Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-29
Two Sides
Toa Question

cage. poured forth to the needless world
outside its 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 ssi.ed 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 little shop, over
the door of which the bird sang on. 1t
was cobbler's workshop. \ 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 shuffied 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 bade her Good
day." scarce hoping for work in his poor
shop from so smart and nicely dressed a
lady. Evelyn felt somewhat uneasy at
the old mans harmless aspect.
This bird" she began rather timidly;
''is it yours?'
The cobbler looked at the cage with
visible ide.
"Yes, yes. miss; my bird sure enough,
and fine bird too. Not better bird in
all N, MISS" He rubbed his hands
and smiled genially. Evelyn was silent
as he continued half to himself, as old
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 sailor. 1t seems only yester-
day he came in 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 bird?" 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 So 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 cent more"
The old man looked at her kindly and
explained gently, as il to a child Git was
really very irritating):
mo, miss. don't want to sell him.
was sayin, you see, it was my lad gave
me the little bird before he went to sea.
No, I'm not likely to part with him for
that dearie," indicating the coin with
smiling contempt. aye, and him all the
chick or child I've got left since Dick
,aI = - 1ol Il
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 disappoint-
ment.
EveIyn's patience could stand it no lcn-
ger.
"Do you suppose | want to keep the
poor bird?" she broke forth. Il 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 confine 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 fiuently, 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 good
deal taken aback at this convincing ii
rade. He attempted a defense, however.
NAY; he's not miserable. Hear to him
sing. Would he sing like that if he
weren't happy?"
''Yes," cried Evelyn, ''he 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 felt
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"
NAY" 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 viii
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
came to the conclusion that she had made
rather poor show.
She had also lurking idea that her
motive had not been quite SO much the
cause of righteousness as the pleasure of
reporting progress TO her new society.
Her passionate words kept recurring to
I 10, l,nif
the night. She wondered if little birds
had their duty to do, as she had; wheth-
er, perhaps. in giving pleasure to lonely
old mans declining days the lark might
not be unconsciously doing its great
makers bidding in the place for which he
intended it. She was, she decided, over
young to judge so hastily. And, being a
and conscientious girl. she
bravely resolved to go the next morning,
humble her pride to the dust. and own
herself in the wrong.
About 8 o'clock the next morning. walk
ing with rather red face up the narrow
street. she perceived the old fellow stand
ing at his door with the empty cage in
his hand. He was gazing toward the sky,
and she saw tear trickle down his wrin
kled cheek. He turned as she approach
ed and smiled mournfully in answer to
her inQuiring glance.
'Maye you was right, miss" he said
maybe" He passed into his shop as
sob checked his utterance.
Evelyn turned away abruptly. Never
in her life had she been so much ashamed
Of herself.-Chicago Times-Herald
NOT MUCH OF AN EATER.
1t Took, So He Said, Very Little to