The Washington times., 1895-05-05

OoPgi16uNs 4oSO. Dg baCDelleT, johnson
Bachelor.
My name is Samuel Diggles-that. at
least. is the name have been known by as
long as can remember to have been known
az all; but nevertheless believe that il
was my good fathers purpose to give me
a middle name He was knowiong man.
was my father. and the usefulness of a
middle name must have been quite plain
TO him at the time OF my birth. II | had
been named. for instance. Samuel Archim-
edes Diggies, or Samuel Moses Dlggles. the
imposing appearance of the abbreviated
name. S Archimedes or s. Moses Diggles.
must have been great aid to my advertise
ment in life.
As it is, I am only the gatehonse man
OF The Asylum for Decayed Gentlemen"-
decayed, l may say, only in fortune, for
some OF them is still avow il with all
frankness-tbe best and heartiest Of gents.
cannot rccollect when turned gatehouse
man OF this asylum. The thing was born
COULD ENDURE.
with me, like. The first remembrances 7
have are Of the little square room where i
now sit, with the high-backed rockers, the
portrait OF my respected father done in
oils-which never done him any credit
for be was a handsome man enongh-aDd
the little balf-roUnd window over there
opposite the asylum gate where the gate
men sit on watch for decayed gents, going
or coming. My mother, she was an angel.
Al ever the earth held one. I am glad they
never done her in oils-they'd have spoiled
her. No artist could do her credit-at
least me and my father thought so, and he
was man OF pretty tsate in the arts
AS for me, well, ] think that print OF
Gen. Washington surrounded by his family
there, amt bad test OF a mans eve
for the beautiful. But was going to tell
you how came To have my little darling
here on-my knee. HoI sweeting, tits of
thee, childi Wake up; tbs not bedtime yet.
Wake up, prettyl
All, it was wicked night-that Christ
mas eve OF five years agonel 1t had
showed all day, till the asylum wall was
nigh out OF sight in places where the
drifts were deepest, and the windows of
our little gate house, good yard from the
ground, you see?-were almost covered in.
Sounds outside were muffled and afar off
and the cOziness of the fire in here was
something amazing. We had a bit of
cake and wine that night and father wasso
lively fell a-rallying OF him and a-chaff-
ing OF him about his youthful spirits
though. in truth, he was always Of a cheer
ful disposition, even in the depressing
company OF the decayed gents who made
him sort or confidant in their mis-
fortune
Well, we were sitting here, father and /
and Mr.. Holidge, a-talking aud a-sipping
our wine. aDd-who Mr.. Hollidge was? On |
he was one or the gents who often came |
down 10 the gate-h0use o. nights, but ne |
was very silent man and never Joined |
much in the talk He would sit over there
I'm the corner by the stove an hour at a |
time and never speak a word but he took |
q fancy TO my father and seemed to want |
TO be with him. like. he was tall, stately !
looking gent, with bald head, edged by |
dark hair that turned just over his ears |
and neck He always dressed in lack, and |
though twas but poorly, yet he made his
clothes look handsome on him by the way |
he carried 'em. he was a true gent, / |
think.
well" says father, ''here's to Mr.. |
Hollidge." and he lifted his glass toward |
him in the corner, and then motioned me |
TO fill up and drink. The gent took it |
kind and thanked us with a sad sort of |
smile, and ] think he was a-going TO get |
on his feet and say something. However,
just the came a gentle knocking at the |
door. and got up TO see who was there, |
orwedidn'texpecta any othercompany and |
all the gents was in for the night opened /
the door soft like, for / didn't want to in |
terrupt him speaking, and whispered, /
whats wanted7"
There was no answer, but light kind /
OF pressure against the door so / Just /
opened II enough TO step out, when woman 1
with child in her arms walked in front |
OF me, and then, as retTeated came into
the room. She was benumbed with the cold /
and snow, and could not speak for many /
minutes. My father brought her near the |
fire, and taking the child in his own aims,
chafed its little hands and warmed its face
at the open stove.
Oh, my man, twas q pitiful sight TO see /
how wretcheo thing she d fallen tol There |
mad been once pride in her Part OF il |
fingered still in her very walk, but she was |
sunk very, very low. The child (Ho |
pretty open your eyes and look at the gentle
mani) was but tWavemonth old, and il /
was well nigh dead with hard exposure to
such night We did what we could for /
them both with our bachelor housekeeping
and little by little brought the woman to /
say some words. They were words of /
gratitude, but spoken very low and very 1
Drokenly, and then my father set about max