The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-07-26
A TRUE PICTURE FROM LIFE.
From The Nashville American.

From The Nashville American
1.-THE current of life seems to flag about this
time of year," remarked lawyer friend of
mine the other day. "the pulse beats little
slower, the blood, like the streams. moves slug
gishly onward and our impulses and ambitions
keep time with this movement. We are prone
to rest awhile and lei drowsi1ess come and de-
light in the effect it produces, for it leads us
back to days that have been and once tasting
of the old recollections encased in the pigeon
holes Of memory, although there be heartburns
and sorrows mixed with the joys, we like to
live them once again, and the lazy summer af-
ternoons are the time for dsing it,"
Wondered what my friend was coming to-,
for his voice had q strain of sadness in it, and
he had told me that he had a story to relate.
mot much story to it," he had said, "but
merely little side play from the great drama
of life"
81 was sitting in my Office" he continued,
"indulging in one of those fancful reveries of
which L have Just spoken. The roar of tho
streets without was lessening, more subdued
air lowered over the city and l was just think
ing about getting home, and turned laziy to
shut my desk, but as [ turned my eye was
caught by figure standing in the doorway.
How long it had been there I did not know. 1t
was a boysh form and face, although the lat
ter might just as easily have been mans.
But he was evidently young, somewhere in
the early twenties, I would say. His features
were fragile and delicate, and his eyes and
mouth showed that although he hadn't seen
much of the world he had seen a great deal of
sorrow and trouble I asked him to sit down
and state his business, but even as I said bust
ness my heart misgave me, for l guessed that
it was little business that he had to talk Of
He YEARLY dropped into chair, letting his
hat fall to the floor. After gazing at me in
quiringly for moment, he began his story
telling it slowly. ever and anon stopping short
with wstful look to catch my expression and
note whether it be one of interested attention
or Impotence.
"He was looking for work, something that
would not tax his strength too much manual
labor out of the question General utility
boy to lawyer he thought would be about it.
GAS I looked him over and marked the
weakly form and colorless face / knew that the
duties performed by tho hustling energetic
bow in busy lawyers Office could not be full
filled by this one.
''IIe had taste for literary work, he said,
but the newspapers said they couldn't make use
of a strictly literary fellow. Yet he must live,
he was willing to do what he could. He was
homeless and frendless.
II told him l was only struggling attorney
myself and could give him no employment.
His handwriting was irregular so / knew he
could get no mercantile work, but told him I
would try and to come back in a day two
and thought could have something for him.
He soon left bidding me courteous adieu.
TSClIGu HIS case 10 u moro prosperous
friend, hoping he could find him berth I
thought had found something that would
suit him and was looking for him daily he
didn't come, however, and | hoped that it
gued well-he had perhaps secured work and
did not need my assistance.
zone evening was to drive with friend and
left my Office earlier than usual. AS we we're
making our way as rapidly as the crowded thor
oughfare would permit, [ saw him leaning
against post listlessly gazing into nothing
ness, the picture of despair his spirit seemed
clean gone out of him. [ stopped as soon as I
could extricate my buggy from the mass of
iostling vehicles and impetuously rushed back
to the spot | saw him standing, but he was not
to be seen. he had disappeared completely. I
turned musingly on my heel. The boy sitting
there in that listiess, dismayed attitude as list
less as that listless summer afternoon, had
touched a chord of deep sympathy within mo.
have never seen nor heard of him since, but
often wonder what was the end of this boy,
gentle, so courteous, SO refined, so sorroWful,
so friendless"