The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-10
FEARFUL BILLY.
The Tale of Woe He Told to a
Sympathetic Traveller.
Unpleasantness Even In the Life of
One Who Has Nothing to Do-A
Cruel 'sCop'' Executes a Fine Job
Pnee Rented the Sidewalk to a
Beggar.

Beggar.
He was man we'll calculated to in
spire confidence, and I was an easy mark.
l had just bought ticket over the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Rail-
road, and almost everything would nat
urally seem honest and fair to me after
that AS strolled. out of the depot the
man approached me. He said:
Friend, II hate to ask favor of
stranger, but-but"-
His voice broke in kind of sob.
Don't take it so hard" said /. "Be-
lieve me, sir, would rather ask favor
of a stranger than of most men know;
that is, if it was anything l really
needed"
mo doubt you are right" he said.
YOU'RE a man of the world. 1 can see
that. You know men through and
through"
| was battered. There is certainly
something in this fellow" said L to my
self, and / endeavored to justify his opin-
ion OF me by looking uncommonly
shrewd, though it is fact we'll known to
me, in my lucid intervals, that the ca
pacity for looking even more stupid than
[ am is my only natural business apti-
tude.
Il want work." he continued. sit
| doesn't matter what. Pm willing to do
anything. have five children at home"
That is the usual number, L believe"
said L cyEically, and the next instant |
was dreadfully ashamed Of myself For,
you see, the man might have been telling
the truth, and in that case l deserved to
be kicked by the most competent full
back In the country.
II am telling the truth" he said, look
ing me squareiy in the eye, which was a
thing l couldn't have done 10 him if my
life depended on it, Il have five mother
| less children who, at this moment, are
without food. This is the first time in
my life that l have ever been out OF
work, but since the first day of June l
haven't had a thing to do. / can't get
anything. Pve tramped to-day from
Harlem 10 the Battery looking for work,
and | have failed
at is dreadful thing" said l. "The
whole country is in most awful condi-
ton. In my opinion what we need''-
Well, L told him what we need. Like
every other man, L have solved the in
dustrial puzzle, so l knew exactly what
Shouts be done. | gave him my views
on the general business outlook first.
Then put my hand into my trousers
| pocket and he gasped, but it was only
| tavorite rhetorical posture of mine; there
was nothing In it for him. Having got
| into position, spoke of the tariff and of
the great injustice of the income tax to
| persons who like myself, would have to
| pay large share or 1t (if you believe
what they say. After eXhausting this
subject, l spoke OF affairs i'll Europe and
| of the growth of various forms OF social
ism, and was just passing naturally to
| the United States (which / intended TO
lambaste with great vigor) when my
auditor laid his hand upon his stomach
and groaned.
Its true,'' he said family, "and /
| never heard the facts stated so well. /
could stand here all day and hear you
talk; but l haven't had anything to eat
since day before yesterday morning, and
Pm beginning to be SO hungry
He groaned again.
This is awful" said /. "Would 10
cents help you out any 2"
gave him the coin. He smiled CRATE
fully and raised his hand as if calling
down blessing from the office of the
President of the railroad company, who
was roosting just above our heads, and
exercising an influence over the destinies
of mankind which has the advantage of
being commercial in its nature, SO that
we can all understand and believe in it.
though we may not look higher. "You
were saying" he remarked, that the
Senate-noW, what was the point YOU
made?'
L made it over again for him. Then
took up the Senators individually and
took the peltS off them. My friend APP
peared to enjoy it. but at last L detected
his eyes straying of toward a cheap
restaurant on the other side of the street.
Then l reflected that ten cents might
not procure a very elaborate meal for a
man and five children who hadn't any,
thing to eat since the first of June. 1
drew my hand out of my pocket, and halt
u dollar came with it.
That isn't much," said 1, but it will
| buy flrst-rate little tenderloin steak at
| Grubettps, and for thirty cents more you
can get pint of good wine"
! 4 weary look came into his eyes and he
| sighed.
i was touched. 1t seemed too bad that
| | should have suggested the wine when |
| knew he hadn't money enough Tor it. so
| l gave him quarter more, and ran for
my train.
Two days later / was in the city again,
and in the very spot where l had met the
man with five children. | met him once
more. Meanwhile L had acquired a vio-
/ lent coat OF sunburn, yachting cap II
| hope to get the yacht IN year or two,
and an entire change of apparel.
| He did not recognize me; but the same
| benevolent and trusttul expression which
| had lured him before, struggled out
| through my sunburn, and drew him ir-
resistibly toward me. His large family
| of motherless babes had been miracu-
| lousy increased by two since last we
met, bat i: was still the first time that he
| had ever asked assistance of stranger.
l listened to his story with respectful
attention, and then said:
Poor man, pity you. I am poor N.Y.
| self, but If you will come around the
corner and watch me change fifty-dollar
| bill | Will give you what / can spare"
1t was from the purest and Hottest mo-
| tives that lied in this way. / wanted to
show him that, after ALL he wasn't much
! of liar compared with some other men
in the hope that might discourage him
and perhaps drive him into an honester
! life
On the corner we met policeman, I
seized the man with the elastic family
| firmly by the arm and said to the limb of
the law:
Here is sinful wretch who plays upon
| the charitable feelings of his fellows.
thereby destroying their faith in human
ity, and making business bad for the hon.
est beggar:."
'Whatr' exclaimed the policeman.
fixing terrifying gaze upon the culprit'
Are youse at it again fearful Billy?
| How many times have Oh told youse to
| giteilouter here?"
| He seized fearful Billy by the collar
and began to execute as fine a lob of
club-swinging as l ever remember TO
1 have seen. was distinctly of the opin-
! ion that If fearful Billy inadvertently
sat down during the next two weeks. he
would shed tears which he really needed
in his business. So / said: Hold on
/ This man may yet repent, and if so, ne
will need the lower part of his back 70
rest on, after day OF honest toll. Let up
on him, Tor heavens sake. didn't mean
4 to instigate murder"
The policeman stopped busting fearful
! Billy, and inquired whether / wishad RI