Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-11-11

other tack Sir" cried he, Il honor
Your grief. which is doubtless deep; as
you come from the receptacle of the
dead, and would not thus intrude upon
it were it not that my necessities compel
what my reason deplores."
"Ah, you may well say, sir, that my
grief is deep, and that l have cause for
the tears which you perceive me she'd"
said my father, gazing luguhriously upon
the seedy party. You may well make
that remark, sir. for l have but now
come from the solemn contemplation of
the coffined remains of dearly beloved
ancestors. My great-grandfather and
great-grandmother. sir, lie prone in their
mortal drse in the rooms before which
we stand, and the old gentleman APP
piled his handkerchief TO his eyes and
shook convulsively.
For some moments the shabby man
was so taken aback that he was unable
to utter single word, but at last he
gasped, DO l understand you to say.
sir, that the deceased parties whose loss
you mourn are your great-grandfather
and great grandmother"
Even SO, sir" said my father. My
resp, d progenitors."
IL long since they ceased to eXist?'
venturcd the shabby man.
That, my dear sir, depends upon the
manner in which we view such events"
said my father. Viewed as an incident
in the life of the universe and the great
scheme of the Creator. the breath has
but now left their bodies, but consid-
cred as We mortals estimate time they
| have been dead about 100 years"
The old mendicant stood gazing at my
father in speechless establishment. Evil
IDENTIFY he believed himself in the pres
! ence of an insane person. The old fellow
was regularly beaten - dumfounded.
But he very quickly regained his look of
alertness when my father thrust his hand
into his trousers pocket and said, Il be-
heve you remarked awhile ago, sir, that
| You stood in need of some sort of refresh
ment:"
Il did, my dear and sadly afflicted
! friend" eagerly cried the old man, land
| indeed am really much in need of food. :"
! laid my hand upon my fathers arm
! as hint to him TO keep his money i'll
| his pocket. | had recognized the old
man the moment he appeared. though
| he had no reason to remember having
ever before zen me. l had often seen
! the man bot! in California and Nevada.
! His name W Walter Jepson. He had
| landed in California in the early days as
a regularly ordained Episcopalian min
lister, but in the exciting times he went
| into the mines to dig gold, and in little
while became ''black sheep"
| For long time he fiourished as a
| high toned sport" but love of drink at
| last dragged him down into the ranks of
the chronic bummers. When l had staid
my fathers hand, l turned TO the old
fellow and said sharply. "Jepson, how
long have You been on this drunk
This drunk" cried Jepson. opening
his eyes widely in surprise at being ad-
dressed by name. Why. sir, l have not
drunk enough i'll the last week to steady
my nerves. That's what's the matter
now-my only trouble
/ Il guess you're telling the truth, said
l. You don't find it SO easy TO get your
regular booze here rs you did in Neva-
da and California.
'.Ah! Then you are from the Pacific
coast? You know me-"
YES, very well by reputation.
That settles it then. for I'm sure you
don't know much of me that's good
No. nor much that is very bad. The
worst is your throwing yourself away
through love of liquor.
Thank you. sir. Those arc the kind
est words l have heard in many long
day. from which you may imagine the
style of compliments generally bestowed
upon me"
Now, Jepson. tell me truly and as Q
Pacific coaster, do You want money for
LIQUOR or for food?"
Both First need II big stiff drink
and then good square meal. l am
really more in need of food than are
thousands who beg for it, yet Ihave need
of stimulant. for l am nervous almost
to the point of prostration, though OF
course much of this is due TO want Of
proper food"
''You have had n severe lesson here il
New York. it would Scent"
The worst I've ever had anywhere"
DO you think you could manage Il
brace up for time if put in the way o
being comfortable and becoming respect
able once more:"
Give me the chance"
Well. you shall have it, Ir. Jerson.
God bless YOU! I'll not deceive You
sir. On my honor as n Pacific coaster
J if l find that I've got TO go to the dog
} again I'll tell you so. thank You for you
: kind effort on my behalf and bid yol
goodby."
> We'll. that is fair enough
All this time my father was eying III
inquisitively, but ignoring the interrc
CATION points in his eyes / turned to JeI
l son, gave him the name of our hotel an
, told him to follow us thither.
= But they will not admit me there,
, said Jepson.
! I'll be in the office when you arriv
3 and will make that all right
: Thank you, sir" said Jepson.
As we walked to the hotel / unfolde
r to my father project that had entere
q my head at the moment of Jepson's III
1 expected appearance. Giving my fathe
a sketch of the fallen minister's career.
proposed that we get him strsightene
up, dress him properly and have him d'
liver grand funeral Grafton upon til
o occasion of our depositing our titled al
= cestors in the Pasonagessit cemetery.
0 informed my father that such a di'
4 course would be necessary, rs in it woul
+ be fully explained why the remains Wei
|: brought to this country: also the untt
: ward circumstances which had occi
/ stoned the long delay in their remova
n Besides, Mr.. Jepson could say man
e things which modesty would forbid OF
g saying for ourselves.
s But, my dear boy" cried my fathel
a looking alarmed. you surely will nj
i inform this man that the remains W
g have were would say that in speal
n ing of our ancestors You will not divulg
9 those little family secrets which are onl
I known to ourselves-to you and me!'
o "Of course not, /" said 1. He will entt
II upon his work with all the more enthl
;. siasm and carry il through all the MOI