The morning call., 1893-02-24

guaranteed to open the doors Of the Aims
house to even so dubious a pauper as my
self
Two hours later stood before Superin-
iendent P. L. Weaver waiting anxiously his
decision on my application.
There was, I knew, an understanding
between the Mayors Office and the Super
Intendent of the Almshouse to the effect
that notwithstanding the cOmmttal the lat
ter is to exercise his own judgment in ad-
hitting applicants.
So waited anxiously, fearing the posi-
bifty of an adverse decision. Mr. Weaver
looked ME over from head to foot Then
he said, "Rm."
! said nothing; only waited.
Cant you work ?" he asked.
yes, sir, little; but can't get anything
30 do"
''And so you've come out here to loaf on
the county. have you?"
Then l poured forth pitiful tale Of woe.
There was something in it about having
been sick, just come out from the East, no
money, no friends, and lot Of the regula-
ton kind.
] have forgotten the half of what l did
say, and was conscious at the time that
Superintendent Weaver was not listening
to my words. BE was still sizing me up
ana saying HIN, HIN" once in a while.
Along about the end of my story 1 said
something about having the promise of
Job next week, and that L only wanted shell
ter for few days.
This seemed to strike responsive chord
In the superintendent breast, and he said
he guessed l could stay on awhile.
he added that he didn't think looked
ike one who would be coming out there
unless It was pretty desperate case, aud
then be tnTned me over to Nh CASTILLO
with the request to ''enter this one"
Mr.. CASTILLO stood at high desk between
two windows, Over the top of his specta-
eles he looked at me not IN kindly while he
folded my eommittal paper length wise and
:: Endorsed on the back Of 1t my replies to
these questions:
+How old?"
Thirty"
Nativity"
"New York"
Married? 2"
Single"
"Had bath recentlyP"
This morning."
He looked surprised at this. How could
a pauper get a bath before coming out
there2 he wondered.
l explained to him that a man at the
Mayors Office gave me a ticket for bath at
the Lick establishment,
ANY money about you"
Handed over quarter.
"You better leave it here till you need 1t.
You can come and get 1t whenever you want
IT, Any other ysluable?"
"No."
''Got knife?"
.Yes; little one"
''Let me- see it."
/ showed him a small pocket-knife.
You can keep that" he said. Bring
any clothes with you2"
Haven't got any more thar what's on
me-"
Are you warm?"
yes"
swell, here. I'll give you a bed"
followed him along the north corridor,
over The blind ward, till We came to
room q.
"You can have that bed up there in the
cnrner," he said. "where there is no card.
Read the rules in the reading-room and live
up to them and you'll get along all right.
You'll have to work tomorrow, unless the
doctor lets you off"
l replied at once that / was willing to
work without seeing the doctor. Then he
said, "All right" and left me to 90 where
chose.
/ tried the readiDg-room first, because 1t
was nearest, being at the end Of the north
corridor.
Fifty paupers nearly filed the room.
There was cheerful fire In the CRATE, but
here the cheerfuIness ended. There is moth
Ing cheerful at the Almshouse, at least
nothing that l saw, except this gratefre,