Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-11-30
which we had to drink without milk.

fate He had not yet spoken word with re-
gard to my future, waiting until my bodily
needs were satisfied and my mind was in
better condition to grasp fresh ideas before
opening subject which to him at least
was Of such weighty Importance.
II have been very silent" he said after
lifting his eyes and regarding me for mo-
ment with kindly solicitude, because /
have had a great deal to settle in my own
mind. But that is settled now. and if you
like we will talk about"-he turned his
chair round so as to face me and added,
after silent puff at his pipe-"about to-
morrow" 10
"Tomorrer!' echoed. "Whats a-goip
to happen them
THAT is what we must try to decide.
Tomorrow at O'Clock | shall 20 to the pot
terry where | work -
"You amt a-goin to send me away till 0
tomorrer morninY" said joyfully.
"No. Mere Lucas will take care Of you
tonight. Have you any notion what you
shall do after''
Yes" | replied resolutely. 81 made my
mind up to it while ! was in the station
ius. I shall 90 back to Shadwell 'Tain't
no GOOD. ] got to live and face it out like
the rest on us. And | can't get livin
where | amt known. I'll go back to the
Joy. Dessay I'll get Off with a punch or
two. Then Putty'll come round and give
me job, cause he knows don't nick the
beer nor the coppers"
81 think ! must ask one question. Are
you related to that man in any way?'
Not me. / don't member ever havin
no relatives"
"He is not even fricnd?"
81 told you | amt got no friends-not
one. If l had, do you think / should ha'
gone and done what | did down there in
the meshcs Greenwich wayY'
He shook his head. Then, after pause,
he asked me if I thought / could do some
thing better than 90 back TO the old life.
NO" said J. IL can't think of nothing
else as I'm fit for and as would do me bet
ter. Can you?'
YES" he replied, laying down his pipe,
and leaning forward with a new light
flashing in his deep, earnest eyes he contin-
ucd II can think of something much bet
ter. You are filter for new life than the
old"
"You don't mean an institootion?"
asked chilled to the heart with the dread
that he should think me worse even than
/ was as / recollected the proposals with
regard to living a new life made by the
missionary who visited me in the station
house cell.
"No, / do not mean anything of the
sort he replied, with dash of angry re-
pugnance in his eyes. "On the contrary.
am thinking Of removing you from all asso-
Citations with the world you nave lived in
and its people--of placing You IN position
where nothing shall recall the past-of sep
arating you from previous conditions as
completely as if Jou we're to he born again
upon another earth. 70 do that you must
think that your lie begins from today:
that the part of your life in the past has
been 5lotted out. You must abandon all
the ways and customs TO which YOU have
been used. Even the language, such as it
is, that you speak today must be changed
for a new one. Every link in the chain that
connects Won with the vast must he brok en-.
You must begin Just ike child who has
everything 10 learn. 10 you understand
me-"
I'm a-e, tin at it. Here it's like as if
I'd never been picked up out of the river
and was just agoin straight to heving,
amt it,"
what is your notion Of heaven?"
We'll, I've hecred say it s a kinder place
where you don't have to do nothin but sit
about and enj'y yoursef and never want
anything more'n you've got"
Then it isn't at al like that, for you
viii have more TO do than you have done
/ YET awhile, and there will bc pain as well
as pleasure, and you will never cease &c
want something better than you have"
1T stands to reason | must do a lot il
I'm to learn everything like a kid. and how
I'm a-goin to do it, n Ticker if | ain IT to
speak my own language"
Learn another
II puzzled me to see how this was to be
done, until, seeing my pcrplcNity, Tara,
said: We will help you-Mcrc Lucus anc
l." "a
"Will you, mastcrs' said I, my hear
leapng with delight at the prospect thi,
promise opened. "I'll do lust whatever
you tell meas fur as | can. But | aim
clever"
That remains to he seem
Il can't write nor nothink.'
"You will soon learn to write with thos,
long fingers"
"But what am to DO for livin all tn
time I'm a-lcarniu:'
ut will be time enough to think Of tina
when you have learnt what you can d,
best. Mere Lucas will always find some
thing for us to eat and drink, and there's
room up stairs which you can have for your
self
WHAT | exclaimed. Here! Amt YOU
goin 10 send me away from this place."
Not while you wish to stay
/ could not help it, Something rose il
my heart and seemed 10 choke me with
JOY too great to bcar-the tears would com
TO my eyes. However | tried to hide then
from him, and turning away rs if to lool
1 around the room | said as clearly as emo
ton would let me:
II shall have to be awful neat and nice
| am TO live in such rooms as this here
- darcsay you will find Mere Lucas IA Sc
! we're teacher in that natter
And, still keeping my head turned, g
got to be awful good if I'm to he''-hcre al
other sob cholied me for a moment or tw
IA friend like of yours, lt'll be dreadful
long fore learn enough for that"
That's the easiest lesson of all, said h,
"There's only one rule TO remember if 20
would be good, and that rule governs ric
| and DOOR witty and simple, all human b,