The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-06-26

HoAcS iuc y ilbbie CASH. Ut AT Ie8SL MAKO
arrangements so that could get them
some needed things at the stores. He
replied that he was already In debt at
the stores and hated to ask for more
credit; that in fact he didn't believe
they would give 1t. Every old printer
will recognize this homelike picture of
the country printing business in the old
days.-ED. lie didn't sec how he
could do any thing for me before tho
next week.
"Annoyed and disheartened. knew
not what TO do. / could not bring my
self to go to that family and face their
disappointment when ] told them had
nothing for them. After wandering
around awhile went to my boarding
house and went to bed. But could not
sleep. The rcproachful. hungry faces
of those children rose up before me;
grew more restless and excited as |
thought of their disappointment and
their dcstitution. till could bear it no
longer. / said: AT loast I'll play the
man: Ill keep my nj pointment with
them, and tell them why could not get
any thing for thcm.'
$50 / got up and drnssed and went
down to the wrc'ched hovel. | found
the people very much al tn"y were when
had first seen them. Incy were ex-
pecting me. The moment / entered
their eyes sparkled and eager welcome
and expectation was ol cvcrY face. My
heart failed me. coNla not tell them
had nothing FOR th',n. stammercd
out that had come ~ find what they
lnl 4 4 -. l.. 1.r,f.
hand, that they needed every thing. I
then left, promising to return soon.
II didn't know what To- do. l went to
the houses OF some of the citizens and
woke them up, and plead with them to
do something at once. but each in turn
refused, saying that more had already
been done than the family deserved.
walked on until I found myself on the
business square, which was deserted,
and stood in front of a grocery store in
which burned light. ! tried the door
and found 1t locked. | pushed on it
put my shoulder 10 it-and it came open.
l walked in, and helped myself. piled
my arms as full as could carry of pro-
visions and took them down to that
destitute family: / went back and got
another load and took itdown; and then
Invent to a neighboring wood-pile and got
several arm-loads of wood; built up
rousing good fire and cooked those
wretched people supper myself, and
came away leaving them eating 1t, their
hearts filed with gratitude and their lips
speaking thanks and blessings. went
to my boarding house and went to bed,
and slept soundly all night.
Next morning went downtown and
found crowd of people around the
store, talking eXcitedly about the rob
berry of the night before, and threatening
to string up the culprit if he could be
found.
'Gentlemen, said I. addressing them,
you need not look any further. I'm the
man that did it. And can tell you why
did tiff you'd like to know And then
told them all the facts OF the case and
concluded: Now, gentlemen, am will
| ing to abido the consequences. Twill
| submit to any penalty you name. If two
or three years of my liberty will pay tho
bill, III gladly forfeit it, or, IL you
choose to let me pay it as l can from my
weekly wages, I'll remain in this town
until every cent is paid. Do Us you
please; leave 1t to your sense of JUS
tice. But would have fed those starv-
| ing children last night had l known 1t
would cost me ten years in the peniten-
tiary"
| Even then some were for arresting
and committing me; but by the next
morning the tide had changed. Several
citizens made up the amount due the
storekeeper, and provision was made for
the family thereafter. But nothing
short of that act Of mine could have
reused that community up to its duty.
And now, my lad concluded Cowan,
did l do right in doing wrong or
wrong in doing right?''
was too littlc of casuist in those
days TO answer the question positively,
though have since made up my mind
quite clearly about it.
Cowan afterward went into the army
at the opening of the war and fought to
its close. was interested in following
up his history, and. on inquiry, found
that he had left behind him, wherever
he went, q record of kind and charitable
deeds, and that happiness and blessing
seemed to follow him. He was man OF
great heart and uncommon talents, and
had he not so underestimated his own
abilities, and shown more settled pur'
pose of life, he could have arisen to al
most any position of eminence and honor
among men. After the war he returned
to the North and lived for time in ST.
Louis. He eventually took up his old
rowing life, and ended his days as he had
lived the mostof them-a tramp printer
Modern Rip Van Wrinkles.
Two Neapolitan brigands, Viecenza
Cieco and Giuseppe Rosa, have been re