The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-04-26
PERHAPS SHE'LL "FERGIT 1T"
But Willie Jones VIII Get No More of
the Suburban Girls NickeIs, Deaf
and Dumb or Crushed.

When the suburban trains come in
of morning there is real, deep
pleasure in watching the throngs
they bring to this large city, says the
Chicago Tribune. Some find it COM
forting merely to gaze and ponder
on this leaven which goeth forth to
leaven the whole city-it is such a
nice, clearly, sef-respecting leaven
There is none of the helter-skelter,
unseemly haste with which the cable
car throngs go to their daily toll.
Here all is serene and elevating. 1t is
charming and comforting. 1t makes
one think of newly-paved streets, and
pretty little rows of newly-fedged
trees, and clean, proper houses that
you buy at so much a month, and
many things good for a hardened
denizen of the city to think on.
In the spring they wear little
punches of fowers-violets, and cher
ry blossoms, and johnny-jump-ups,
and others. 1t is touching, especially
when they bestow the woodland
wealth on hungry-eyed newsboys and
their ilk. And the girls are tender
hearted in this respect.
There is one comes in every morn
ing from Bloomdale, or Messy Dell, or
some sylvan nook around Oak Park.
She is such an altogether darling"
that even the cob horses smile when
she goes by. And she believes in hui
man nature and had a fervent faith
in the charity that never faileth-the
kind of charity represented by a
nickel or dime dropped in every open
palm between the bridge and State
street-that is, until a recent Satur-
day.
On every other weekday she takes
the 6:15 train westward, but on Sat
urdays it is the $40. Now it came
to pass that for many days a sad
eyed youth had haunted the cars of
the 6:15. He is pale, and of a Smike-
like slenderness, and he wore lit
tie black painted tin sign with words
to the effect that Willie Jones had
been born deaf and dumb. had only
been out of the state asylum a month,
and would the kind-hearted public
extend its assistance in getting Willie
food and lodging?
The kind-hearted public, in the per-
son of the suburban girl, donated reg
ularly to the worthy cause of Willie
Jones, and Willie Jones smiled faint
" liftaI lo+ 10
grace il voiceless gratitude, and a
tender feminine heart futtered with
the happy consciousness of easing the
woe of the world by her mite.
Then came the shock. She was sit
ting in the train about three o'clock
that Saturday, reading her paper,
when suddenly a wistful voice muir
INJURED at her elbow:
Pardon, lady. but would you kind
ly spare a nickel to help a poor fell
low in trouble? I've been working in
a factory. and got my arm badly
crushed. Just out of hospital, lady"
She turned impulsively. caught
full view of the speakers face, and
gasped. 1t was Willie Jones. There
were only dozen people in the car,
but they got the full benefit of the
scene that followed.
"Why, l think you're perfectly aw-
full" she cried, her blue eyes wide
with horror at the depravity of the
case. Il see you every single night,
and you're deaf and dumb, and I've
given you ever so many nickels. And
now you've crushed your arm and
talk. The idea! l think you're just
terrible. I'm going to report you
to the police"
She was almost crying. and Willie
was touched by her evident disap-
poirtment.
saw, say, don't yer care" he said.
comfortingly, as he backed himself
against the opposite seat and ar
ranged his bandage more effectively.
us guys have ter live, yer know, and
yous folks from the country are easy.
You're all right, lady. Even if amt
deaf and dumb l get hungry, and
your nicllels bought me many red
hot on cold day. Don't yer care.
I won't strike yer for any more. Fer
git it, fergit it. Bye-bye."
And she hadn't got over it by the
time they reached Austin.