St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-04-13


These.words sseYe uttered this morn
ing by q tall, haggard, feeble young
man in the room Of the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, to
the chairman of that committee, Con-
gresham Hepburn. of lows.
The correspondent OF this paper was
ascertaining some salient facts about
the Nicaraguan canal bill, and the in
terruption was exceedingly disagree
able. The writer has seen so many un-
worthy alms-seekers In the capitoi
building during the past quarter OF q
century that be does not kindly in
cline towards any who seeks aims IN
that place. This 10 not because OF .
natural disposition to unkindness. but
because the worthy are SO few, and the
unworthy SO many.
But Congressman Hepburn 10 si-
ways approacha BILE, and he gives every
man a chance. He listened TO the
words quoted above, and his face
showed q feeting sign of annoyance
at. the interruption, but he courteous
ly said: "Come here and take this chair.
Do not feel embarrassed. but make
yourself at home. Tell me your story.
The writer stepped back, took .
zshair near another desk in the big
room, and heard the following conver-
sation: .@s,. b.
..I am an Iowa man; was born In
Creston, Ia, in your district. am
barber by trade, and learned my trade
in Creston. / left home two years ago
And have beenin many places. came
here from Baltimore, where had been
sick for some time. / was told that ii
l could see you, / could get transporta-
ton home, and know that if I can get
back to Creston I win be taken care OF
by my good old father until I am well
and able to work again" n :
| 81. know Creston quite WELL" said
Col. Hepburn. Evil You tell me the
names of the BARRIERS there. and the
name Of the barber from. whom you
learned your trader"
The young man named several bar.
hers in Creston, including the name OF
the barber who taught him his trade
He, told also Of several men in Creston
who had helped him in his earlier man
/ hood, while he was endeavoring to gel
| along. He mentioned men who had ad
vised him not to leave there and ven
ture forth into the world. In reply ia
inquiries he manifested other intimate
acquaintance with the prairie town
and at last Col. Hepburn said:
81 am satisfied that you are . youn1
| man from my district in need Of help
and will give it to YOU" Thereupoz
he wrote a short letter to an official ol
| this district, and handed it to the
young man. saying: This letter viii
procure you the transportation which
| YOU desire. There is an official here
who has an annual appropriation fol
just such cases. when they are proper
ly presented. My messenger will &C
company you, and see that you ar.
started off all right. 1 hope you vii
| get home and recover your health ant
that you will be an ornament to SO
ciety in your future years"
The sick young man was profuse il
his thanks and was leaving the room
when Col. Hepburn called him back
| and asked: How are you going u
get food while on your way?"
81 have a good overcoat which I caI
pawn, and my father will give me an
other when l get home" was the cheer
full reply.
Col Hepburn replied: "You ART
weak and sick and in danger of cold
You will cross over the mountains. ant
you will need your overcoat. Here il
fiye-dollar bill. which hand you as I
loan on honor. will expect you to re
turn it when you are able. SO you neet
not hesitate to accept it. / give it no
as charity, but as loan, and there
is no humiliation in accepting loan.'
The young man leaned heavily ol
the table. and tears filed his eyes a
he took the money and stammered
few words of gratitude. Col. Hepburn
assured him that he need not feel un
der any special obligations and walked