The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-08-09
GheRemutyaf-S Star
THREE-FINGERED JOE.
Orleans City Item.

New Orleans City Item.
Who is it that does not remember
Joe, the charcoal man? His face and
cali, which sounded like "Go to work.
was familiar to every one. 1t was
hard telling whether Joe was white
or black (; his face was much wrinkled,
he had but three fingers on each hand,
and withal he was a detected mortal
and people had the same opinion OF
his cart and mule.
The boys and some Of the older ones,
took a delight In teasing Joe and he
always replied with curses and stones.
His curses would put to shame any
old sailor.
But Joe was dead ; he must be, as
no n had seen him for two or three
days. A party of four went to his
miserable room, over a stable, and
knocked. Receiving no reply they
broke open the door and there Oh an
old bed lay Joe and his dog, both
dmd. The room was barren of furni.
turc, save q he'd, chair and table, and
on it lay several sheets of paper STAIN
ed in words and an empty rum bottle.
One of the party picked up the paper
and this what he read:
MY HISTORY.
l was born in the city Of Boston
fifty years ago Of rich and cultured
parents. / was raised to a life Of
ease, never knowing care or sorrow
and never caring for the future.
l worried through college and re-
turned to my father with, instead OF
a diploma, a lot of unpaid bills. My
father paid the bills, then told me to
do something for my support. But
why should l support myself? My
father was wealthy, he had educated
me and paid my college debts let him
continue to advance money. Such
were my thoughts. Nothing more
was said. In the meantime l had
chosen evil companions, companions
who passed their time In drinking
and gambling. It did not take me
long to learn their evil ways !; l was
tempted and fell. Having not enough
money to satisfy my vices I forged my
fathers name. l felt secure. as my
father did not discover my crime, and,
becoming bold, l forged his name the
second time, but the money was hard.
~ in my hands when l was confronted
by my father.
What could l say? What could l
do? AS it was the first time that he
had found me doing a dishonest act l
was broken hearted. When l next
appeared at home / was called into my
fathers study. My father then'told
me Of my first o%ffense, but he had said
nothing, but let me alone to see how
far I would go. He begged me to re.
pent, spoke to me as only a father can
speak, and with tears In my eyes l
swore that l would reform.
For quite a while things went along
smoothly, but the seed had been plant
ed and had taken root. / again sought
my companions Of old, and for the
third time l forged my fathers name.
About three days after this my father
came to my room and said that he
should stand such actions from his son
NJ longer; he had stood Il until pa
thence had ceased to be a virtue now
Ire would act. He repeated the pass
age from the Bible about a nan cut
ting his hand off II it offended him
My father asked me what l had Il
say, but l only hung my head ant
made no reply. He then said "Ad
vance" and before / could TURF
around l had my back to the oper
door. l was seized by two men ant
thrown on the bed. ] was then put
under the influence of ehloroform ant
when l awoke both hands we're bount
in cloth. My father was sitting neal
my bed. I demanded m explanation
He replied "a reminder In the fu
ture of the past" Enraged at this
leaped from the bed and with my
crippled hands l seized, as best
could, a chair / then dealt my father
a blow and not stopping to see the re
suit l left the house and began my
wanderings. A short time after ]
learned through the papers of my
fathers death. Ny mother soon fol
lowed. There remains no more to tell
since that fatal day, l have been {
wandcrer on this earth, seeking M
ones friendship, no one seeking mine
Bury me and my dog together.
The story here ended truly a sac
one. Here a man a wanderer foI
thirty years or more, with no friend
but his rum and dog. Such is life
Illinois has a new libel law which