The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-06-03
EASILY MADE HAPPY.


How y Rich Man Learned Some Hhiloao- i
ply on Rainy Day.
A rich gentleman Of my acquaintance |
got caught m the rain the other day |
while out for a walk on upper Broad |
way. He is not only rich. but eccentric, |
In that he rarely rides and that he walks
q great deal. The rain that for a long |
time fell gently increased in quantity |
and was caught up by the rising wind
and shot into faces and doorways. where
people hopefully huddled for the time,
and beat upon the awnings and signs as
Il In mad desire TO crush them and get
at the hearts Of those who had sought
temporary shelter there.
The gentleman, although protected by
a stout umbrella was finally driven to
one of these awnings, whence he peered
up and down for any stray cab that
might come that way.
BY this process he saw man coming
down the street, dodgng from awning
to awning and doorway TO doorway.
There were hundreds of people going
and coming, pushing or pulling umbrel-
las, or who, enveloped from head to heels
in waterproofs, went edging along with
one ear turned down to windward, as if
to split the storm. But this particular
man commanded his attention because
he had no umbrella and no waterproof
and although the day was cold not oven
an overcoat. He ran awhile, then paused
in some friendly shelter to repeat the run
to the next, finally bringing up under the
same awning with my friend.
Like most rich men Of the world my
friend is suspicious Of his kind unless
they come properly introduced. But he
looked at this specimen of humanity and
saw at a glance that it was very wet
specimen, plainly and lightly clad, but
with frank, manly, German counte-
nance. Not having been addressed by it,
he felt still more interested.
"Bad day for you" he said pleasantly.
eyes, for anybody" replied the man,
folding his arms across his water soaked
bosom.
"Got far to go?"
"Right good bit" said the specimen.
you'd better take a street car Here
comes one going right down Broadway"
"No; I'm going over on the other side
and then down the Bowery."
"Well, that is good bit, but you can
get car over there" remarked my
friend.
The specimen laughed. "a street car
is too rich for my blood today" said he.
''Oh, I've got the money" he added, see
ing the cynical look that came into the
gentleman's face, "but want that for
something else. That's the reason Pm
footing it. I'll get wet, but when l get
down to the place can get dried out for
a glass of beer"
The perfect confidence of the specimen
in his programme elected the echo;
"For glass of beer?"
"Oh, yesl You see, don't stop at ar
expensive hotel. It's the Palmer House,
down in Chatham square, and"
Chatham square? Why, that's miles
from herer
81 know that well enough, but I'll get
there In an hour or two," was the cheer
full reply. when do I'll buy glass OF
beer, and they will let me dry out before
the big stove. can't get much wetter.
If took street car, You see, I'd have nc
beer and no place to dry" He laughed
| again.
"You don't seem to mind it much"
"Alind It'll What's the use? I'll be fixed
all right in a day or two. And as for a
little water-faughp The specimen shook
himself like young spaniel. "Well, ]
must be running or I'll get cold" said
he, and he started off without more pre-.
liminary.
"Hold on therel" shouted the aston.
ished gentleman. Come back here mo
ment." The specimen came slowly back
but he shivered in spite of his air of in
difference.
"How much money have you gotT'
"Fifteen cents if 1 walk-ten cents if
ride" the specimen replied rather shame
facedly.
"Well, here; you ride" He put hall
dollar into the specimens hand.
The specimen looked at 1t moment
like a flash, and catching the giver'i
hand before it could be withdrawn mute
ly pressed it to his lips. There had beer
nothing cringing or sycophantic or whin
ing. There was nothing Of the sort now
It was a grateful, impulsive exhibition
of genuine gratitude for Just one in
slant; then with frank and glisteninl
eyes he said:
"Ride2 And I'll eat too-and sleepin 6
bedl Pm the happiest man in New York;
And the specimen dashed down the
street through the pelting rain, cut Int
Thirty-ffth street and disappeared to
ward the east side. And the rich gentle
man looked up at the cloud riven sky
shook the folds out of his silk umbrelll
and started buoyantly down Broadway
saying softly, "The happiest man IL
New Yorkp-New York Herald.