The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-02
Oas Gamily Story.
NEVER DESPAIR

London Erluge, CnaL lanOuS tbolouS 81
fare OF England's busiest centre
traffic, Of it endless stream OF humanity
constantly passing to and fr0 In thel'
daily pursuits, of lnnumeraolo tates o
woe, Of lives lost, misspent and for lorn
of tragedies, occurring only to be a.
once forgotten and followed by more
startling crimes, the inevitable result
and outcome of everyday life in the
English metropolis-the seat Of UNTOLD
wealth and of untold misery-that un
rolls before us the depths Of human
nature, only too ofton in their most
revolving form?
It was dark and foggy evening.
The hour when tho tired tOilers seek
the comfort Of their ireside when
everybody goes to his home-provided
he has IL hOmc-had come and gone
Suddenly two pedestrians approach
iny from opposite directions came to u
sudden and rather unpleasant collision
on the bridge. One Of them, young
and dressed in the height OF fashion,
had cone from the aristoCratlc regions
of the Wast End, while the other, who
had aDproacn2d from the lab0ring dis
trcts of Southwark, WAS much older
nnd was poorly clad. Their heads had
felt the effects Of the sudden contact,
and both had come to full stop, each
feeling the injured member with his
hands ana nursing it, while the con-
piimcnts they exchanged were any
thing but polite.
"Thundcr and lightning, sir" ex-
claimed the younger OF tho two, your
Uranium is not exactly bolstered up
with springs, assure you. Zonnds !.
Why could YOU not get out OF my way,
when you saw me approach -
The other, evidently laborer,
shrugged his shoulders and threw
longing look across the railing to the
dark waters Of the Thames below.
"Wherc were you going post haste !:
continued the first speaker, noticing
the mans detected attitude.
"There !" came the hoarsc answer,
pointing down 70 the river.
There Well, my man, our road is
the suuic. Take me with you
The poor laburer cast surprised
look at the wcll-drrsscu young man.
You ?" he said. You to go down
there IMPOSSIBLE What has put
such dreadful thought into your
head? You are surely not suffering
from want; you cannot possibly know
the sorrow and the misery that Is the
poor mans portion You look like Il
rich man, YOU have youth brsidcs-
consequently you are happy and to be
cnviCd ~
"Wrong, my friend, altogether
wrong. Wealth is not always akin to
happiness" responded the young man.
Come rouse Yourself. can see things
also have gone wrong with you walk
with me Il short distance and let me
explain"
Strange. Here were two persons
WHO had not even known OF each
Other ) existence five minutes before,
but withal, they felt themselves drawn
toward one another hy that sympa-
our dcstinics.
walked side by side, while the rich
companion, telling him with impulsivt
words thDt he led anything but ,
happy lie, although possessing evel )
thing that usually goes to make lif,
worth Ii ing. He WAS bachelor VIII
had inherited ero"t' wealth from hi
uncle. He had drained the pleasure
cup OF all kinds OF amuSclucnts, hal
kept servants, horses and Carriages
numDcrless friends had congrcgatct
at hls splcndidly fu, nished apurtmcnt
ana IN his country residences; he hat
lived like q sy5arite and thrown AVA,
his money with both hanos, and nov
he was tired Of life, satiated and bias,
in spite OF his youth. Melancholy
remorsc, and mlsanthropy trouble,
him iaccSsantly, and he could not hcl
repeating to himself that his life ha
been aD utterly useless one. There
fore he had finally come to the dclil
crate conclusion to end his WORTHLESS
existence in the water OF the Rive
Thames.
The laborcr was dumbtoundc,
Never in his life had he listened
such quccr tale.
How incomprchcnsible !" he G
claimed. "My life tells exactly IL
opposite story. am very poor, ha
an alllng wife and seven children. AN
alas, no food for them; thus far ha
honestly and tirclcssly led TO Smu
the Two ends mcCt-in Il manner
hard work, but u few days ago |,
my place in the factory on account
the dull times. ! cannot witness u
misery at home any longer, it tea
my heart to look at my starving low,
ones and though my poor sutferil
vile tries hard to console me and
give me courage, bidding me not
despair, see no escape. | have
hope left and am resolved tn put ;
end to my miserable existence. Nj;
God IN his infinite mercy have pity ,
my family "
Poor fellow " The rich Won,
mans countenanco WAS full of de-
pity, and unbidden tears gathered
his eyes. Such tale he had ncy
heard, never dreamt OF amid t
aaluence OF his surroundings.
Nov know that there.are people
this world vino a"a great deal m,
unhappy than | considered myself
be, fool that was,' he reflected
But cheer up, man, there is h
in case like yours Come, lead
way, take me to your house. | gu
can end your troubles, and as fan
hc-the-jumping into the Thame
concerned, think there is no spec
hurry about it, do you ?"
a cab soon brought tho two forr
candidates for self, destruction to
dirty barrow lanes Of the work.
mems quarter in Southwark, wher
stopped in front Of a tumble-do
cottage. Poverty and want starcC
them f"om every nook and corner
the master Of the house and his yo,
companion entered small but t
and scrupulously clean room. A gro
of children OF u pronounced bio,