The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-14
A VAGAB0ND
PHILANTHROPIST

liz TWO UleI MElG sltlAuS odtoINC Il 4lOttA
6BCZ In Windsor, and as it was cooler there
SEzN drew I'd 4 clair IN time to hear the
J2tO' yvunger, a man Of about %, say to the
other, WHO was perhaps five years his senior:
Your brain doesn't work with your heart;
that young fellow is an impOstor."
How do you know"
Because his story is altogether too plausible.
II bears evidence Of having been carefully pre-
pared and memorized, with the most effective
points noted for emphasis" -; and the last speaEer
thoroughly satisfied with himself, waited for
reply. l, did not come for a minute or two; the
oIber was very slowly blowing from his mouth
tie smoke Of a good cigar as If 10th to part with
1t. Then lie said In an even tcne and With quiet
smile.
My dear fellow. think a little before you
Judge; or better stu, tIust TO your heart which
Is often wiser than your head. l am willing TO
take chances. and be is welcome TO what little l
can do TO help him along. Ii the boy Is an I'M
poster so am l, or at least was many years ago
when told much the same kind OF story In
much tie same way ana found more kindness 10
the world than you appear TO give 1t credit for
You are ioud of calling yourself eynlc, but you
cynics never see below the surface. Let me tell
you one OF my experiences when was ABOUT his
age"
thing IN The manner OF the speaker that inter-
esled me- and l made up my mind 10 hear what
''WIen / was a boy" he began, "the little
world OF my native town was not large enough
for me. / romantic-had read enough at
random 10 fire my imagnatlOD-and used 10
picture beyond the horizon world grand with
noble deeds and brilliant opportunities, In fact
world III which everything was rose colored.
Many of he deeds and OPT ortunities were there
but there was also relation OF cause ana erect
which 1 was too young 10 appreciate then. We'll.
/ broke away from my tame surroundings aud
landed one night in Chicago with maximum OF
couceit and ignorance In my head aud half
dollar in my pocket. was lOslled III crowd,
and The latter disappeared before reached State
street; The former / was destined 10 Keep until
Tepealed hard knocks from my fairy world had
driven that away also, or the most Of II. hope:
You can gain a fan: idea of the bardships l
underwent from The tale OF tDat poor boy VINO
lett US a little while ago"
But the boy had returned, for as the speaker
paused / saw MIN sitting behind NE out OF sight
Of Inc other TWO and listening as ntently as
You have never starved in big city," re-
sumed the narrator; 4" let me tell you that star
walton Is not worth experimenting with for the
sake OF learning the sensations. l suppose the
FINAL result OF fasting is the same everywhere,
but the torture OF the process Is intensified In
city. If one were all alone in desert he would
most likely accept starvation as logical condl=
ton OF the life or absence OF II, around him. but
IN the cToGGed STREET he has the direct antithesiS
Of his condition. Unthinklug plenty Is every
where about him, and the agOniZed gaze Of
starving man into The window OF a bakeshOD
is enough TO shatter the glass which Inter
poses Its transparent mockery between him
ana the wealth ii protects. l once went with
out food for ninety hours, and l know how 1t
feels. Near The end OF my long fast / secured
LOAF of bread and went down into cd excavation
where 1 could cal 1t without being seen. do
not know how much Lazarus appreciated the
crumbs, but Dives never felished bis banquet
more than did that loaf OF bread. l tore II to
pieces savagely and ate until my throat was too
dry 10 swallow. Que stormy night | crept Into
The entrance Of the old Farewell Hall on Mad
IsOn street i was wet, miserable and hungry
for no food had passed my mouth that day. 1
lay down on the steps and had Just dropped OIL
into ttful sleep-fOr one cannot rest very well
under such cireumstanees-when felt strong
and liar 1nr LYod into FIta
street and hidden In rough voice 10
move on. policeman is a terror TO a boy In
that plight, and went away, but soon
came back. for that ball had afforded me at
least little shelter, aud felt grateful 10
II. i could not sleep again, so leaned against
The entrance, just out OF the rain, long while
TWO hours 1t must have been, for heard clock
strike that hOur-my thoughts all the while
dwelling with strange persisteney on the idea
that paradise might be a place where people ate
three lines day and slept In warm bed every
night. On a sudden | was conscious Of company,
and there al my side was boy ragged and dirty
and with keen, wiZened face. He had come In
nOlseessly in the dark and had been silently
surveying me. We stared at each other until he
said:
. 'wors The matter2 In hard luck7'
Yes replied slifiy, for l didn't want TO
fTaierniZe with him.
Hungry, Ell? But needn't ask you lhat,
you look hungry enough 10 eat me- only there
aini much 81 me 10 eat. is there" ne added, put.
ting himself IN an attitude of Inspection.
Not much agreed friGidly.
Now, look here lie SAID, you needn't stand
me on that way; amt much 10 look at, know,
but au't agoin 10 let you slarve Pm strapped,
= too. but that's Duthin. Dye hear that" and he
took me by the sleeve aud pointed up the dark,
deserted street.
81 did hear H. as any one could within four
blocks Of The place. Hall that distance away
jolly voice, but very thick one, was Justify roar
ing song In which the singer expressed his H.
teDtiOn OF not going home until Tie appearance
OF daylight. This resolve was frequently Teiter-
ated and appeared 10 affoId the singer great
deal OF delight. Exclaiming that's my meal, the
gamin at my side drew something from bis peck
ct and quickly smeared his face. He hitcbed up
one shoulder and Lrailed one leg, aud was pain
iully lame In minute. His appearance before
Was mol inviting, but now it was so altered
as 10 be very pitiful. My surprise he
accented as tribute to his skill, and
IL pleased him greatly. Now, Just you
watch me- he said, and under the gaslight /
could see on bis lace grin of mingled cunning
aud kindness. We drew back Into the shadow
aud the happy 1eveler came along very fast TO
preserve his balance, but suddenly stopped and
leaned against the lamp post which We had left
minute before. could hear him nulterlng about
stsaights, fiushes, aud fulls; then he said some
thing about big Jackpot and a pat hand This
latter recollection seemed 10 tickle him nightly.
for be laughed LOUD aud long and energelically
slapped bis trousers pockets 10 which the con-
tents OF that Jackpot had seemingly been trans
feEred. Lis dress was fashionable b4t much dis
ordered. ADD gzsceSr1 >ridf ms vas q cas- Id
for mere was IN bis Iafk mrcn arA,E ene Guys h
The club. Ny friend llmped paiaiCl&y over 10 the
lamu-pnst WHARF liza gtO0d I'm AIlelc0 llo clu1