Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-01-01
VAN B|BBER'S CHARITY.

L
rules of life the other day and came
down town. This unusual journey in.
to the marts of trade and finance was
in response to a call from his lawyer
who wanted his signature to some
papers. 1t was five years since Van
Bibber had been south of the north side
of Washington square, except IS a
transient traveller to the ferries on the
L road. And as he walked through the
City Hall square. he looked about him
at the new building in the air, and the
hustle and confusion in the streets,
with as much interest as a lately ar
rived immigrant.
Van Bibber rather enjoyed the novel
completed his business at the lawyers
office he tried TO stroll along lower
Broadway as he did on the avenue.
But people bumped against him. and
carts and drays tried to run him down
when he crossed the side streets, and
those young men whom he knew seemed
TO be in great hurry and expressed such
amused surprise at seeing him that he
felt very much out of place indeed.
And so he decided to get back to his
club window and its quiet as soon as
possible.
Hello, Van Bibber,n said one of the
young men who were speeding by,
what brings you here? Have you lost
your way?"
Il think have" said Van Bibbcr;
eff you'll kindly tell me how can get
back to civilization again, be obliged
to YOU"
Take the elevated from Park place"
said the friend from over his shoulder,
as he nodded and dived into the crowd.
The visitor from uptown had not
very distinct idea as to where Park
place was, but he struck off Broadway
and followed the line of the l. road
along Church street. 1t was at the
corner OF VGsey street that miserable
looking, dirty, and bloated object stood
still in his tracks and begged Van Bib
Der for a few cents to buy food. I've
the object, land haven't tasted food
for twenty-four hours"
Van Bi6ber drew away as though the
object had a contagious disease in his
rags, and handed him quarter with
out waiting to receive the mans bless
ing.
Poor devil" said Van Bibber;
Tfancy going without eating all day"
He could not fancy this though he
tried, and the impossibility of it i'm
pressed him so much that he amiab!y
determined to 90 back and hunt up the
object and give him more money. Var
Bibber's ideas of dinner were rather
exalted. He did not know of places
where quarter was good for square
meal, including zone roast, three
vegetables, and pie" He hardly con-
sidered Il quarter Il sufficiently large
tip for the waiter who served the din
ner, and decidedly not enough for the
dinner itself. He did not see his man
at first, and when he did, the man did
not see him. Van Bibber watched him
stop three gentlemen, two of whom
gave him some money, and then the
object approached Van Bibber and re-
peated his sad tale in monotone. He
evidently did not recognize Van Bill
Der. and the club-man gave him half
dollar and walked away, feeling that
the man must surely have enough by
this time with which to get something
TO eat, if only luncheon instead of Il
dinner.
This retracing of his footsteps had
confused Van Bibber. and lie made a
complete circuit of the block before he
discovered that he had lost his bear
ings. He was standing just where he
had started from and gazing along the
line of the elevated road, looking for a
station, when the familiar accents OF
the object again saluted him.
When Van Bibber faced him, tho
beggar looked uneasy. He was not
sure whether or not he bad approached
this particular gentleman before, but
Van Bibber conceived an idea OF
much subtlety. and deceived the object
by again putting his hand in his POCKET.
Nothing to eat fer tweuty-four
hours, dear mc!' drawled the club-man.
sympathetically; ''haven't you any
money, cithcr?n
Not cent" groaned the object:
an I'm jest faint for food, sir. S'heIp
me. hate to beg, sir. 1t isn't the
money l want, it's Jest 1oou. I'm
starvin', sure
We'll" said Van Bibber, suddenly.
fit is just something to eat you want.
come in here with me, and I'll give you
your breakfast But the man held
back. and began to whine and complain
that they wouldn't let the likes of him
in such a fine place.
''Oh. yes, they will" said Van Bib
Der, glancing at the bill of fare in front
of the place: sit seems to be extremely
cheap. Beefsteak, fifteen cents, for
instance. Go in, lie added. and there
was something in his tone which made
the object move ungraciouSly into the
eating
1t was verv uueer place. Van Bib.
Der thought, and the people stared very
hard at him and his gloves and the
gardenia in his coat aud at the tramp
accompanying him.
You amt going 10 eat two break.
fusts are yer?n asked one of the very
tough-looking walters, of the object.
The object looked uneasy, and Van
Bibber, who stood behind his chair,
smiled in triumph.
You're mistaken" he saM to the
waiter; "this gentleman is starving; he
has not tasted food for twcuty-foul
hours. Give him whatever he ask,
forrn
The object scowled. and the waiter
grinned behind his tin tray, and had
.he impudence to wink at Van bbber
who recovered from this in time to give
the man half-dollar and so to make
him a friend for life. The ol.;sct order.
ed milk, but Van Bibber protested aud
ordered two beefsteaks and fried pota.
toes. hot rolls and two omelettcs, cof
fee. and ham with bacon.
Holy smoke! Watcher think amp
yelled the object. In desperation.
Hungry" said Van Bibber, very
gently; ''or else an impostor. And yol
know, II You should happsn to W. tn,
latter. hould have to hare you Owe
20 the police"
Van Bibber leaned easily against til,
wall and read the signs about him, M,