The morning call., 1890-07-20

ness. explaining that liberty without crust is
really a mockery. and that III future lie meant 10
be maintained by his county, and that when lie
had served his time for The estIUctiOn OF the
book he meant TO smash a lanD, and that atoned
for, TO ST. al Stre cher from police Stallion, ana
so on, getting perhaps longer sen ences. unll he
should he called 10 his reward. Tney walked oil
together TO Tie nearest police station like TWO
Old friends, and parted with hearty grasp alter
the sergeant had noted the case.
Another man there was whom the librarian
regarded with eyes of compassion. lie dragged
himself slowly and wearily up the stairs, Threw
himself upou a seat next The wall, and therefore
provided Will a back. took up paper signed,
and instantly fell fast asleep. This sort the
librarian knew very well-Ae was the clerk out
Of work. He fell asleep because lie was eX-
hausled WITH want oil 1000, ana win climbing
The STAIRS IN the city See~ing for work. Inc
librarian wondered how much longer the weary
quest would continue. The man was clearly
Nell on he downward slope; his next place would
be lower; his next, lower stu With adversely
arrives too often moral weakening-iI Is one Of tie
countless Ills which follow IN misfoftune's train;
perhaps this poor wretch would take 10 drink
many Of them 90; IN the eud, clean bed III the
London Hospital. with pneumonia drawing him
swiftly 10 an ign0bie grave.
The librarian sal IN his corner, a many pigeon
hOled cabHe against tie wall al his side, great
book before him-uo Librarian is complete with
out a great book before him-and The usual ma
terials for cataiogung on BIS desk, because TO
carry on tie Catalogue Is as necessary part OF
lie daily work as 10 open the days letters IS for
d secretary. He was man Of 60, or perhaps
III ore, his beard white and his gray hair scanly
on the top. He were spectacies, and his face
showed tie clear, unliued surface oil one VINO has
never been concerned Will markets, prices or
the stale of ttade. HI lived all day In The library
and in The evening b. walked home to his soil
taTy lodging TWO miles away.
The librarian Of a free library is familiar
with every kind of reader. He Classics them
them all. There are first the unemployed, the
most numerous patrons OF the free library. The
librarian gets TO know the Trade Of every man,
If lie belongs to one of the commoner branches of
work, by his appearance. There are tue quiet
who lie library In The evening when
their mates are in the puolie-h0use drinking or
at tie club wranslIng or perhaps gambling.
They come here, not TO pursue line
Of study but to amuse themselves in
peace. Then in The library there are
one or two habitues OF The daytime. Mostly
they are retired tradesmen, or old pensioners.
who continue to live In the locality where they
have fii nds. There is the young feliew who
comes regularly TO consult all the papers on
sporting matters He collects the prophetic lips
and notes the odds in 4 book; he would fam be
a sharp, but he, too often, remains luggins.
There IS the boy who comes here Whenever lie
get the chance 10 sit IN a corner and dream
away the time delciously over a story There
the Door country lad who has mere knowledge In
his little nuger than London artisan In his
whole body, who understands how TO pl0w and
and reap, and sack aud thrash; who can
cultivate an allotment; who knows sheep and
beasts, and pigs aud horses; who can fOretell The
weather. YET he has thrown it all over and come
up 10 London, where he has nothing but his pair
Of hands, and his strong arms, and his great
knowledge aVaHS him nothing. 1t Is as II you
IUrned professor OF mathematics into Diapers
shop where they would use hun for nothing but
10 sweep the floor and carry out parcels He
rolls into the library accidentally, and not like
ing the place or the smell (Which Is not in the
least i~e the smell OF The earth), he goes out
again.
The librarian knows them all. He watches in
the silent room as the clock over his head ticks
loudly, and makes up their little stories for
them Sometimes they whisper lille with him.
He is a sympathetic creature, and they VIII con-
nde their case 10 him asking for his advice. 1hry
do not seek 1t in the search for book TO read,
- awalrf ausNn AAAu Ffnaoa In
knows, or has heard things Which may help
them. Other librarians, you see, get a vast and
Intimate acquaintance with books. This libra
Ran Is more useful to his readers If lie knows the
contents OF the trade Journals
Sometimes, however, as in the case OF Naomi
HeIlyer, he was altogether at sea- Naomi first
appeared on this Saturday evening. She came tn
timidly. and looked about her with hesitation.
There was no other woman in the place. Per-
haps women were not admitted. Then the libra
Tlan stepped out OF Ills corner and invited her TO
take seat and ask Tor anything she might want
lie saw woman of 80 dressed In The black
sIuff frOck Of a workwomsR, with a cloth jacket,
though IL was so warm evening. Her dress
was perfectly neat and wel-fttlng: her gloves
were worn; she had the appearance OF resolute
TesTeetabIlIty coupled with small pay. Her face
was thiD aud pale and her features delicate She
was not beautiful, but she looked steady and Sc
riOus-what is called responsible. The librarian
noticed these things; he also noticed FOR he was
an obsefvant creature, as well as sympathetic
that there was trouble in the faee-abiding
trouble.
rian saw upon her foTeiinger the usual sign OF
needleWork, which a woman can 10 more dis
gulse han mulatto can hide the black slreaks
below his tBger-nails. She took place at one
OF the tables and began to turn over the leaves
OF an illustrated paper, but !anguldly, as II she
lock no interest In what she read. Tie librarian,
watching her from his corner, observed that she
Presently put down the paper and began to walk
about. reading the titles OF The books on the
shelves as II she was IN search OF something.
Being a conscientious lib aTfau, as well as OBJ
servant and SYM athejic. he left his place in the
corner and asked her if there was any work
which she wished TO read. She shook her head.
There was nothing, sine said. The librarian OBJ
served that she had an extremely sweet voice.
He also observed that she went looking at the
TILES If she really did want something.
The librarian was experienced as wen as con-
scientious, obseryant and sympathetic. He dis
covered that there was something behind this
restless curiosity.
Il think you are looking for some book" lie
said. iii you Will tell me what 1t IS"
'l1aye you gof," she asked, cOl0ring deeply,
"any book that tells abouI"-she hesitated.
"About ?" he repeated.
"a bout women'-here she looked about to
make sure that nobody else could hear, and her
voice dropped 10 q whlsper-"abOut women In
prison, how they are treated and how they i've"
we have book called Five Years OF Penal
serYliude' lie replied, "buI thai Is about male
convlctS, not women"
"May see that?"
de found and gave her the volume.
When the library closed she brought him back
INC bolk anu went away. But her eyes were
red She bad been crying.
Duiing tie week the librarian found himself
thnktng a good deal about this woman She
looked fe1hed and delicate, perhaps above the
position she nov held, which seemed 10 be moor
ly paid Judging from her dress. by her language
and her manner she showed herself what Is
called ladylke, or what ladies' prefer 10 call
rather superior person. He could not remeIn-
Der whether she wore wedding-ring. lie hoped
that she would come again.
On Saturday evening she did come again. The
librarian greeted her with the smile reserved for
habiiual leaders. :. Let me find you another
book" he said.
Z" Fl ase let me have the same"-as II the II.
braTian should remember every book taken up
by every reader. But he did remember her book
and gave IL 10 her.
She finished the book that evening. But long
after she closed the volume she sat With II In her
hand thinking. She was In a corner where there