The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-24
THE OHAPLAIN'S STORY,
A Pathetic Tale Which Touched the
Chords of Sympathy.

was III New Ork on business,
the chaplain said at the club, 'swhen
received a wire announcing the
serious sickness of my youngest child,
girl about six years old. She was
the pet and the hope of the home.
l. took the first train west. On account
OF floods we were detained on the road
two days. When l arrived the nerv-
Gus strain upon me would have crushed
me, think, had not considered that the
life of this child depended upon the atten-
ton l must give her, based, of course, on
the physicians skill. l carried her in my
arms for two days and nights.
"She had no sleep for fifty hours, and
her life hung upon her getting few
hours sleep. After consultation medi-
given, and l held her on my lap in order
that she should get absolute quiet and
rest. Just as she fell into slumber she was
aroused by the cry on the street of a
banana peddler. She was startled, and the
physicians face showed too plainly that
he regarded the case as hopeless.
handed my child to him and went
explained to him the condition of my
child and told him l would buy all his
stock if he would not cry his goods in front
OF my house. At first he was disposed to
resent this, as he thought it was an infrac-
ton of his rights. However. he soon saw
the propriety OF it, and he told me he
would not cry his fruit any more in front
would use his influence to keep others
away. Then | reflected that to do this he
must be loser, and knowing his family
support depended upon the sale of his
fruits | made him proposition. That
was to act as a sort of special
e
til the situation in the sckroom
changed, | to pay him for his services.
He consented, and until the time when
had no further use for him he was as faith
full as watchdog. He warned off every
huckster who came in sight, and his inter
est in the child's welfare grew to be as
tender as it was touching.
''On the corner below was newsbov
from whom 1 had frequently bought
papers. The banana-man went to him
and explained the condition of affairs in
my home, and asked him to change his
place and go elsewhere. That night / was
informed that a boy wanted to see me at
my door. On going there found the news
boy in question. He had his hat in his hand
AS soon as / appeared to him he said in
his honest way: Il hear your gals sick
amt got much, but here's all I've got,
and it's for her. With this ne thrust a
greasy roll of paper in my hand, and
before l could fully realize what he was
up to he had gone. looked at the con-
tents of the paper, and it contained that
boys earnings for his papers. tried to
overtake the boy but he had gone. I left
word for him to come back to the house.
Several days passed and the banana
man. who was still on guard, reported to
me that he had not seen the boy, and that
no one knew where he was. In the course
of time my little one recovered. God gave
her back to me- and then / instituted q
search for that newsboy. 1t took me some
time to find him. When l did he was
down on Thirty-ninth street. He saw me
coming and scampered away. 1t took me
some little time to get him. When did l
explained to him that the little one was
well, and that he must take back the
money he gave me. He was at first re-
luctant to do so, but finally consented. Is
the gal well?' he said, and don't she need
nothin'2 p / told him she needed nothing,
and that he could come back to his old
corner. 4 would do anything for sick
gall he said, as he looked at me. in the
most honest way.
81 have read good deal about SYM
pathy. l have heard and read good deal
in the way of eulogy, but I never heard
anything as eloquent as that boys senti-
ment for the sick gal, and | never saw
anything as tender as the solicitude of the
fruit-peddler. This world, gentlemen, is
full of tender chords, and there are always
hands to play upon them, and what sweet
music they make.'
When the chaplain had told his story l
saw several strong men get up and walk
over to the window and look out, silently
But [ knew it was not for the purpose of
seeing anything. The chaplain himself
had unconsciously swept the chords OF
which he had spOken.-Chicago Mail