The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-05-22

spite Of his youth. Melancholy, re-
morse and misanthropy troubled him
inceasantly, and ho could not help re-
peahng to himself that his life had
been an utterly useless one. There
fore ho had finally come TO the delib-
crate conclusion TO end his worthless
existence in the waters Of the river
Thames.
The laborer was dumbiounded.
Never in his life had he listened TO
such a queer tale.
"How incomprehonsiblel" he ex-
claimed. my life tells exactly the
oppol K Itory. am very poor, have
an ailing wife and seven children, and,
alas, no food for themi thus far /
have honestly and tirelessly tried to
make tho two ends meet-in n manner
by hard work, but a few days ago
lost my place in the factory on nc
count OF the dull times. lcannot wit
ness the misery at home any longer:
it tears my heart to look at my starry
ing loved ones: and though my poor,
suffering wife tries hard to console
me and to give me courage, bidding
me not to despair, I see no escape. /
have no hope left and am resolved to
put an end to my miserable existence.
May God in His infinite mercy have
pity on my familyl"
"Poor fellowl" The rich young
mans countenance was full Of deep
felt pity and unbidden tears gathered
in his eyes. Such a tale he had never
heard, never dreamt OF amid the afilu-
once of his surroundings.
''Now know that there are people
in this world who are a great deal
more unhappy than I considered my
self to be, fool that I was" he re-
fected.
"But cheer up, man, there is help
in case like yours. Come, lead the
way, take me to your house. l guess
1 can end your troubles, aud as far as
the-the-iumping into the Thames
is concerned, 1 think there is no
special hurry about it, do you? "
A cab soon brought the two former
candidates for self-destruction to the
dirty narrow lanes of the working
mems quarter in Southwark, where il
stopped in front of a tumble down
cottage. Poverty and want stared at
them from every nook and corner as
the master of the house and his young
companion entered a small but tidy
and scrupulously clean room. A group
of children of a pronounced blonde
type had hardly recognized theil
father when they ran up to them an(
pitifully begged for bread. Her eyes
redand swollen from crying, her body
emaciated from want and sickness
the mother painfully tried to rise from
her work, rs soon as she beheld tn
arlstocratic looking stranger, aided BY
her 17-yenr-old daughter Mary.
The young man was shocked whei
he beheld this scene of what appeare'
to be unmeritcd but great misery
But when his sympathetic and aston
ished gaze full of pity, had fastene
itself upon the face and figure of tn
beautiful blue-eyed, slender blond
girl he gave start of genuine su,
prise. Full of q generous impuls
aud quickly resolved, he grabbed tn
laborer by the hand, exclaiming;
"Cheer up, ahall be back in a
hour" he explained, aud left befor
the family had time to recover froi
their establishment over the unexpec
ed visitor.
All the father was able to do in r,
: ply to the many questions of his wi
and children was to console and chez
them in half-hearted manner. 81
he said nothing about his suicidal j
tentions or about the strange meetir
that had prevented their consumm
G ton.
Q Suddenly the door opened on'
IS more to admit the man who was uppe
9 most in their thoughts. Behind hi
d appeared two servants carrying bo
/; kets filed with choice eatables, whic
d they deposited upon the table and
Is once Withdrew.