The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-07

people persist in giving lots? Not
people of genious. Let Shakespeare's
self arise and come wandering Texas
ward, and unless he has mended his
fortunes since we knew him he would
get no lot save one in the potter's
field when his little play was played
out. Not religious men, for still, as OF
old, Paul would have to livein hired
house and work at making tents. Not
public benefactors, for did not Gland
Bill Allen" end his days in a poor
house little while ago, while the
generation which owed its homes to
him went on with it's money getting
and merry making? And as for the
poor-do we arise in our generosity
and give lots to them? Ask that poor
woman on the corner, who has worn
her life out trying to make living for
her children and keep them decent.
Ask that wretched daughter of hers,
who has been driven by grinding pow
erty straight into the ever open door
of destruction. Ask that dark-brow-
ed man, out of work for months and
meditating desperate things. Lots to
any of these? Absurd! We give lots
only to multimillionaires, that they
may, perchance, be persuaded to dwell
in our midst for little space, and al
low us pitiful remainders of the world
to sun ourselves in their magniicence.
~
She had none of the graces of youth,
or beauty, or refinement, to attract
the eye. She was merely homely
old woman, wearing an almost thread
bare dress with a shabby, pathetic
bit of lace about the neck. Her face
had never been pretty one at it's
best, and now it was worn and fur
rowed as faces are sometimes in the
long conflict of life; but not all the
battles through which she had pass
ed could take away the look of patient
endurance which never left her. Her
hands were large and hard and rough,
not beautiful Oh moi The beautiful
hands are small and soft.
NV
She was waiting at the corner by
the old capitol, and came into the car
with heavy market basket; far too
heavy for her feeble strength. Such
poor little sum as she had tied up in
the corner of her handkerchief! A
quiet gentleman passed her fair to the
conductor, and she thanked him as
though she had been real lady
instead of a homely old woman with
market basket.
x*x
"When did you hear from John?'
asked somebody with observant eyes,
moving a little nearer, for the car was
! almost empty. Such look in the dim
eyes, which had known what it was,
doubtless, to shed many tears!
"You remember John, do you? Oh,
L don't hear from him often. He is
very busy, of course, and he knows
Pm getting along all right. 1t would
!, be great comfort to hear from him
oftener, but mothers mustn't expect
? too much.n
The friend made little pause, dur.
, ing which her face was very ex'
. pressive one.
"And John is successful physician
now, hear"
"Oh, yes! Isn't it good? To think
of the times 1 had, raising the poor
boy, and giving him an education
and sending him off to lectures! You
wouldn't believe it, perhaps, but there
is scarcely any kind of hard work
. didn't do at that time"
*x*
"Your hands show for themselves, )
T. said the friend, speaking with the
q tone of one who has no scorn for large
. wrinkled hands.
r sob, yes, there was work to do, and
, 1 did it. L was determined to give
! the boy chance. 1 was always poor
and had no time for learning
reckon / was meant for one OF the
, hewers of wood and drawers of wa
, ter you've heard Of-but was de-
termined the boy should lead differ
: ent life from the one I've had tt
lead"
~
: The life she had led! Was not itt
pathetic story told in that poor ole
dress, in the hardly-used hands, il
8 the wrinkled face? Something be-
= sides time had dimmed the eyes
something more budu uue WolSuU "
: years had whitehead the hair above
q her temples. A hard, poor life it had
q been at best, but there had been sor
row in it, worse than hardness OF
n poverty.
~
q "And now John repays you, o.
5 course. by taking care of you," SAID
: this friend, who seemed determined
! to get to the very heart of the mat
y ter.
q The hard, rough old hands fluttered
t nervously about the wrinkled throat
v for moment, but still the look O.
' patient endurance was turned upor
o the questioner.
r "Oh, WELL John married, you see
I about the time he began to succeed
t and now he has family of his own
O coming on. It's great charge for 8
young man like him to have family
to look after and educate. I've moi
been any expense to him yet, and ]
: don't mean to be. Besides, L don'l
Y need much, and never have com