The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-10-31
BOWSER'S BEGGAR.
Result of an Argument With His
Better Half.
His Little Lesson in Philanthropy
Ends in Disaster.

Bowser, aren't you feeling well?"
queried Mrs. Bowser the other even
ing as he came home from the Office
looking very sober and trihe pale
around the mouth.
He waited until he had hung up his
hat and overcoat and removed his rub
bers and wiped his nose, and then re-
piled:
"They were dragging for his body
in the river as / came along"
"Whose body?"
"a poor and discouraged mans.
He was out of work and hungry and
cold He felt that he could not live
longer. As he stood on the wharf
ready to take the plunge he cried out
that he had even been refused crust
of bread, and asked heaven to forgive
the heartless woman"
THAT was sad"
"And who was that heartless
woman?" demanded Mr.. Bowser as he
looked down upon her with stern, set
face.
"Why, how do know"
"I believe it was you. That's just
your way. If a man comes to the door
and says he's hungry and discouraged
and out of work you bang the door on
his toes and add to the bitterness of
his woes. The moment l heard the
words walled out by that poor man 1
felt sure that it was you who refused
him bread. Mrs. Bowser you may be
murderess
"Do you suppose I'm going to feed
and sympathize with every beggar who
comes along?" she spiritedly replied.
"You drove that man to his death. ,
81 didn't do anything of the sort.
1t isn't likely that he came within n
mile of our house. If I fed every
body who came along we'd have to
turn the house into n hotel and get
extra help"
Mrs Bowser, when a poor and
distressed man comes along you can
at least pass him out crust and say
that you are sorry for him. 1 wouldn't
have your heart of stone for all the
money
"There's one ringing now," she in
terrupted. $50 to the basement
door and greet him, Mr.. Bowser.
81 certainly will. The poor man
shall not only receive kind words, but
something substantial
When Mr.. Bowser opened the base
ment door, he found a woebegone and
looking man with his thumb
! on the electric button. He was fair
specimen of the average caller.
My dear man, you are out of work,
hungry and di scouraged?" softly OBJ
served Mr.. Bowser.
'Right you are Jimmie!" replied
the man who was evidently laboring
under mistake. "Has the old bird
got home yet?"
sold bird -
"Yes, the old cock -a-doodle-doo you
know. They say he's as soft as putty,
( and can be worked for half dollar,
while his hen is sharper than knife. u
''His hen?"
eyes, his wife, you know. Don't
speak too loud or she may hear you.
I What time does the old bird gel
[ home?"
''Do you mean the owner of the
house?"
"Cert-nice, soft old duffer, with a
bald head and baggy trousers. I've
got a tip that he can be worked as
easy Us rolling down hill"
'He's-he's homenow!" stammered
Mr.. Bowser, who realized that hi,
wife was standing at the head of the
stairs and could hear every word.
| "Then go and tell him that hard.
working, respectable man is out OF
work and has sick wife and fou,
hungry children. If he comes dowr
witha half, I'll whack up with you
Strike trot, my bully, for I'm dying
fer nip of old rye"
''Sir, / am the nice, soft, old bald.
headed duifer you refer to exclaimed
Mr. Bowser, as his temper famed up
all of sudden.
"Oh, you are! I was only joking,
you know You behold in me, sir, ar
unfortunate man. Two weeks ago !
lost my job, and on that same day my
wife,
III s.XnuslI crat potbino bara 90, I,