-''and Abe Lincoln
coffee" OF course 1 would yet shoot that
ruffian did know where to find him any
where this side Of torment. I'd shoot him
even at the expense of that little religion |
have referred to, though l do feel that 1
should not be held TO divine accountability
for the act.
But here is an incident of an entirely DIFF
ferent character, yet one also in which you
may think that the religious scruple" was
held in allegiance or Punishment entire, but
not agreeing with you there.
Once, when sick and travelling over the
North Carolina railway, 1 got of the train
at the usual breakfast house, aud present.
ing myself at the dining room door asked
the landlord for simply cup of coffee
81 want only the coffee, for L am sick.
How mUch2" These were about my words.
The reply was, quickly:
Five dollars-where's the money!"
''But, my friend - 1 insisted, chat is the
price Of the regular breakfast; 1 want only
the cofTee-nothing else, for am quite
sick"
Il haven't time to fool with sick fellows
now; If l let you in there there is no tell
Ing WHIST you viii do"
l saw there was no use Of parieying with
him, so paid tie five dollars and entered
the dining room-though there was some
thing then in my brain besides the active
pain; nor was there much of the cum grano
sails, for there was q resolution to bear, II
possible, something besides the grain of
salt, plus the coffee.
There was the usual scramble for posi-
tion and plate the well fellows Glowing
me to the most remote table begged the
waiter to bring me cup of coffee as soon
possible. At the very last moment it came.
| drank the fluid yclept co1fee-and was
about to leave the room, when it occurred
to me that / had paid honestly for the
cup" also; and SO, with a sans sOuci move
ment, l took possession Of the purchase,
dropping both cup and saucer into the
hayersack on my shoulder.
then went on nay way reioicing-re joio-
ing in three things: The beverage had re-
heved my suffering, sor hot water, you
know, IS q specific for many ailments. Sec
OEdly, I had, for once in my life, got even
with hotel man; and thirdly, ! had made
a most valuable and permanent addition to
our camp chest, thus iozG exhibiting a de
tclt in the way Of white granite table ware.
My conscience aid not then rGproach me,
nor mas it since reproached me IN the latter
set, though you may consider it a little
honest stealing II you wish to. The bluff,
curt landlord had expressed to me his opiu-
ion that If | entered his dining room | /
would Us likely steal as eat If he was not
watching me, and SO he had charged me fer /
the possibilities in the case. looked at the |
thing in that way. You pay your money
aad you get what you can in the dining !
roOm-that was about the philosophy of /
his table and his pct
Doubtless the pallor of my look, the /
general Indebtedness of my countensnce /
under the suffering OF the sickness, these /
may have given the fellow the idea that l .
was really a thief, and, of necessity or a (
prudent fOretbOucht, | should be forced to
pay beforehand for what might be done
But got the cup of coffee-cup and all
and as I have said, went on my way re-
jOicing.
In the beautiful lines of Mazeppa, there
are found these, barring the slight trans
position. etc:
Time makes all things even,
Ii we do but bide the hour
\ few months after my purchase OF the
'cup Of coffee" ! was sitting in front of
my tent Cin eastern South Carolina. where
We We're pickering in front of Newbern) /
when q civilian rode UP and spoke to me
at once had recognized in the man the
landlord who had taken me for a thief.
and who had maae me pay in advance for
things he supposed l would take | had
on better suit of clut hing. for l had in
the meantime received promotion, and
was then dOanea in an officers uniform.
Perhaps was also looking a shade better
in the face than WHEN we first met, for 1
WAS quite well now.
a dozen thoughts had passed through
my mind IL rapid succession. Il occurred
TO me that some one has informed on me,
and that the fellow had warrant for my
arrest on charge OF larceny! N.Y. What
could | have done2 But | recollected at
once that there was no civil law; no courts
then, none except those Of the drumhead
and l could defy the man there.
But the party seemed to be unusually
amiable and polite. ana felt at once than
he did not recognize nae ard that I wss a