The Irish standard., 1890-08-02

is there?' he added, putting himself in
an attitude Of inspection.
. Not much agreed, frigidly.
.stsNow, look here,' he said, you
needn't stand me off that way; I amt
mnch to look at, I know, but amt
'agoin' to let you starve. I'm strapped,
too, but that's nothin'. Dye hear that?
and he took me by the sleeve and pointed
up the dark, deserted street.
IT did hear it as any one could within
four blocks of the place Half that dis
lance away jolly voice, but very
thick one, was Justify roaring a song in
which the singer expressed his inten-
ton Of not going home until the APP
pearance of daylight. This resolve was
frequently reiterated and appeared to
afford the singer great deal Of delight.
Enchanting: That's my meat, the gamin
at my side drew something from his
pocket and quickly smeared his face.
He hitched up one shoulder and trailed
one leg, and was painfully lame in
minute. Ills appearance before was not
inviting, blu t now it was so altered as to
be very pitiful. Ny surprise he accepted
as tribute to his skill, and it pleased
him greatly. Now, just you watch me-,
he said, and under the gaslight I could
see on his face grin of mingled cum
ming and kindness. We drew back into
the shadow, and the happy reveller
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 muttering about straights, Pushes
and fulls; then he said something about
a big Jackpot and pat hand. This
latter recollection seemed to tickle
him nightly, for he laughed
loud and long, and theoretically
slapped his trousers pocket to which the
contents Of that jackpot had seemingly
been transferred. His dress was fash
ionab1e but much disordered, and I
gathered that he was a club man, for
there was in his talk much about the
boys at the club. My friend limped
painfully over to the lamp-post where
he stood in silence as the club man
forcused his eyes in a frown upon the
small and wretched object beneath him.
\"'Whaz re mazzer wiz your" said the
victim.
s'Then my young friend Slipped the
cash from his imagination and told a
ale, of woe that would have drawn
Hood from stone. can not initiate
he tone of his voice, but nothing could
ave been more forlorn. There was
,out it none of the whine of the pro-
ssional beggar, and the story and the
ice were so pathetic that fancied for
e moment it was all true and my heart
cited in pity So did the big heart of
9 gambler, for he closed the thin
gers of the mendicant upon a five
liar bill, and with voice husky with
otion as much as with drink, babe
cheer up and every thing would
ae- all right. Then he staggered off
hout word, but the incident did not
long on his mind, for block away
!uld hear him repeating his musical
termination and that of his imaginary
npany not to go home till morning.
'''Come,' said the beggar, who had
opped his limp and resumed his nat
al voice; come with me- and he led
away. How long and how much l
- in that restaurant that night do not
know, but all the while the beggar sat
beside me piling my plate with food.
The cunning was gone from his sharp
face now; it was soft with kindness and
luminous with the light of a beautiful
deed Let who will moralize upon the
deception; it was conseorated by the
motive, and / shall never forget him.
The voice of the narrator was low and
tender. as If speaking to himself. He
stopped, and as looked at the boy be-
hind saw that his breast was heaving
with a great sigh and that his eyes were
filed with tears. Suddenly he went and
stood before the two. The cynic drew
bill from his pocket-book and held it
out without a word.
II don't want your money, sir; you
said was an impostor, but you lied, sir;
you lied.''
There was something grand about the
high-spirited boy; his eyes flashed and
his voice was tremulous with wounded
pride. Then he turned to the other:
'sYou believed me, sir, when / told
you all; I'll keep your money. and Ia
ways like am tonight, and I'll do for
some one what you did for me. Good
bye, sir, and God bless you"
.sGod bless goat, my dear boy"
The two friends-for they were So
rose and went their way together, the
elder with the same gentle smile; the
other, very thoughtful. Thomas r.
Watson, in Detroit Free Press.
Popular Estimate of Men.
In spite of pretense and its short
lived success, men are generally valued
at what they are worth. Sincerity and
honest endeayor will not die unrecog-
nized, although their recognition has
not been sought or expected. Those
whom the world has most greatly hon
ored have generally thought and cared
the least about its piaudits. Absorbed
. 4. \ IS