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


MY 4Iiili0 LtfdL 1OI LlAE EJAASN 'A4-N~A
paid for the tea that 1 did not drink,
the poor boy could have had plate
of soup, piece of bread, Or bed IN
which to sleep.
Why did I order the tea At nome
the samovar was ready: some OF the
family were sitting near the table,
smiling pleasantly; on the table there
was something ready for bite; 1t
was only because l WAS ashamed not
to order anything.
We'll, l obeyed my conscience.
That is worth something" Thus l
consoled myself
Again in the street. | found tnat
the wind had increased to a gale. 1t
seemed as If it might have blown OIL
the roofs had they not been made
of tin and we'll fastened on with iron.
Then it swept downward, gave vent to
its anger by beating against the street
lanterns But they remained firm
and diffused their lights as usual.
Then it swOoped down lower still, and
seemed trying to seperate the stones
of the paved street. but the blocks
were deeply embedded in the earth and
the WiIlO NOuIu ItOl pehtSNN~ N'NS'- $780,
neighbors. Again it SCARED up high,
very high. but the sky and stars
looked calmly down as if ridiculing
the frenzy of the gale.
The pedestrians were the only ones
bending before the blast, or hiding
from it; shrinking to take up less
room, or turning around to catch
their breath. so as to be able to pro-
coed a little further.
But the poor boy" I was anxious.
What will happen to him.
My cool reasoning left me and my
sympathy awakened.
Suppose it were my child! What
if | knew that the wind was beating
against my own flesh and blood; that
my child would be obliged to sleep in
the street, or even if he obtained the
money for a nights lodging, must
walk, in such miserable weather, over
the bride to find a shelter
! Is he worthless because he is not
mine? Does he feel the wind less, or
SILVER less with cold because those
to whom he belonged are dead and
lying under a heavy tomb of stone?
| / was losing the desire to go home;
it seemed to me that had no right
either to the warm house or the
ready tea or the comfortable bed,
the welcoming smile that was await
ing me. | perceived that the express
sion of my face was that Of a. viii
lain-a knave. felt as if | could
not show my face to anybody.
would that | were pious!" |
wished. There would come no harm
to me If I believed that He who lives
in heaven does not overlook any one
upon our world; that he will not for
get the boy; for minute"
Why should I any longer feel anX-
ious about him? Why not throw him
upon the world? should not have
him always before my eyes were I
sure that the Almighty was really
watching over him, as we are told He
does, over every creature.
But, as it is, though ill with the
cold and wet feet, must go back to
the soup-house to look for the or
phan. 1t is a shame and a disgrace!
What the shame and disgrace"
were. why l felt abashed before any
body l know not the present day.
And still the feeling of shame and
disgrace made me walk around about
way until I reached the kitchen.
The first compartment, the dining
room. was vacant. The rush of the
day was over, and the dampness Of
the floor was rising higher and higher
until 1t filed the room and united
with the steam that came from the
kitchen into heavy drop of vapor.
Through the little opening which
leads into the cooking room l saw the
coax leaning with her left arm or
the large soup kettle. and with her
right bringing the huge ladle to her
lips. Another woman, the assistant
cook, half asleep. was preparing tht
noodles for -morrow's soup. The
manager was counting the dinner
tickets to be charged to the commit
tees account and no one else was t.
be seen. | cast a glance under thu
table but the boy was not there.
had come too late. II am glad,
thought 7, that no one saw me-
Suddenly I reeollected that I hat
been walking the streets for severa
hours. What is the matter will
me?" I ASKED myself, angrily, ant
started to walk home. Satisfied tina
all were asleep, I walked stealthil!
into the house. took off my shoes II
, the hall and went to bed-but
passed miserable night.
| Tired, wet and cold it took me
long time to get over my coughing
and to feel warm. I felt as if I wer
; chilled all through IT was very lat
| in the night when I fell asleep and
had terrible dreams.
When ] awoke, wet with perspira
ton, I jumped out of bed and Wen
to the window I looked out; the SIX
was bright and starry The quie
stars looked like diamonds set in gra
steel. The wind was still hlowin
almost hard enough to overturn tn
house
l went to bed again, but my dream
4 were confused, and the boy was tn
q center of them ALL
In each dream I saw him in
{ different place Once he was wearl
/ dragging along in the street; agai
saw him sitting. with head Der
4 forward and detected look, on tn
4 stoop of little house, and once NOR
ii seemed as though the devil wa
playing with him. tossing him in tn
4 air from one hand to the othe
Later I saw him lying frozen
death on the sidewalk.
ii h.