The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-03-22

PAE AZ The Lord only made
W ~ ~ few like him, and
E 49, reckon the models
tS$>s'> broken long ago."
NN Nlx#HvR( Cal. Swanley heaved
t. kse..ks2gS Va deep sigh, knocked
the ashes from the bowl of his cOrncob
pipe and laid it on the table near him.
His two companions, fellow occupants
of the ''bar parlor'' in the PalaceHotel,
looked at Cal. interrOgatively, which
plainly meant that they expected him
to impart further information.
1t could be seen, however, that Cal.
was intent upon telling a story
whether they wished it or not, so his
audience of two settled themselves in
their cosy chairs and prepared to lis
ten.
Seems to me I can see Jim Mead
ows right now" continued CAL, after
pause, Though he has been dead
and gone nigh on five years. He
wasn't what you might call a hand
some man, though he was quite passa-
BILE in looks, but the expression on his
face used to attract everybody almost
at sight. 1t was just plain good ma
ture, benevolence, generosity, or
whatever you call it, and it was
written right across his face clear as
daylight. Jim was poor man once
poor as Lazarus, but even then he
used to have reputation for doing
uncommon kind acts. They say that
when one of his chums, who had a
large family to keep, fell sick of the
fever, Jim worked overtime for two
weeks and did that fellows work so
that the wife and children would not
be in want. Children used to run af-
ter him and climb upon his shoulders
everywhere he went, and many lot
of fruit and candy did he buy for ju-
venile crowds that followed him.
Among the youngsters in the town he
was popularity known as Santa Claus,
doubtless on account of his goodness
of heart.
"Well, one day came the news that
Jim Meadows had grown suddenly
rich. A distant relative of his had
died in Australia, leaving to Jim as
next of kin a vast property, said to be
worth 100000. To those who knew
the man it was foregone conclusion
what would become of most of
the money. Not that Jim was any
kind of a fool in spending. He was
not drinking man at all, and of
course had no luxurious habits.
But his great desire in life as poor
man was to relieve the wants of hui
mainly, to succor the needy, care for
the sick and cheer the unfortunate.
AS rich man, therefore, it was but
natural that he should put his pet
schemes into practice, yet he had his
own peculiar way about doing it.
Knowing his disposition, the direc-
tors of local charities were not slow in
approaching him with appeals for aid
to help swell their funds for the poor,
but, to the surprise of all, Jim met
their Overtures with quiet but firm
refusals.
"'How much will I subscribe, gen.
temen? Not a red cent he would
say emphatically. Your ways of
feeding the poor and mine differ. No
deserving person who needs assistance
need wait ten days for it if he or she
comes to me. You listen to the plead
ings of a starving widow and her chill
dren and tell them. in matter of fact,
business kind of way, we will have
your case investigated as early as pos
sible and then determine what assis-
lance we can give YOU And in the
meantime she and her children may
starve to death-she may be in her
coffin when you have concluded your
Investigations I don't believe in
theoretical charity. 1t must be quick,
spontaneous, hearty, practical, or it
don't amount to hill of BEANS
'And he wasn't going to squander
any money on building or endowing
churches, either. Schools he would
help, but it was the real, hard work
ing, deserving poor that Jim loved to
aid, and he claimed that they wanted
their stOmachs filed, and their bodies
clothed, in bigger kind of hurry
than they yearned to sit in pews and
fall asleep over dull sermons.
"But from the day the lawyers de-
posted Jim's money in the bank for
him, and gave him the pretty little
check book to draw whatever sums he
wanted, Meadows made it practice
to go around the poorer districts of
the town and inquire into the wants
and condition of the people. He was
like an angel wherever he went,
spreading sunshine and happiness
in places where he found gloom and
sorrow.
'Did Jim hear of a case of sickness
where the family was too poor to af-
ford doctor? He had one there
pretty quick, and the physician was
commissioned to let no expense bar
the way to good diet for the invalid.
"Did he hear of death in any house
where funeral expenses could not be
raised, or would be i'll afforded? He
assumed the responsibility himself
and paid all the undertaker'S bills.
"Did he hear of an honest bread-win-
ner out of work and with family
looking to him for bread? He took
care they had bread, AYE, and butter too,
for both butcher and grocer received
orders to supply the family with such
necessaries as were required.
"Did a good and respectable work.
man need tools before he could start
a job? Jim bought them for him
And he never was known to meet q