West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-03-22

reckon the model
ybroken long ago.
I'm M Cal. Swanley heave,
IA deep sigh, knocked
the ashes from the bowl of his corncol
pipe and laid 1t on the table besidehim
His two companions, fellow occupant
OF the bar parlor" In the PaiaceHotel
looked at Cal. interrogatively, which
plainly meant that they expected hin
TO 1mpart further information.
III could be seen, however, that Cal
was intent upon telling story
whether they wished it or not, so hi.
audience of two settled themselves In
their cosy chairs and prepared TO lis
ten.
Seems to me can see Jim Mead.
ows right now" continued CAL, after
a 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.
pie In looks, but the expression on his
race used to attract everybody almost
at sight. 1t was just plain good ma.
ture, benevolence, generosity, OF
whatever you call 1t, 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 a 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 az
ter him and climb upon his shoulders
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 vast property, said to be
worth 100000. To those who knew
the man 1t was a foregone conclusion
what would become OF most OF
the money. Not that Jim was any
kind OF fool in spending. He was
not a drinking man at all, and OF
course had no luxurious habits.
But his great desire i'm life as a poor
man was to relieve the wants of hui
manity, to succor the needy, care for
the sick and cheer the unfortunate.
As a 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 1t.
Knowing his disposition, the direc-
tors of local charities were not slow i'm
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 / subscribe. gen
temen? Not 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 IL III he or she
comes to me. You listen to the plead
ings of starving widow and hOf 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-sbe may be in her
coffin when you have concluded your
Investigation L don't believe in
spontaneous, hearty, practical, or il
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 IL was the real, hard work
ing, deserving poor that Jim loved to
aid, and he claimed that they wanted
their stomachs filled, and their bodies
clothed, I'm 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 I'm the bank for
him, and gave him the pretty little
check book to draw whatever sums he
wanted, Meadows made IL a 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
Ia places where he found gloom and
sorrow.
''Did Jim hear Of a case Of sickness
where the family was too poor TO az.
ford a 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
odd he hear or q 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 uudertaker's bills.
Diu ne ncdfOI an NOncSb DFed0-Wtn-
ner out OF work and with a 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
neccssaries as were required
"Did a good and respectable work.
man need tools before nc could start
a job? Jim bought them for him.
And he never was known 20 meet a
boy OF girl upon the street whose
shoes or clothing indicated distressful
poverty, but their wants in the way
OF garments were promptly attend
cd TO.
Love himl Bless your hearts, there
wasn't a man In al the State more
loved than Jim Meadows, and N the
prayers Of the widow, the orphan, the
sick and unemployed have any weight
In heaven, there's enough OF 'em uI
there 10 Offset any sins the poor fellow
was ever guilty Of.
''He used 10 take the keenest sort OF
delight IN doing good on the quiet, and
In unexpected ways. Ever hear OF the
way he paid Of his old score against
Tom Moody, the foreman down al
0aapers'? Well, 10 was this way. jim