The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-20
HE WAS CHARITABLE.
He Was Also Drunk and, Luckily, In the
Hands OF Friend.

HE WAS CHARITABLE.
He Was Also Drunk and, Luckily, in the
Hands OF Friend.
From the New York Sun.
Somebody must have told him that
Monday was Christmas. On no other
supposition could just the kind of jag that
he possessed on Monday evening be eX-
planned. Festal rings of holly berries or
namented his ears, an evergreen wreath
hung about his neck, wagglng as he
walked, and his hat band was full of mis-
tletoe as he lurched TO the bridge entrance
just at the time the crowd was greatest.
a companion in much the same condition,
but two degrees less SO, was with him,
but they we're separated by the crowd, and
the celebrator with the decorations circu-
lated until he brought up against post,
face to face with one of the little red
boxes sot out for hospital subscriptions.
"Wazzat boxsh?" he demanded of the
bridge policeman on the other side of the
post.
"Why. that's "a hospital box" replied
the officer good-naturedly. "People drop
in money for the sick people, you know.
| You'd better go home 10 Brooklyn and GO
! to bed.'
"Nossir," replied the celebrator, plung-
! ing his hand into his pocket and bringing
il out full of bills. "Thish tn merry Y
| hic-uleude. Won't g'--hic-home till
! New Yearsh. Make Chrism's PRESIDENT u
hoshpital. Ought = be ir h--hic-hoshpi-
tai m'self. Make Chrish-hic-Chrshm
PRESIDENT = s-hic-ick N wounded.
| Herei"
Crushing the wad OF bills in his hand
| he endeavored to cram them all into the
box at once. just then his companion,
who had been wandering aimlessly about,
| caught sight of him and, coming up with
| n rush, seized his arm in an endeavor TO
dissuade him from putting the bills in the
| box.
"Washermasser inquired the benevo-
| lently disposed one.
Don't waste y'r money! cried his
companion. "C'm over 4 Brooklyn IN
buy drinks"
"Do' wanter buy drinksb-hick-now.
Wanter PRESIDENT Christm's gift t poor
an's-hick-ick. Shay, ait thai funny :?
| Try Z shay s-hick-ick, an shay s-hick,
an soun's jush's COOS if shaid s-hic-
ick-hic. like meant TO shay at firsht.
Murray FIR merry Y-hic-uletidew
"Wha's tn good of putin your money
into a letter boX?" protested his compan-
| ion.
| Ism Una n l-nlC-ctteF DONsn Neu-
tman with brash buttonsh sh-hc-aid
| wash boxsh FIR contri-hlc-contri-hic
you know, Christm's f'r hospital. Wanter
help poor s-hIc-ick there it goesh
again s--hic n wounded N poor in-hic
| hospital"
"Come over to Brooklyn, then, and let
that letter box alone"
Letter boxsh, hep? Thash aw ri" OBJ
served the philanthropist, placidly begin
ming TO poke at the bills with his fingers
again. give CHRISTMAS president to Uni'
Shtate gu'ment. Pm-hic-citizen; wy
shon't Gi-vhic-preshent t my ke-hic-
country"
This was poser for the other man, and
the anguish of deep thought appeared
upon his brow. Meanwhile the inebriato
was endeavorlng to get the roll of bills in
lengthwIse.
"Say, this amt Christmas" suddenly
yelled his friend.
You're l-hic-liar," was the only re-
ply vouchsafcd.
ANY way, you don't wanter make any
present to the government" cried the
other, taking new tack. Don't " re-
member those postage stamps that
wouldn't stIck?o
"Thasso," responded the celebrator,
stopping to consider, and thereby afford
ing to an interested circle that had
gathered about an opportunity TO make
comment.
"It's n shame" said middle-aged
woman. "He might buy present for his
wife with that money"
"Lct him put it in" growled man with
his arms full of bundles. Teach the blame
fool not to get jag"
"Somebody ought TO arrest him.
snapped a nervous little old lady.
"Where's the policeman"
The policeman was behind the post
He popped out and said:
II can't see anthiug. II n blame idiot
wants to get full and give his money tc
a hospital, he can do it for all of me.
can't see him. Pm a-lookin' the other
way"
Then the inebriate himself solved the
problem. lie picked the roll of bills from
the slot IN which 1t was wedged and pick
eted il. He solemnly took the evergreen
wreath from his neck and decorated tho
red box with that. Then he turned TO the
crowd.
"Ah you my fr'cns?r he inquired
"C'm over 4 Brooklyn n have a-hic-
drink. 'Sh' my treat"
He and his companion lurched forward
into the current of the crowd and were
whirled away and on boa ri bridge
train.
That's hard luck on the hospital
commented the cop.