The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-09-03

"Jimmie's me pard!"
"Does Tiger ever give you anything
to eat?"
eyer rite! Wen he amt full he
t'rows US bones same as de dogs!"
'What does he do when he is drunk %
eve dust, yer bet! Yer wouldn't like
ter meet Tiger wen he's drunb-he
rears and charges-whew! Well, yer
see, sur, de shed got busted ternite an
1 wuz huntin' fur a place an suthin'
made me chase in ERE"
"Where is Jimmie?"
Dunno; eff he's in luck he's in de
hum!"
GLOW much does it cost to get bed
in the homer"
'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 I jest dropped Ine
papers down to fife 'em, and de odder
dago grabbed 'em an run. But I'll git
square wild dem dagoes!" he added,
meditatively.
"How?'
'I'll git Tiger sum time wen he amt
Woody ter cum down ter dc stand; he'll
git away wild 'em, see!"
"Well, here's a dime. Run down to
the home and 60 to bed. Stay there to-
morrow morning until l come to see
you. Maybe I 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 night if I
liked" he said, coldly; cit does not help
them any"
"Just think, though, of the good it
does me-" returned the young man,
carelessly; II am thoroughly selfish, l
admit
''There are plenty of societies for
them," continued the clerk. 'This pro-
miscuous giving only pauperizes them
eve 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 l11'G"-
tice Of the comradeship and brother
hood of which we hear so much. Every
one believes in the theory; it is beaui:
full to talk about, but how many live it?''
what would you have? Society d.
vided into two classes. the summer and
the slummed?"
THAT might be preferable to the
two classes into which it is divided ct
present. Moral support is what the
poor need-not so much money as
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
a check and hand it to the minister;
then our conscience is free to curse
every beggar we see. Well, guess I'll
be off, Good night" and, lighting a
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 small figure in the
shelter of 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,
81 wuz goin' ter de hum, an found
Jimmie here, see-an' Jimmie wuz sick.
he wuz cryin,' an guy him de dime,
and tole 'em ter go 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 |
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
is it to that home you talk about?"
Just down dere-two blocks, sur
Here is quarter which I 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, I will see
you and Jimmie in the morning.
The young man resumed his struggle
through the snow. The night had lost
all its terrors for him. His mind alb
sorbed in the whirl of ideas set in ac-
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 souander-
ing large sums in pleasures that did
not please and amusements that did not
amuse it was revelation.
Suddenly he stopped. His face
turned unconsciously upward, as
though he was seeking some raw OF
light out OF the blackness of the
heavens. For one moment he stood
SO; then his hands went deeper into
his pockets, and his arms came closer
to his sides, as he started ahead again,
with the quick and firm step of sudden
determination.
Had he CLEAN of light?
For what was he indebted to that
midnight wait?
For what would that midnight wait
be indebted to him ?-Home Journal.
AT Blenheim palace, the home o.