The herald., 1894-08-05
THEY WRONGED HIM.
Big Sam WINS Not as Cold and Heartless NJ
He Seemed.

Big Sam WINS Not as Cold and Heartless rs
He Seemed.
Coarse grained, rough in his ways and
speech, tho men in the shop wanted none
of his society and felt pity for his wife and
children. I1e kept his place because brute
strength was needed instead Of skill
While other workmen sang and whistled
he was silent and morose. Children some
times looked into the shop but If they
caught sight of Big Sam they fed in ter
ror. A child lost and frightened and hun
Cering would have run away at sight Of
that scowling face
The other day, just before the noon
hour, something went wrong with one Of
tho machines in the shop. There was q
crash and a smash, and workmen ran
about crying out that Tom White had been
killed. They thought SO at first, but as
they washed the blood from his face and
put coat under his head for pillow
they discovered that life was still there.
One man rushed away for doctor, while
Big Sam ooolly gazed at the injured man
for a moment and then put on his coat and
walked out doors.
That's like him-a man without the
feeling Of common humanity" the men
whispered to each other as they noticed
his going.
Down the street and through the yards
came tot Of girl not over years of age
with dinner basket in her hand. Every
noon for the last six months she had put in
an appearance, and a score Of the work
men had como to know her as Tom
Whites girl. That was her fathers din
ner in the basket. Strange that no one
remembered that as the whistle blew she
would be at the door-that II no one met
her she would walk in and SEQ that man.
gled and bleeding object. But one man
did remember it, and that was Big Sam.
The child approached to find him smiling
as no man would have believed he could
SMILE and when he spoke to her she look
ed up in surprise that SO biga man should
have such kind and womanish voice.
"Well, little tot that's pops dinner,
eh?' he said as he reached out for the bas-
ket. I'm hand 1t in to him myself, and
you may run back home. wish had a
little girl like you to bring my dinner"
Yes, SIR" she replied as she stood
with finger in her mouth and shyly look
Ing up at him.
is the mamma home?"
"Yes, SIR
swell, you run home like good girl
and tell her that your pa is coming soon.
He hurt himself little-just little,
mind you-and the boss says he'll give
him the rest Of the day to smoke his pipe
at home. Do you understand"
''Yes, SIR
''Just hurt his foot, you know, and
maybe we'll have to help him over. Not
much of hurt, but we'll come over with
him. Tell your ma We'll soon be there,
and she isn't TO be bit worried. Your
pa is just laughing over it, but we'll come
over with him.
The child ran away, smiling, and Big
Sam entered the shop with the dinner
basket in his hand. Tom White opened
his eyes and looked from the man to the
basket and back, and his lips quivered.
Don't worry, Tom," whispered Big
Sam. II was out there in time to catch
her, and she'll tell the wife that It's only
your foot-only trife of burt"
And when the others knew what had
occurred they whispered together:
1--WE have wronged Big Sam and will
ask forgiveness. He was more thoughtful
and tender than any of us. Detroit Free
Press,