The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-11-06
AN AFFLICTED CITIZEN.
His PitifuI Story Failed to Move This
Very Hard Hearted Woman.

His Pitiful story railed TO move Ihls
Very Hard Hearted Woman.
"If you can spare me few moments of
your time, madam" he said, taking off a
hat that had seen better days in the dim
and misty past, 81 should like to explain
why | am compelled to appear before you
as an applicant for charity"
proceed" said the lady.
"You have no objections, presume, to
my leaning against this pillar of the porti-
co to rest MYSELF?
"None whatever"
He leaned his robust frame against one
of the posts, coughed behind his hand, and
began:
81 have not always been reduced to this
necessity, madam. In happier days not
far distant was at the head of a success
fur business in a flourishing city. had a
good bank account. | was in the enjoy
ment of excellent health, my domestic re-
lations were pleasant, and was the recip-
lent of many civic offices. My troubles be-,
gan with the death of my grandfather"
He pulled out once red bandanna hand
kerchief, wiped a corner of his eye and re-
sumed:
"He was good man, and was much at
tached to him His loss moved me deeply.
Then my only great-uncle died. To lose
ones only great-uncle, madam" he con
tinued in a broken voice, 'brings pang
that trust you may never know"
"What next" inquired the lady.
"The next affection that befell me was a
fire that destroyed the home of my wife's
aunt. She was a most estimable lady
The loss was total, and there was no in
surance. | sympathized deeply with her,
and she-she came to spend the winter
with me. She brought her whole family"
He paused as if to note the effect of this
coughed behind his hand again, and wiped
his eyes with the bandanna "Reminiscences
as before.
"Wells"
"Well madam, bore up as well as
could until my boy-my eldest-the center
of my fondest hopes-excuse this emotion,
madam
Certainly"
81 bore up until my boy began to chew
tobacco. Then my health failed"
"You don't look like sickly man."
81 am aware of it, madam. My trouble
is one of-of nerves, madam-of nerves.
The doctors advised me to travel. could
not follow their advice then, owing to bust
ness complications. In the troubles that
came upon me our stock of goods had run
down to some extent. Then came the tariff
excitement, and"-
"What had that to do with it?"
at was the final blow. We had expected,
of course, to mark our goods up and real
ize handsomely, butt
"Well?"
"We-we had no goods to mark up"
"And then?"
"And then took to the-that is, be-
gan to travel. 1t was the DOCTORS advice.
Then p
"Well?"
"Then p
eyes, then you'-
OPP
"Why don't you go ahead?"
MADAM" said the traveller, straighten
ing himself up, 81 see it is useless. have
not awakened your sympathies."
"Not a cents worth"
mot even to the extent of''-he suggest
ed, with another laborious cough behind
his hand-"of cold collationW
mo"
81 might have known it," he exclaimed,
putting on his hat and turning away. an
telling my story, madam, am usually in
terrupted at the great-uncle part of it by
the offer of substantial sympathy. To the
fact that you permitted me to proceed I'M
til became tangled up in the Mckinley
bill, madam" he added with bitter re-
proach in his tone, 81 attribute this ig
noble failure have not fallen in my own
esteem, madam, but my faith in human
nature has received.a terrible shock"
He thrust one hand in the breast of what
had once been black cloth coat, waved "A
majestic farewell with the other, and was
gone.-Chicago Tribune.