The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-08

of an IDEAL hermit; the long white locks
hanging down over his ears were partially
covered by an old SLOUGH hat, appearing as
though it had seen service for at least
score of years. His coat and trousers
looked no newer. A stout pair of thick
soled shoes such as the mountaineers wear
completed his attire.
With the aid of a cane he hobbled
around the corner of his shanty to an old
bench placed so as get the full effect of the
MONDAY sun. Before he sat down, he
picked up an old coverless Bible, out of
the center of which protruded a pair of
old-fashioned spectacles.
"See that" he said "the cows has eat
both covers off on it. but that don't hurt it.
IT'S grand book. read about them all
st. Paul and st. James and King David.
King David slew his thousands but he re-
pented and God took him in as one of his
best chums.
Yes, I'm most a hundred years old"
he went on. Il am getting so old that |
think I'll die next winter: yes, l think
that I'm going to die. | feel that my time
is just about out. The winters out here in
California is not very hard on old folks ex-
cept if you don't have nice house to live
in. The rains is worse on person than
the snow is in the East. Last winter the
rain blew in so hard through the cracks in
my sbanty that it liked to have killed the
old man. got. lame and [ amt got over it
yet"
hermit turned suddenly to light and cheer
ing words. He half sang, half muttered,
the cause, though probably unconsciously,
OF his living alone, as follows:
Pent-up steed.
Kept short of feed,
Is widest in its roaming;
And dammed-up stream
They hungry CLEAN,
Dash DER their hfndrance foaming.
Therefore say
Take what say,
In spirit, not in letter,
Mankind shall be
Like a river free,
The less he's damned the better.
The steep hills surrounding the little
home took up the peculiar strain and
tossed it back and forth.
my name, it used to be Steve n ed
mands. Oh, they call me anything they
me Bob; that will do as well as any. l
came across the isthmus nigh on to fifty
year ago and l have been pretty much all
around since then. | have been in New
York and Michigan. There is some folks
belonging to me up in Michigan, but got
80 old l couldn't write to them any more
and so they quit writing to me and don't
know where they be now"
Old Steve, notwithstanding his five score
OF years, is bit proud. eff / were slicked
up and shined up and shaved up and
dressed up," he said, 'pd make as fine
looking man as any of them for my age"
HIS sun-browned features and silvery locks
bore out his contention.
How long have lived here? Well, I've
been up in these parts for nigh on to twen-
ty years. | amt been to town for over
year. The man that lives up there on the
hill, he buys my grub for me. 1t only costs
me 10 cents a day to live. He gets me
seven loaves OF bread for two bits that last
me couple OF weeks. Then, besides, I've
got sack of -four and a piece of bacon.
That's all eat. Of course, 1t amt very
much, but it is good such that it is. l
used to have gun and ohoot some rabbits
and squirrels, but the gun is gone and the
game Is gone. The boys have killed every
II used to have lots of money, but Solo
mon says that "a fool and his money is
soon parted and so / must be a fool. I've
got enough left if spend 10 cents day to
last till next winter, when Pm going to
die.
II used to read and putter away at books
hills"
Inc old solitarian is q bit perplexed
about religion, although his views in gen.
eral seem to be strictly orthodox.
DO 70, you suppose that the devil has got a
SOUR he suddenly broke in. ~ don't
understand about that. Gabriel knocked
him out of heaven and now he goes bum
ming around on the earth; don't he?
When L die want to be buried in a cave,
hike Jesus, for if they put six feet of dirt
on top OF me how is my spirit going to get
out to get to heaven2 1 want the napkin
put on my face and everything just the
same. Then the third day l want some
oody TO come and roll the stone away"
The man who lives alone cares little or
nothing for the members of the opposite
sex. mo, was never married. A long