The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-07-19

raise ne little cash, OF a. - make
arrangements 50 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 it, Every old printer
will recognize this homelike picture OF
the country printing business in the old
days.--ED. He didn't see how he
could do any thing for me before the
next week.
..Annoyed and disheartened, knew
not what to do. I 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 reproachful, hungry faces
of those children rose up before me;
grew more restless and excited as
thought of their disappointment and
longer. said: AT least I'll play the
man; I'll keep my appointment with
them, and tell them why could not get
any thing for Them
$50 / got up and dressed and went
down to the wretched howell. I found
the people very much as they were when
] had first seen them. They were ex-
pecting me. The moment / entered
their eyes sparkled and eager welcome
and expectation was on every face. My
heart failed me- could not tell them
had nothing for them. stammered
out that had come to find what they
needed Gust as if didn't know, before
hand, that they needed every thing).
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 found myself on the
business SO uare, which was deserted,
and stood in front of grocery store in
which burned light. tried the door
and found it locked. l pushed on it
put my shoulder to it-and it came open.
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 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 it, their
hearts filled with gratitude and their lips
speaking thanks and blessings. went
to my boarding house and went to bed,
and slept soundly all night.
s'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 l, addressing them,
you need not look any fu%ther I'm the
man that did it. And can tell you why
I did til you'd like to know And then
told them all the facts Of the case and
concluded: Now, gentlemen, / am will
ing to abide the consequences. will
submit to any penalty you name. If two
or three years of nay liberty will pay the
bill, I'll gladly forfeit it; or, if you
choose to let me pay it as can from my
weekly wages, I'll remain in this town
until every cent is paid. Do as you
please; leave it to your sense OF JUS
tice. But I would have fed those starv-
ing children last night had known it
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 6pmunity up to it's duty.
And now, my lad concluded Cowan,
'sdid I do right in doing wrong or
wrong in doing right?''
was too little 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
it's close. I was interested in following
up his history, and, on inquiry, found
that he had left behind him, wherever
he went, 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 a time in ST.
Louis. He eventually took up his old
rowing life, and ended his days as he had
lived the most of them-a tramp printer.
Modern Rip Van Wrinkles.
Two Neapolitan brigxnds, Viecenza
Cieco and Giuseppe Rosa, have been re-
Gently set at liberty after forty years
Imprisonment. 1t is impossible to de-
scribe their astonishment at the sight
- {o1nrro Thc pa ua