The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-01-10
MANS INDIGNANTLY TO MAN.
A Common Occurrence in this Christian
Country.

A robbery had been committed. A
man almost naked had been arrested
by )ne of those shrewd detectives
against whose piercing gaze sheet iron
cannot successfully stand. When the
man was taken into court of prelimi-
nary trial it was easy enough to sus-
pect him, for, having been accused of
a crime, he seemed to sink under a
weight Of guilt The magistrate, ad-
dressing the prisoner, asked a few
questions, and then, turning to the
detective who had made the arrest, he
inquired:
What caused you to suspect this
manY"
"Well your honor, he happened here
q few days before the robbery was
committed, and being of suspicious
appearance I wat he'd him. l asked
him his name and he said it was Barns,
but shortly afterward l heard that his
name was Powell. l lost sight of him
on the night of the robbery; but early
next morning I saw him trying to
sneak out of town, so l thought he
ought to be arrested"
a think" replied the magistrate,
that you acted rightly in making the
arrest. Now" turning to the prisoner
"can you explain why you go under
two names?"
Judge, first let me explain why I
have two names and that will explain
nv conduct, Understand now that |
do not beg for mercy. That time is
past. I am now hardened. l will not
detain you long, but l ask yOu-and
that is all I ask-to believe me. Two
years ago I was the master mechanic in
a large railroad machine shop. / re
ceived good wages, and my family,
consisting of a wife and two children,
lived as we'll as any family in town. I
was most happily married, and some
times at evening, when my little boy
climbed up and begged me to tell him
just one story, l wondered if sue hap
piness could last. One day l was dis
charged: l never was more astonished
in my life. I humbly asked the cause
of my dismissal, and vas grufHy told
that it was because I was wanted no
longer. They should have given me
notice, but still | did not complain, as
[ recognized their right to employ
whom they pleased. When l went
home and told my wife that / had been
discharged, she put her arms around
my neck and said: Never mind dear,
you can soon get another place The
very next day | started out in search
of work. | had spent my life in ma
chine shops and could do no other kind
of work l went to a town not a great
distance away from my home and ap-
piled for work.
81 believe we are needing a man,
said the superintendent. What is
your name?'
John Powell, I replied.
He went into an inner office. After
remaining g. few moments he returned
and SAID: No, we don't want you
by this time my money was nearly
gone but l had not the heart to write
home for more, for l had left but
enough-all | had-rO sustain my fam,
lily a few weeks. / went to another
town, certain that | should obtain work
for one of the machine shops at the
place had advertised for men. The
head man asked me my name, a d
then, pointing to a bench, told me to
sit down and wait until he came back.
He was not gone long When he re
turned he said:
Don't want you"
My dear SIR" l replied, I'm a
skillful workman and only ask you for
a trial. Then if my work don't suit
you I'll leave"
You'll leave anyway he replied as
he turned away.
by this time my money was eX.
hausted, but l could o stOp-I must
push my way onward. [ wrote to nv
wife, telling her that I could not sue.
coed In getting work, but that ]
thought my prospects were good
told her to write TO me, giving as my
address a distant town. | had hoped
to get yer the road, but failed. l knew
why. A prominent railroad oficia.
told the engineers not to let me ride
After walking many weary miles ]
reached the town and applied foI
work.
I'VE don't want you," said the SUI
perintendent.
| why 2" | demanded.
2 Because you are blacklisted.'
| MY God, man, what have [ done
Il don't know, and l don't care 6
+ damn, but you are blacklisted.'
l went to the p~osrottice. l found 6
letter addressed In an unfamiliar hand
l was disappointed. l had hoped t. re
! cetve a letter from my wife. / tore
open the envelope. Here is the letter
Reao it, judge"
The justice read as follows.
i 1T is my painful duty to rite this
Your wife, having greatly exposed
herself in moving from the house
which belonged to a railroad official
! she had to mOve-cOntratcJed a St we're
! cold and died of pneumonia. Your
little children are at my house."
/ THAT Is the letter | received Judge.
} Several weeks ago l heard that nv
little boy was dangerously ill-not ex
pected to live. I dragged myself tc
this town, where I learned hat nv
little girl and boy, upon whom | haC
centered my hopes, had died of diph
liberia. l could do nothing. [ was
crushed with grief, broken with de
spair. Then l changed my name sc