Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-18
Two Sides
To Question


opinions. One day as she was walking
homeward suddenly a flood Of sweet
song seemed to soothe her ruff1ed feel
ings. A lark, imprisoned in a narrow
cage, poured forth to the needless world
outside it's soul of melody through hard
bars of wire.
The sense of relief which had stolen
oven the girl gave place to one of anger,
combined with some odd satisfaction.
Here at last was an opportunity to do
good, even if it were but obtaining the
freedom Of one poor, hopeless lark. And
who more suited to the task than she,
the president, self constituted only three
days since, Of the N Society For the
Promotion of Christian Charity Toward
Animals? Crossing the road with decid-
ed step, she entered a little shop, over
the door of which the bird sang N. 1t
was a cobbler's workshop. A little, bent
old man, with large spectacles on his
wrinkled nose and deft lean fingers that
moved nimbly over the rough leather,
put aside his work and shuf1ed forward
to the counter. He moved slowly and
with difficulty, for his old limbs were get
ting past their work. Pleasantly, but
rather curiously, he babe her "Good
day." scarce hoping for work In his poor
shop from so smart and nicely dressed 4
lady. Evelyn felt somewhat uneasy at
the old mans harmless aspect.
This Bird" she began rather timidly;
lis it yours"
The cobbler looked at the cage with
visible pride.
"Yes, yes, miss; my bird sure enough.
and fine bird too. Not a better bird in
all N, miss" He rubbed his hands
and smiled genially. Evelyn was silent
men do:
-Four years it is I've had him; four
years, and scarce a day off his song. 1t
was my boys, my Dicks youngest that's
gone for a sailor. 1t seems only yester-
day he came /. just as it might have been
you, miss, today, with the bird in his
hand, and says he
but begin your pardon, you was say
ing
What will you take for the birdY' she
asked, not feeling quite so sure of her
cause now she had actually plunged into
the battle.
wouldn't sell him, miss. Wouldn't
take S. for him, not if was starving"
Evelyn took out her purse and counted
its contents-30 cents. She drew out a
quarter, saying in firm and superior
tones, "Not a cent more"
The old man looked at her kindly and
explained gently, as if to a child lit was
really very irritating):
mo, miss. l don't want to sell him. l
u,or oouip ~ coa II uoc nv 1ad Oav0
me the little bird before he went to sea.
that, dearie," indicating the coin with
smiling contempt. "Aye, and him all the
chick or child I've got left since Dick
died. 1t minds me O. my lad when l
hear him sing so bright. Often when I'm
feeling lonesome and low spirited he'll
chime in SO CHEEKY and set me thinkin
how my boys comm soon-eh, dear; eh,
dear! No, you can't have him, but never
mind, never mind" He nodded kindly,
as If to comfort her in her d~isappoint-
ment.
Evelyn's patience could stand it no Ion
ger.
"Do you suppose l want to keep the
poor bird?' ~ she broke forth. 81 want to
buy it to give it back its liberty, to let it
be free in the fields and the blue sky.
Surely you know how very, very cruel it
is to confne a creature made to soar and
sing at the very gates of heaven in a mar
row cage with scarce room to turn"
This was delivered huently, being a
verbatim quotation from her speech at
the opening meeting of the before men.
toned society.
"Poor, miserable bird" she concluded,
apostrophizing the unconscious lark.
The cobbler, simple soul, was a good
deal taken aback at this convincing IT,
rade. He attempted a defense, however.
may; he's not miserable. Hear to him
sing. Would he sing like that if he
weren't happy"
EYES," cried Evelyn, she sings because
he longs to be free. That is the song OF
despair, and not of JOY"
The old fellows face fell. Her elo'
quence half convinced him. Evelyn fell
rather heated, and wanted, she didn't
know why, to get out Of the shop.
"Come," she said, "here's 80 cents, and
far more than the wretched bird is
worth"
may" he said, sadly. "I'm not going
to sell him. He's like an old friend to me
and he loves me too. that he does"
keep your bird, then!' cried the an
cry reformer. keep it, and let it die in
Its miserable prison. Some day you will
perhaps repent your wanton cruelty
With which grandiloquent threat she de
parted, with rather more haste than dig
nifty.
That night, getting into bed, Evelyn
~noo - A., oonaI,,sop that che had ,nodn
father a poor show.
She had also a lurking idea that hel
motive had not been quite so much the
cause of righteousness as the pleasure OF
reporting progress to her e society
Her passionate words kept recurring tc
her mind as she lay sleepless half through
the night. She wondered il little birds
had their duty to do, as she had; wheth'
er, perhaps, in giving pleasure to a lonely
old mans declining days the lark might
not be %unconsciously doing its great
makers bidding in the place for which hs
intended it. She was, she decided, over
young to Judge SO hastily. And, being
thoughtful and conscientious girl, she
bravely resolved to go the next morning
humble her pride to the dust, and owr
hNvsclf in the wrong
About 8 o'clock the next morning, walk
ing with rather a red face up the narrow
street, she perceived the old fellow stand
ing at his door with the empty age II
his hand. He was gazing toward the sky
and she saw a tear trickle down his wrin
killed. cheek. He turned as she approach
ed and smiled mournfully in answer Il
her inquiring glance.
."Maye you was right, MISS" he said
maybe" He passed into his shop AZ Z
sob checked his %utterance.
Evelyn turned away abruptly. Nevel
in her life had she been SO much ashamed
OF herself .-Chicago Times-Herald
Has to he Reconstructed.
1t is doubtful If a mar ever strictly