Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-22
The Man Who Never Cried.

rows OF other people, and strangely lack
ing in feeling when trouble comes to your
own home"
These words were addressed by a young
man to one much his senior in years aud
experience. His name was John Andrews /:
and one would have compared him to
George Washington. There was the same
kingly erectness of form, the same firm,
commanding bearing and voice. His fore
head was high and broad, an index Of great
intellect. Heavy brows shaded pair Of
steel-gray eyes, noticeable for their ex-
preston of controlled force The lower
part of his face. especially his squarely
built chin, told of an iron will and an in
flexible nature. As he walked the street.
many gazed after this courtly man, and
owned that his influence counted for much
in the town where he had grown up; but
the same thing was always said about him ::
His heart is as hard as Pharaoh's."
The young man. Philip. who uttered the
above words, was favorite nephew of
Mr.. Andrews. He was fine, manly fel-
low, just entering college.
Philip had been stung to the quick by
the oft-repeated opinions of people in re-
gard to his Uncle Johns "hard- hearted
ness" and one day he followed him into
his office, and, before he could choose his
sentences or soften the words. spoke his
heart out in this heavy accusation Of
others.
Looking up quickly to note the effect
he was panied to see a look of anguish
settle like dark cloud over his uncle's
face. Why" be exclaimed. "do you
mean to say, Uncle John that you have
never heard what people say of you?
heard man declare to-day that he never
knew of your shedding tear in your
life"
Mr.. Andrews stood by his desk with his
hand shading his eyes. In the bright sun
light which flooded the Office his hair was
almost white. aud deep lines were furrow-
ed in his face that Philip had never motto
cd before. His form was bowed and his
whole appearance was expressive of ex
treme agony, as If from the shock Of
sudden blow
He raised his head. gazing long aud
earnestly at his nephew's bright young
face. And this he said, in voice that
tremblpd, 'is the sentence that my old
friends have pronounced upon me- am
hard d-hearted man and vet have been
good citizen, thank God good Chris
tian, trust; good husband and father.
All, my boy. il Is too true that | have not
shed tear since | was your own age.
There Is secret of my life which Others
have never known. | have always kept ii
buried in the depths Of nv heart; but your
hand has unlocked the door; you shall
know why no one has ever seen me shed
tear or show any emotion. When was
boy OF sixteen was not unlike you, Phil
ip. | had your quick sensihilities, vonr
warm, impetuous disposition. hal
brother. your Uncle Charles, who was five
or six years Older than | and we were as
fond and loving of each other and OF your
Aunt Helen as any brothers could be.
She was then young girl of twelve.
and ii seemed to us that there never was a
daintier, sweeter sister in all the world
She had timid, clinging nature that ap-
pealed to Us for protection. We were all
the more tender, because she shared the
family trouble; our skeleton in the closet
was known to her. How many nights
have | seen her with her dear sweet face
pressed against the window. peering into
the darkness for familiar form shuttiing
home at night from the grog store around
the corner.
often | would take her into my arms
and tell her to leave Charles and me to
watch for father; but she always insisted
that she could wait on him when he came
Things grew from worse to worse un-
til We would not allow Helen to see father
when he came home. His language was
often abusive and cruel
Our family had never been poor until
then, but we soon commenced to feel that
father was drinking up all the earnings
Charles had position in village acade-
my, on a small salary. and was clerk in
bank. Even with what we boys could
earn we had hard work to make both ends
meet. | could not bear to have Helen do
much, and see her growing paler and thin
ner every day. My heart was broken as /
sometimes heard mother cry.
"One day thunder-bolt fell upon US in
the shape of big bin from Greggs. the
owner of the grog- store. We did not know
what to do. In those days men were put
in Jail for debt. We talked of that, moth
er wriDgpg her hands at the thought of it
Well your Uncle Charles and at last sue
ceeded in getting enough money, and
took it to Mr.. Greggs. with the firm re
solve III my heart that father should never
get another drop of liquor at that place
''lt was hard for me to enter the store
There was, on the walk outside, a group
Of half drunken men. They were hover
ing near like moths round a flame. | was
ashamed to go into the brightly lighted
room, where there was another group of
men, who were taking their night-caps,'
as they called the final drink. The fumes
of the liquors made me sick, and | wanted
to rush out into the fresh air again and
forget what brought me to such place.
As | stood before the bar, my eye follow
ed the revolving faces around me. turn
ed away with loathing from the profane,
obscene jokes that filed the room. And
yet ! was in the place where my father
was most at home "a father who was once
my pride.
Mr.. Greggs looked up when he saw me
enter, and asked in a jocular tone: Well,
my lad, what can | do for you? Is there
anything in my line of business that will
hit your taste? Perhaps your father has
sent you for little drop to warm him up
this cold night
Imagine how my prize was reused at
those jeering words. The hot blood rush
ed to my temples; the half drunken men
watched me with noisy glee. 1t was all
fun to them. At last, holding up my
head | walked past them all close up to
the desk. held out the bill and the mon
ey to Mr.. Greggs. 'Ah. he said, with a
greedy eye on the money, your dad is
paying up brisk this time, eh?'
"'Mr. Greggs,' said, in as firm voice
as could master, Il have come to pay the
money father owes you for last year Here
it is. You can count it and see that every
cent is here, and may it be the last
"And now my spirit was up. l went
nearer the man. l thought of mother and
Helen. spoke low and firmly. l said,
Mr.. Greggs, have one thing to ask you.
Will you promise me that you will never
sell my father another drop?'
Hump! he replied. you had better
go about your own business, young man.
Don't be spelling my trade. Your dad is
too good customer to give up as easy as
this.
"The tears sprang to my eyes. but
dashed them away, and, going behind the
bar. said to him in lower voice, Mr..
Greggs, l know that father pays you
good deal of money. | have thought of
that. / should like to make this agree
ment with you: If you will reckon up
what your profit is from the liquor you
sell father. Charles and l will pay it to
you, if you will promise mot 10 sell him a
drop for year.
first was angry. l could have struck
him in my passion. but somehow. I was
SO filed with pity for mother and Helen,
and even for father, that my anger all
melted away. l was broken in he art, and
l thought to soften this man by our great
sorrow. Somehow, l don't know how it
was as pleaded with him, in my awful
agony. fell upon my knees. clasped
my arms around his feet and fairly bathed
them with my tears, as begged him not