Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-09-24
A CIT NJ ISSION.

A CITY MISSION.
I'm not much out here, but I'm all
right in my place, and If either Of you ever
want help just call on Dick Clifford" he
said to tho two men who had unused him.
II was Q fool to try that ride in the sun,
but mother IS sick, and must get back
home. couldn't wait until night to
start
"And SO you waited here three weeks to
get another start, :" said one of his nurses,
whose name was Jim.
Tho next night Bob and Jim-Bob was
Jim's chum-stood shading their eyes with
their hands and staring down the trail.
Far away wero the dim forms of horse
and rider, headed for Tucson, the nearest
railroad town.
1t was a bitterly cold night, and none
but those forced by necessity was upon
tho streets. Even for Chicago January
tho weather was severe. All day tho mer-
curry in the street thermometers had been
below the zero mark. AS night came on a
northeast gale rushed down across the lake
and pierced With Its humid cold even
through the warmest clothing. Up and
down Clark street tramped homeless mon.
With their ,scanty rags pulled tight about
them, and with hands and wrists stuffed
as far into their pockets us they would 80,
tho homeless ones wandered aimlessly up
and down. Degraded and brutalizcd as
most Of fhnnN thoy,n inn,
pathetic about them. On, Oh, on, never to
stop; forced on by tho police and forced OIL
by tho cold; tempted to stand in a hot
blast coming from somo subtcrrancan fur
mace and then elbowed on by tho hurrying
crowd which, going home, had no Thought
for tho homeless.
In this army of wanderers was n man,
tall and strong of build, but wasted and
thin by privatiOn and Sickness His full
beard, rough and uncarcd for, hid the
gauntncss OF his face moro completely than
his clothing hid that of his body In his
mouth no held a short bricr pipe, which,
though empty, seemed to afford him some
satisfaction and a sense of companionship.
Up tho street he walked until he came to
the river. Then as an icy blast struck him
no turned and instinctivcly looked for shell
ter. On tho corner was a saloon, through
the frost covered windows of which the
brilliant lights seemed to tell of the
warmth and good cheer within. Hcsitat-
1ngly he opened tho door and entered A
moment later he was rudcly pushed out,
with the Information that this is no lodg-
Ing house for tramps.''
Down tho street he wandered, past res
taurants where the savory odor Of tho cook
ing only intensified his hunger and past
saloons which he would not enter Ho was
shivcring, and at last, nerved by his suf-
fering, he approached man who was wait
ing for q car.
"Can you spare mo dime for bed?"
he said
The man glanced at him and moved
| away.
Something like blush tinged tho check
| of tho homeless ono and gave it a color
which even tho etinging wind could not
| impart.
On down the street he went, his hands
In his pockets and his pipo clinchcd be-
| tween his teeth. On past saloons and
lodging houses he wandered. There seemed
to be nothing else but there was no place
open for him. A little ahead of him bright
rays of light streamed from a building and
| lighted the icy sidewalk. 1t had no mean
ing for him, and he did not even look up
until the sound of singing struck his ear.
| Crock Of ages, cleft for me,
| Let me hide myself in thee.'
! He heard the words, strong and full
from the lungs of men who sang Justify il
not skillfully. Looking up, he saw the
word Mission" above the door. On the
windows were the inscriptions, "Knocl
and it shall be opened unto you' and En-
ter thou into tho kingdom of the Lord
| Timidly approaching the door, the wan
derer opened it and entered. There wa:
no one to put him out. Instead some me1
standing by tho stove made room for hin
| to approach. 1nstinctively he took his hat
from his head and buried his pipe in his
pocket.
Among the mon by tho stove was one
who had noticed the wanderers entrance
and had since followed his movements anx
iously and curiously. Tho man was In
the prime of life, and his fur lined over
coat and the sealskin cap sticking from
one pocket showed him to be prosperous
He had been listening to the mission cxer
cises, but with the arrival of tho wanderc1
they had lost all interest for him.
AS he watched the tramp by forco Of
habit felt in his pocket, and finding his
pipe brought it to his mouth and held i,
tightly in his teeth.
Then the stranger stepped behind thu
homeless one, and being over him sale
quietly, "Bob Graham"
Tho tramp started to his feet and looked
anxiously in the eyes Of the stranger. Their
he shook his head slowly and said, "You'v.
got the best of me-"
"Don't you remember Dick Gifford?'
asked the stranger. Still Graham's hcat
shook slowly while he seemed to be max
ing an effort to bring his whole life befor,
him. "Don't you remember Dick Clifford,
the stranger repeated, "and the ella rive
and your shack where you and Jim Merri
field took care of the stranger who had tn
feyerp"
Slowly the light of remembrance ant
recognition dawned in Graham's eyes.
II remember" he faltered, land 20,
were going to your mother. And you
| Dick Gifford''- Then he broke down.
Quietly Clifford led him to the mission
Over to State street no hurried him and t.
a restaurant, where only Gifford's prosper
Gus appearance secured them admission.
] "And where is Jim-Jim MorrifleldP'
Clifford asked at last.
"Dead," said Graham, with strang
quaver in his voice. eve lost our shee1
and our money and decided to try life il
civilization. We came here and looked 70
work. We got it at last-shoveling coal
Think of it-Jim, a university man, SHOW
cling coal. But he couldn't stand It, an
the bad air and damp killed him. It pref
ty nearly finished me, but p Graham
could say no moro, but Clifford understood
Zone of the chief supporters of the littl
Clark Street mission now is q gray haire
EnQlishman named Graham He's white