Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-06
BEFORE AND AFTER.



source in doubt. Some men are born so
ugly that their comeliness, which is the
gift of years, remains matter of sur
prise. Others start from infancy with
an eyanescent beauty which becomes q
Renaissance to their kindred and
secret faith TO themselves. was kissed
as baby, coddled as a lad, and admired
as a young man.
Certain it is that If nature has her
compensations, she also has her re-
prisals. Men say that 1t is better to be
born lucky than rich. l., for my part,
am sure that 1t must be better to be
lucky than handsome. Either opinion is
a confession Of failure, for the success
full attribute their prosperity to their
own abilities. AS for the unfortunate,
they are physicians that cannot cure
themselves. Hence it would be idle for
me to attempt to explain the calamitous
but blsmoless incidents which reduced
me to extremity. Being idle, it would
afford chance to wiseacres to quote
"For Satan finds some mischief still for
idle hands TO do" an argument with
them, doubtless, for so generally bid
ding suppliants to Ego to the ID"
shall therefore boldly state that one
bitter day in the carly spring l was
wandering through the streets of the
metropolis, far from my native home,
sufficiently clad, famished, without
friend in the world nor cent to my
name.
believe it is the Bedouins that have
the racial attribute of wandering. Per-
haps this accounts for their haggard,
furrowed countenances which one some
times sees in magazine illustrations.
Certainly they don't seem overjoyed
with the idiocracy, yet the ages must
have developed some amelioration for
it. Perhaps IT is with reference to their
endurance that we poor tramps are so
often advised to be sup and be doin'."
However, without further frivolity and
in all sincerity, wish to say that, to
one unborn to the custom, wandering Is
the EXTREMIST misery except standing
still. This latter exception exceeds in
stringency in this single respect--that II
is absolutely hopeless. There is phan-
tom of possibility which one who wan.
ders pursues.
Some such inanity, doubtless, was
leading my steps; nothing Of any mag
nitude, for trifles had grown beyond the
ken of ambition. Probably / was seek
ing crust of bread OF dime, a vain
quest, for, with all reverence, experience
| constrains me to assert that those alone
find who do not seek. 1t is the mar
whose head is full of q thousand busy
thoughts and whose eyes are unguided
who chances upon the package of i'm
portant papers or the keepsake ring fol
which newspapers promise such COLDER
rewards. Yet must have been search
ing, for know l was walking slowly
with downcast mien, when there wal
the sound of low, pleasant voices, ant
two ladies passed by me.
They were evidently mother ant
daughter, for the former was what tn,
latter some day might be, though vow
that she never could have been half 81
divinely fair as that latter now was
This lovely daughter of comedy mothe
was the nearer to me, her dainty dra
peries even swept against me-nor wer
they drawn away with disdain--and
felt rather than saw a side glance o
great gray eyes full of pity and interest
God bless thee, spotless soul, for tina
impulse of kindlinessl Though it coult
not increase, 1t yet serves to preserv
thy excellencel
A touch of such community gave pur
pose to my wandering, and followed
no longer with detection but erect an,
dignified as If the old days were til
new, and yet so unassumingly that
merely seemed to be walking in til
same direction. "Suoh are the uses G
gentility." But this did not hinder m
from studying every detail of the trir
little figure before me.
/ noted the faultless gloves, the clio
of the high heels, the violets on the en-
trancing bonnet, the cling of the snu
sealskin sacque. From its side swun
something bright. 1t was a purse {
silver links insecurity fastened. !
! costly trifie II was, utterly useless fc
} its design and consequently Fashionable
Any pawnbroker l knew flor in IN
better days had known pawnbroker
would advance on it what would seel
0 fortune to me. Besides, it wa
r plethoric like an alderman, and prou
: of its substance. Through its meshes
]. could see that its pride, though goir
! before fall, was not founded on fall
|
a pretenses.
e gazed at the purse with fascinatic
e which was not avidity. had not y
0 been dulled sufficiently by misfortul
Q TO be dishonest. No, believe that, Ill
e the sawdust-fed horse, l would ha'
:, died before becoming accustomed to
S But it was such symbol of unattai
Q able power that, as is human nature
d was fain to worship it. Then, too,
!. seemed so supine in its yielding. HaC
! its good fortune / would have clul
h against a triple force of gravitatio
' But inert objects are shut out fro
A heaven by their own insensibility.
c slipped, it fell on the soft snow, and I
n two ladies, still chatting in those SO
pleasant tones, passed on, unconscio
of the loss
l sprang forward. In an instant
stood by the daughters side.
d pardon me. Your purse, think
IS "Oh, Anna, how careless You
II serve to have lost it," came from [
Is mother.
lie "Sir, thank you, IL" the you
n girl hesitated. Icould feel that her qui
Is glance comprised instantaneously
e. patched boots, my threadbare cloth
1t and napless hat, my collar turned
in against inner DEFICIENCIES, l removed !
al disreputable headgear and bowed.
m 81 thank you again." she conclu6
as with blush which crayed pardon
al the thought.
al mo, il is that am grateful" I sa
as | bowed again and turned away.
"What a handsome young man p {
claimed Anna, as she stopped imp
IN sively and looked after me. Her motl
Of touched her arm warningly, and IL
n proceed ON their way.
n, "By Jove, she's rightln growlet
is rough voice. A stout, middle-aged m