The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-08
THE REGGAR BOY.

l tDN l. LII ICACEs 4idh0iatGu A'OiAt
Yiddish for the Jewish World by NJ.
S MandelD.
Please, sir. give me few copecks
for nights lodging?"
NO" l replied. hastily, and went
on.
He followed me. imploring with his
bright eyes, and kissing my hand; but
it did not evail. My allowance does
| not permit me to be so generous.
| Poor people" l thought as l
| came out of the soup kitchen"
where I had sternly refused the beg
| gar's plea, are a most annoying lot"
The first time l noticed the thin,
grimy young face. with it's sunken
but bright black eyes. my sympathy
was aroused. And before he finished
| entreating me, I was deeply moved,
and at once placed coin in his skin
ny hand
| remember very well that l did
not stop TO reason whether l could
| afford to do so or not. My pension
| consists of only IL roubles and 66
| copecks month but the sympathy
which he awakened in me prompted
| the action.
His entreaties went through me
| like an electric shock; they agitated
my Utmost heart. and my calculator.
| the brain, conceived the idea of the
| additional expense much later, when
the boy was outside of the soup
| kitchen" dancing for joy.
Preoccupied with my own and other
peoples business. I soon forgot the
| mendicant; but. seemingly, not alto
| gether. Although | was unaware of
| the fact, there must have taken place
| in my mind a conference of practical
ideas. Because, on the second even
| ing. when the lad stopped me again,
land in a trembling voice besOught me
/ to advance him the price of a nights
lodging, these conclusions were fixed
| in my mind: THAT a boy seven or
| eight years of age ought not TO beg;
| that he should not be a frequenter of
| charitable eating house. and that
the food he received for cleaning up
the tables would only serve to make
| him an idler and a mendicant, not an
| independent useful man.
But my hand mysteriously got in
| to my pocket, where l quickly felt it
and checked its impulse. Had l been
very religious. l might have asked
! myself the following questions: is
this act of piety worth the financial
outlay? Would it not suffice instead
to say my evening prayers, or chant
a chapter or two of the psalms ?"
| But not being inclined 10 acts of de-
votion, my object was the boys
highest good. felt sure that by Civ
ing him aims / should degrade him,
| perhaps make him a beggar for life!'
| And still ! gave him the money.
My hand was pulling itself out of my
| pocket, and I did not attempt TO keep
it there any longer: and underlined
| emotion made my heart ache, and
| filed my eyes with tears, Again he
| left the public kitchen with joyful
steps, and / felt so much easier that
a smile of self satisfaction appeared
| on my face.
The third time it took longer to
move me to pity, very much longer. I
had figured out that my income was
not in proportion to my benevolence.
1t was pleasure to see the delight
of the discouraged, downhearted beg
gar at the temporary relief; to see
his young eyes brighten; to know
that he would not have to sleep in
the street but in warm bed, and
that he would have, into the bargain,
a cup of tea and a roll for his break
fast. All this was pleasure, but /.
| with my scanty allowance, must not
permit myself that sensation. BY no
| means!
Naturally, l did not explain all this
to the boy. but instead. | gave him
| such advice as l deemed proper
/ made him understand that by
begging he degraded himself; that
every man, and he would grow up to
be a man. must work; that work was
blessing, and that, IL one looked for
work, he could find It. ] pointed out
to him the value of reading good
books: but, all this could not take
the place of a warm bed. or an unr
brella to protect him from the chilly
rain or snow,
He continually kissed my hand
He constantly raised his eyes to meet
mine, to see if there were not a ray
of sympathy in them; to Judge II
his appeal has been made not in vain
And | have felt that his hopes were
not to be disappointed; that my colo
decision was being meltsd by the pa.
thos of his entreating, penetrating
glance; that with all my calculations
and sermons I should have to sue
cmnb. And r resolved to let hin
have the money, but I am resolved
that I would tell him, once for all
thath he must not beg any more.
would make it clear to him, so tina
he should remember it. l had not
the exact amount, so I changed cOI
and gave him the necessary sum, say
ing:
Here, But listen, you must never
!. ask me again.
Why did l say me? l did MOI
have the word in my mind at ALL a
any rate, did not intend to uttel
it Oh, l wish l could take it back
1t was a painful experience; il
seemed as though l had stifled al
my best impulses. However. it al
: passed as quick as lightning: my
stern look, my earnest voice, my firm
stand did their work! / made a deel
impression on the boy. Although HI
listened impatiently, for Nhe wanted
to get his lodgings, yet he grew
pale, and the tears started to hi
eyes.
"Rut no begging" | told him dis