Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-11-21
CHATTER VI.
WALTER JEPSON.


WALTER JEpsoN.
While We were still standing In the
street In front u the undertaker's mop
ping our eyes roparatory to returning 10
our hotel, very seedy and dilspidstsd
old man came siding up to MS. Address
Ing my father, the seedy individual said.
"My dear sir, one whose heart Ii sof.
tened by grief should be capable Of feel.
Ing some slight degree Of pity for man
who has great cause for grief, but whose
woes and misfortunes have long since
dried MP his fountain Of tears. One feels
that one may make bold to appeal to Q
fellow sufferer In this cold and cruel
world for u trife In relief Of pressing
necessities when he sees that the person
he addresses Is still capable Of shedding
tears. Sir, ! pray God that your grief
be not Of o nature 30 profound that no
room Ia to be found In your heart for
the sorrows and Affections Of others.
Sir, you see before you an unhappy Eel.
low creature who IL actually starving
for want Of foodr'
All this was uttered so rapidly that
my father could only stand open mouthed
and listen to the end.
Finding that my father did not at once
reply, the shabby individual went on an.
other tack. "Sir." cried he, 81 honor
your grief, which Is doubtless deep, as
you come from the receptacle of the
dead, and would not thus intrude upon
II were II not that my necessities compel
what my reason deplores."
"Ah, you may well say, sir, that my
grief Is deep, and that have cause for
the tears which you perceive me shed"
said my father, gazing lugubriously upon |
the seedy party. "You may well make
that remark, sir. for I have but now
come from the solemn contemplation OF
the cofiined remains Of dearly beloved
ancestors. My great.grandfather and
great-grandmother sir, lie prone In their
mortal dust In the rooms before which
we stand" and the old gentleman ap-
piled his handkerchief to his eyes and
shook convulsively.
For some moments tho shabby man
was 10 taken aback that ho was unable
to utter single word, but at last he
gasped, "Do 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
respected progenitors."
"Is 1t long since they ceased to existy
yentured the shabby man.
"That, my dear sir, depends upon the
manner In which we view such events"
said my father. "Viewed as Nh incident
In the life Of the universe und tho great
scheme Of the Creator. the breath has
but now left their bodies, but consid-
cred as we mortals estimate timo the,
have been dead about 100 years"
The old mendicant stood gazing at my
father In speechless astonishnent. Evi.
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
slertness when my father thrust his hand
into his trousers pocket and said, 81 be-
lieve you remarked awhile ago. sir. that
You stood In need of some sort Of refresh.
menty'
II did, my dear and sadly afflicted
friend" eagerly cried the old man, "and
indeed am really much In need Of food"
Ilaid my hand upon my fathers arm
- hint TO him to keep his money In
bis pocket. I had recognized the old
man tho moment he appeared, though
be had no reason to remember having
ever before seen me. had often seen
the man both In California and Nevada.
His name WIS Walter Jepson. He had
landed In California In the early days as
Q regularly ordained Episcopalian min.
bter, but In the exciting times he went
into the mines to dig gold, and In little
while became "black sheep"
For long time he fo--ishsd - .
"hiyh toned sport" but love Of drink at
last dragged him down into tho ranks OF
the chronic bummers. Wl,l had staid
my fathers hand. I turned to tho old
fellow and said sharply. "Jepson, how
iouy Lave yen been on this drur'.r
"TLis drunk!' cried Jcpson, opening
his eyes widely In surprise mt bhag ad.
dressed by name. "Why, sir. lave not
drunk enough In the last week to stea'iy
my nerves. That's what's thu matter
now-my only trouble" l.
II guess you're telling the truth. said
I. "You don't find 1t so easy to gct your
regular booze here as you did Ia News.
da and California"
"Ahl Then you are from tho Pacifc
eoasti You know ncy' l.
"Yes, very well by reputation"
"That settles Il then, for I'm suro 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 aro the kind.
ct words have heard In many long
day. from which you may imagine the
style Of compliments generally b. towel
upon me-" II
"Now, Jepeon, tell me truly and ~ .
Pacific coaster, do You want money for
liquor or for foodY
"Both. First need . big sti6 drink
and then Q good square meal. ] am
really more In ne,d Of food than arc
thousands who BEG for u, yet have need
Of stimulant, for ] sm nervous almost
10 the point Of pfostrutiou. though Of
oourss much Of this n due to want of
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