The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-12
How a Richmond Preacher Cast His
Bread Upon the Waters.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION
Entertained a Tramp Who Had the
Rare Virtue. Gratitude, aud lie
Displayed IL in Way That Was
Genuine and Delightful.

pleasant visions OF the past associated
with q friend who was once the pastor
OF this church. l refer 10 the Kew. hu-
ward Huber. And / never think OF MN
without thinking also, OF a Deautiul
tramp story. ! have often felt tempted
% publish 70. ! came near writing II OUT
and sending n 10 The Times just after
Mr. Huber delivered the address before
the virginia Bible Society last year.
am almost certain that II has never
been published. and quite certain that II
should neither perish with nor be re-
strictcd 20 the knowledge OF a few inu-
mate friends
In order 70 secure clearness and 10
prepare for the story. free use Is made OF
the pronoun 'I' and its equivalents IN all
these preparatory remarks. In addition
20 eminent furnishing for his chosen
work as preacher and pastor, Mr.. Huber
IS a fine microscopic and an entomologist
Of no small attachments. To know this
Is essential 70 a fun appreciation Of the
story.
Ills numerous cabinets Of mounted in
sects. and a vast number OF well-prepared
and finely mounted slides, attested his
interest and success I'm these fascinating
folds some years ago. when clrcuin-
stances frequently brought us together
ia tbe city of Baltimore Many delight
uiscroscope one evening we were study
ing some new forms OF diatoms that one
Of rs had discovered in the borlngs OF an
artcsian well Some boxes ana cabinets
were disarranged by "a search for some
slides containing diatoms with some or
the charact eristics marking those we
were examining This disarrangement
brought into view. a large and beautiful
folding cabinet. that somehow had hith-
ert0 escaped my observation.
Before revealing its treasures my
friend tod me his tramp story. ] wish
I could recall and write Sc I'm his words
do not claim 70 Re exact I'm some OF
the unimportant details, and ] am afraid
10 ask him 20 write IT out for me- or 10
give me exact details for publication.
lie is one of the most lowiy-minded
and unassuming men that walks the
earth to-day and as I'm this case he IS
one OF the heroes Of the story, he would
forbid the passing Of the story spoken
into the story published. However, the
reader may rest assured that All the
main facts are as 7 shall relate them
A TRAMP.
One dav-not long before Mr.. Huber
was called 20 the past0rate that TOOK
him from Richmond 10 Baltimore
tramp came 70 the Huber home. Many
tramDs came there. and this one SEEM
inr'y differed IN 10 wise from the otheta.
Ragged. dusty. unshaven, unsnorn' per-
faps. Z anything. be looked little worse
than the average tramp. He asked Tor
something to eat and offered 10 saw
enough wood 10 nay for what he arc.
This. think was about the noon hour.
When Mr. Huber returned home DO the
later afternoon, after making some pas
,oral calls. he found the tramp stil
saving wood. with biistering hands. tie
kindly Insisted that the saving must
cease. Whereupon. the tramp made a
statement. and after It. an appeal
lie said ne had been 10 the Richmond
dock and saw there a vessel loading
with -four. I think-for Brazil. The crew
was one man less than the required num-
her and the captain could not find n
sailor In Richmond 10 make the trip
with him. He-the tramp-would Ike 10
20 20 Brazil. He knew nothing OF yes
sells. or sailing, and for this reason
would charge the captain 10 wages, but
on the other hand. would do anything
he could If the captain would take nm
as one o. the crew. He further stated
a sclf-eyident fact-that if me- a tramp
went 90 The captain and asked Tor lhs
Mace. he would be ridicuicd and rejected.
He then appealed TO Mr.. Huber 10 give
him some kind. any kind of shelter and
work. until the next day. or until tne
brig was ready to sail Meanwhile. Mt
Huber was TO secure the vacant place TOT
"a man he knew Of" and when the prlg
was loaded and the captain Impatient
20 start. the minister was 10 appear WIN
his protege and have him securely on
gagged for the outward TRIP. The state
ments were plausible, but the proposi'loh
was startling. a scheme Tor ropoery. VI
worse could be cleverly concealed tnlh
such a propoeiton, and where could ne
shelter this unknown. ragged rambler
NOND APPEALED IN VAIN.
r,r, those who know Huber and his
,on6er- hearted Mistress OF the Manse,"
know also how he decided the question.
The Industry of the man told IN his favor.
9r was also very young. and he seemed
sincere In the spirit Of christ they
received him. supplied his neeas' ana 'n
d,e time the brig sailed with the tramp
sbirnod on board. as p raw and common
soorna-" While with Mr. Huber the
framp although German, Wa very
reticent concerning himself ana MS pas
history. IL was afterward seen l''' ~
,,os ,-orv observant. Carrying WOOD aii
performing other assumed Ineni"l 49,,
he naturally went into the pastor
study where he evidently STUDIED inc
nastor as we shall finally see
sen after this. pastor Huber accef'-
al me cali 10 the First German Lutheran
chtroh in baltimore. Md. In ADDITION 10
his regular work. be weekly met 'H9
steamers Of the Hamburg Bremen llile'
.rd eternity alone will reveal how many
lives he touched and blessed. win coun-
eel and deeds. as the bewildered emil
Grants were unexpectedly welcomed ny
him. every man IN his own language.
and afterward directed and ADVISED. IN
matters both TEMPORAL and spiritual
After few months in this arduous hela
the tramp incident was crowded out or
memory by other needs and deeds.
put one day during that first year tho
exurcss wagon left a box at the Huber
home. Ii was covered with foreign
markings. Amidst surprise and specu-
lations as TO the sender and contents OF
tho box. the opening proceeded. Within
IL. securely packed was another box
or cabinet II was lifted out. the catch
unlocked. the hinged upper half turned
back. and then-why then. 1t would have
done the soul OF q naturalist-or for that
matter done any appreciative soul good
10 have seen Huber and his box.
Mounted IA the most skillful. and ar
ranged I'm the most artistic manner, was
n magnificent collection OF the butter
flies OF Brazi-and the Brazilian butter
flies are noted for their brilliancy and
beauty.
A LETTER CAME
Soon after receiving the box. letter
came that dissolved the perplexitles OF
the case. The letter was from Huber's