The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-05
He Owed a Weeks Board and Els
Landlady "ThreW Him Out
ALONE IN POVERTY AND MISERY.
He sawed Wood -Four Hours on an
Empty stomach for Nights Lodging
aud n Feast Of Baked Beans, Bread
and Butter and Cup of Coffee.
Poor Jim, poor Jim !


Kird reader, il you have any OF the
milk Of human kindness" in your head
or in your heart. let few drops of it ooze
out now for a fellow mortal VINO. weighed
in the balance OF even his own estimati on,
finds himself wanting.
Sunday was dull day for our Jim. He
had no money. He could not 20 down the
river to some OF our beautiful resorts; he
could not buy any Of the Sunday papers;
he could not make up his minu to
80 to church,; be was not brave
euough to real the little bible that his
good old mother had given him years aud
years ago. What could he do' Nothing,
no'hingl He owed weeks board, and
when he went down to n late breakfast
his boarding mistress scowled at him.
Her every glance seemed TO say, why
didn't you pay your board last night :"
Jim "lounged around" the most of the
day. and cary In the evening he went to
bed. When the breakfast bell sounded
yesterday morning he was one OF the first
TO respond to its welcome cali; but. ms
soon as he had eaten, his boarding mis-
tress called him aside and asked:
"Jim, can you pay your board this
morning ?"
A$Oy hi6 oths ooiu Oihis u ~ hosS w
ask you to wait day or two-perhaps
three or four days"
"Jm." said his boarding mistress. in
tones as cool as the crisp. morning air,
''you must pay me now or leave I know
you are loafing, and Am not running a
charitable ranch You must pay me
house at onceV
~.I IA 10
modest effects, took his grip sack and
quietly stole out of the back door.
With a heavy heart he walked down
town, entered his favorite bar-room,
asked the bartender to take charge of
his grip until he called for it, aud then
said:
TON, Pm broke! Let me stand you up
for a beer"
He aot the beer, hung around the saloon
for nm hour or so. feeling. as he said to the
bartender. "bluer than a milestone" ["
and then went out on the street. He
wandered through this street aud that.
hardly knowing where he was going. II.
watched the Labor Day street parade !;
he saw the happy crowds taking the
steamers for trips down the river; but
he was alone. No friend came to him
no one stopped to say kindly wori or
hold out friendly hand. Jim was alone
alone with his poverty. his misery. hims
self
So passed the day. Evening came; the
electric lights fought with the dark ness
but Jim still walked the streets. What
else could he dor he could not return to
his ''home." the boarding house. The
doors there were closed against him
Ard while he was pondering on
his desolate condition, he. for n
moment. seemed to zee written before
him. ia letters of living light, the words
that Jesus uttered to the scribe: "The
foxes have holes, aud the birds of the air
have nests; but the Son Of man hath not
where to lay his head"
Then came a flash of light and he
thought he heard voice saying: Jim,
go to the central police station" He
needed the voice sud moment later he
was headed for Canal street. He went to
the central station, and. like any other
tramp, he applied for lodgings. Sergeant
Smith received him kindly. as he receives
all the poor unfortunates who call at the
station, and Jim WAS conducted to "the
pen, ,"and his weary bones were soon rest
ing() on "a bed OF Stats.
AT o'clock this morning he was
placed in the care Of Mr.. Cummings, over.
seer of the poor. and conducted to 1.-The
wood yard" A saw was placed at his
disposal, and Jim was told 10 saw wood !
Hungry? Great Scotti He felt that b /,
was starving But he Sawed wood" and
said nothing. Hour after hour went
by. but Jim kept saving. He
thought breakfast trihe LIT :,
but hc made no remarks. Perhaps
it was 'wash day." or perhaps the cook
was on strikei lie was as hungry as a
cannibal-aod twas lucky that no tat.
sleek. well. fed missionary put In an ap-
pearance; that is, it was lucky Tor the mis-
sionaryl
At last, at last. noon came, and Jim was
informed that he could dine. He put
down the saw aud started for tie feast
And the feast? Baked beans, bread and
butter and IA cup Of coffee But ne ate It
aud called for more. by the sweat of
his brow and tho aid Of n dull saw he had
earned i'll lie needed no wine to "wash
IL down."
Then he took his departure, somewhat
surprised because he was not asked to
saw little more wood to pay for his
feast. And as he turned the corner Of the
street he heard well-dressed man say;
There goes n poor tramp. It is he
cause OF such fellows as he that taxes are
so high"
Poor Jim, poor Jimi Where will he
sleep tonightS