Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-16

uty hccpS us warm.
"Who is Jimmie?"
"Jimmie's me pard!'
Does Tiger ever give you anything
to eat?"
"Yer rite! Wen he amt full he
t'rows us bones same as de dogs!"
"What does he do when he is drunk?'
I'VE dust, yer bet! Yer wouldn't like
ter meet Tiger wen he's drunk-he
rears and charges-whew! Well. yer
see, sur, de shed got busted ternite an
! wuz huntin' fur place an suthin'
made me chase in ERE"
where is Jimmie?"
Dunno; ef he's in luck he's in de
hunt"
slow much does 1t cost to get q bed
in the home?"
"Ten cents; yer see, luck went agin
me terday. Two dagoes-big fellers,"
and the blue eyes grew as large as
though illustrating the size Of the enc
mics, "cum and swiped me stand an
punched me, see, an | jest dropped me
papers down to fife 'em, and de odder
dago grabbed 'em an run. But I'll git
square wild dem dagoes!" he added,
meditatively.
"iow?"
"I'll git Tiger sum time wen he amt
woozy ter cum down ter de stand; he'll
git away wild EN-, Sect
"Well, here's dime. Run down to
the home and 60 to bed. Stay there to-
morrow morning until come to see
you. Maybe l would like to be side
partner of yours and Jimmie's."
"Hully gee, tanks!" and without
waiting for further persuasion the boy
ran out into the bleak night.
The clerk gazed at the young man
with cynical smile.
81 could do that 20 times a night if |
liked he said, coldly; ut does not help
them any,"
Just think, though, Of the good it
does me-" returned the young man,
carelessly; II am thoroughly selfish, |
admit"
There are plenty of societies for
them" continued the clerk. This pro-
miscuous giving only pauperizes them
1--WE all need lift sometimes, over
hard places. This problem Of helping
the poor has never yet been solved, and
never will be until there is more prac-
tice Of the comradeship and brother
hood of which we hear SO much. Every.
one believes in the theory; it is beauti
full TO talk about. but how many live it?"
what would you have? Society d.
vfded into two classes, the summer and
the slummed"
"That rligbt be preferable to the
two classes into which it Is divided at
present. Moral support is what the
poor need--not 30 much money rs
friends and friendly advice. Some one
to put them on their feet and stand by
them until they are strong enough to
stand alone. But it Is SO easy to write
check and hand 1t to the minister;
then our conscience is free to curse
every beggar we see. Well, guess I'll
be off. Good night" and, lighting 4
fresh cigar and turning up the collar of
his large and comfortable ulster. the
young man departed.
A block from the hotel his attention
was attracted to a small figure in the
shelter of a doorway. He stopped in
tuitively and, walking toward it, recog-
nized the boy from whom he had parted
about Is minutes before.
He looked at him in speeches. sur
prise.
The boy, young as he was, realized
the suspicion with which he was re-
garded.
"Please, surf" he exclaimed, eagerly,
II wuz goin' ter de hum. an | found
Jimmie here, see-an' Jimmie wuz sick,
he wuz cryin,' an l guy him de dime,
and tole 'em ter 60 ter de hum"
The man looked sternly at him and
still made no remarks. "'Deed, sur,
it's true, dead true. See-here's Jim
mics coat; he left it fur me and l
wuzn't hungry, an he amt had moth
in ter eat all day
He unwrapped ragged old coat from
about his bare legs and held it up in
triumph.
"'Deed, sur, We, kin go an see."
"Here, you young reprobate, how far
isit to that home you talk about%
"Just down dere--two blocks, sur"
Here is quarter which | think will
enable you to take all the houseless
people you may meet on the way, and
also yourself, to the home. Now run,
and do not let the fact Of your having
had one dinner debar you from ever
eating another. Remember, ] will see
you and Jimmie in the morning"
The young man resumed his struggle
through the snow. The night had lost
ell its terrors for him. His mind alb
sorbed in the whirl of ideas set in &C.
ton by this second meeting, left him
unconscious Of the elements. He
thought only Of the light and happiness
those few pennies had brought out Of
the storm and darkness, and to one who
had long been in the habit of squander-
ing large sums in pleasures that did
not please and amusements that did not