The San Francisco call., 1897-01-03
TOLD OF STREET MENDICqNTS
How Casual Passers-by Are. Oft Deceived
by appearances in Alms-Seekers

the mans good and patient. He amt
like the Others round here, them" she
added sharply, as man rushed past her
and looked at her insolently. eff the
rest of US was blind it might be good
thing"
Where was the villainP The story was
fairy tale now and the faded coat was a
princes garb and But the woman weep
ing in the darknessl No wonder the ac-
Gordon uttered protest-no wonder there
was no music in her soul.
1t was not yet late, and 1 hurried back
and passed through the California Market.
Some one near by tapped on the walk
with a cane No doubt you have often
seen him, this tall wreck of a man, so
pitifully blind for be still bears about
him the unmistakable signs of former
good fortune.
MY name" he said, ''what right have
to have name? My name and place
in this world were lost years and years
ago."
| HIS voice quavered and it was high
pitched, but he was pleased to talk. He
leaned against the side wall in an uncon-
scious pose, and some way it reminded
me Of Samson-shorn of his strength yet
bearing withal some impress of what had
been.
Years ana years ago-I don't know
how many. l don't even know how old>I
am. We tell the passing of the time by
the changes of light and darkness, and
when it is all darkness then it is one long
| night.
"How did 1 lose my sightP l was in
the prime of life then. They said 1 was
handsome, ana l know l was strong. l
was experimenting the building of
house in Oakland. and was looking up
when a block of wood fell and struck me
in the middle of the forehead, and 1 have
never seen the hight since.
How does it feel to be blind? Like be-
ing shut up in a damp dungeon, for no
matter how warm it is naturally your soul
| feels cold.
why am / hereP Well, at first friends
were Kind and pitied and cared for me,
but strong man suddenly bereft of his
| strength is weaker than child who never
had any, and one by one they have all left
me. | have no business to live" he SAID,
land yet do not mind it so much. find
little pleasure; he shivered; II would
not want to die.
"Tnanks for kind word" he said.
| 'Tll get something to warm my blood
with this" and holding the coin in his
hand he passed out of my sight.
On Geary a large man with wooden
| leg leaned against a lamp-post, saving
away on a fearfully tuned instrument,
| with fourshes which might have graced
the playing OF Ondrlcet. The wall of his
violin was borne with unpleasant distinct
ness by the w1nd-lt sounded like the
grieving of some stray, lonely splrit-only
perhaps spirits even when alone wouldn't
| grieve to the tune of "Just Tell Them
That You Saw Me-" with discordant varl-
ations.
A crowd of urchins was standing in the
| gutter staring up at the mans strange
convolutions. Presently each one began
saving on an imaginary fiddle, for all tha
world like smaller editions of himself, and
at the same time sang in wretched rhythm:
Come to me, sweet Marie,
| Sweet Marie, come to me.
At the end the man leaned hard against
the post, and looked with the large, inno-
cent eyes of a trusting gazelle at the pass
ers by.
'It's pretty cold"
"Ah! Gott in himmell mine little ones.
Dey haf got noting to eat. Ach! you
know not how one haf to suffer!'
1t was beginning to rain, aid he took
the coin 1 gave him with many protesta-
tions of gratitude, assuring me that now
mis- children need not starve.
Poor fellow, and a cripple with the poor
little ones waiting for bread this cold
night! Turning back. thinking to find
out his abiding place, was just in time
to see him hobble across the street, and
YES, it was no mistake, across the brill
Ilantly lighted threshold of the corner
saloon. And if children there were, no
doubt they are waiting vet for after an
hour had passed he had not come forth.
JEAN MORRIS.