Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-12-23

"hlon was SATURDAY. went uptown
and spoke TO a number of people about
the case, but they all said the family
was shiftless and undeserving that the
woman would not work when she had
the opportunity. I,wondered how the
woman could work with those children
and that sick man to take care Of Final
ly ! gave up the attempt to get. others
to do any thing and determined TO take
my own wages to them the following
evening, ra.,e gss me sga.,s t,,~
| ''On Saturday night the proprietor of
the paper came into the composing room
and said !. Boys, haven't succeeded in
raising any money to pay you of to-
night. expect some early next week
Meantime you'll have to stand your
board bills Of few days
ii told him what had promised to
do for this family. and asked IL he
couldn't raise me little cash, or at least
make arrangements so that could get
them some needed things at .ho 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. He didn't see how
no could do any thing for me before the
next week.
Annoyed aud disheartsned. knew
not what to do. l 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 10 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
their destitution, ill could bear il no
longer. | said AT least I'll play tho
man; I'll keep my appointment with
them, and tell them why could not
get any thing for them.
80 | got up and dressed aud went
down to the wretched howell | found
the people very much as they were when
had first seen them. They we're ex-
pecting me. The moment I 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 { just as if didn't know, before
hand, that they needed every thing, I
then left, promising to return soon
IL didn't know what to do. | went
to the houses Of some Of the citizens aud
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 square. which was deserted.
and stood 10 front Of grocery store in
which burned light tried the door
and found it locked. 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 des-
titute family; | went back and got an-
other load, and took it down; aud then
: | went to neighboring wood pile and
got several arm. loads of wood built
up rousing good fire and cooked those
wrctched people supper myself, and
came away leaving them eating it, their
hearts filed with gratitude aud their lips
speaking thanks and blessings. | went
to my boarding house and went to bed,
and slept soundly all night
, Next morning went downtown
and found crowd Of people around tho
store, talking excitcdly about the rob
; berry Of the night before, aud threaten
ing to string up tho culprit If he could
, DO found.
, Gentlemen, said |, addressing
r them, you need not look any further.
I'm tho man that did IT, And can
tell you why | did it If you'd like 10
know. Aud then | told them all the
facts Of the case and concluded Now,
gentlemen, am willing to abide the
consequences. will submit to any
. penalty you name. If two or three
' years Of my liberty will pay the bill,
: I'll gladly forfeit it; or, Il you choose
{ to let me pay ii as can from my weekly
wages, I'll remain 10 town until every
r cent is paid. DO as you please leave
it TO your sense Of justice. But | would
have fed those starving children last
night had | known il would cost me ten
years in the penitentiery.'
/ Even then some were for arrosting
= and committing me; but by the next
morning the tide had changed. Several
' citizens made up the amount due the
4 storekeeper, and provision was made for
the family thereafter. But nothing
n short Of that act of mine could have
a reused that community up 10 its duty
q And now, my lad" concluded Cowan
o did | do right in doing wrong OF
a wrong in doing right2"
i was too little of casuist 10 those
n days TO answer tho question positively
j. though | have since made up my mind
y quite clearly about it.
u Cowan afterward went into the army
!, at the opening of the war and fought Il
d It's close. was interested in following
d up bis history, aud, on inquiry, founC
4 that he had loft behind him, wherever
d be went, record Of kind and charitable
10 deeds. and that happiness and blessing
Il seemed 10 follow him. He was a maj
m Of great heart and uncommon talents
,e and had ho net 80 undercstimated BIZ
st own abilities, and shown more settle'
70 purpose of life. he could have arisen b
s, almost any position Of eminence AM
honor among men. After the war b
T. returned to the North and lived for
or time ia st. Louis lie eventually too
n. IN his old rowing life, and ended his day