West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-04-24
Mr.. BOWSER'S CHARITY.
He Sets Out 10 Find Dying Wife anu
Meets With Something Else.

evening lust as poorly clad man who drag
ged one leg behind him was leaving II,
The man had such discouraged and woe
begoue look on his face ,ha, he was hal,c,
and asked the cause of his distress.
'Why asked for crust of bread and .
cold potato in there and was turned down, ,
he replied.
"fou didn', ask for money!" queriet
MIR. Bowser.
"No sir. have eaten nothing Tor "a
hours and asked for food only. would
have been satisfied with the crus,s thrown
into the garbage pail but the woman called
me an impos,er and told me to bc oil"
"She did, did she1 Was /, the cook ol
the lady of the house1"
~, was the lady sir. lie, eyes snapped
when she told me To git. WANTED to tell
her abou, my dying wife bu, she wouldn',
listen to word"
AIS your wife dyiuga"
"She is. Yes sir, she's dying for the
wan, of medicines aud food. She may be
dead when get back home. II SO shall
jump into the river n, once. Sin you do no,
know wha, ii is to see wife dying for the
want of the crumbs people throw out to
their dogs"
"Look here man" said MIR Bowser
whose hear, had suddenly swelled to twice
IFS natural size, 81 don, happen To have a
cen, of change with me but IL you will be
back here in about an hour I'll go with YOU
10 your home and relieve your distress. Go
aud tell your wife that you have found some
one who will provide for her every want
aud that she shall have every care ,ha,
money can buy"
"l'il do i, sir and I'll ask her to live on
and oh sir'--
There, ihere--never mind my poor fel.
low Run along with the good news and
be sure To be back in an hour. All the
| people Ia this town haven't hearts of stone Z"
The man limpcd of wipiug his eyes and
mumblng his thanks and MIR BowScr enter.
ed the house with such frozen expression
ON his face lha, Mrs. Bowser felt shiver 90
over her and the ca, looked around for a
safe hiding place.
Isis anything wrongp" she asked as
dinner was served.
Mi. Bowser's frozen expression froze still
harder and there were icicles in his voice as
h answeredi
owe will talk of lhc matter after dinner
though how your conscience can permit you
to swallow single mouihful of food is be.
yond me. i"
| There was row coming for sure and Mrs.
Bowsef braced up To meet it, She hadn't
broken window that day and The gas bill
hadn't come in nor the clothespiucs been
used for fuel in the furnace but something
was wrong somewhere. A grim silence pre-
vailed until dinner was finished and they
had reached the sitting room and pointing
iinger al her nose hoarsely exclaimed:
woman do you know wha, you have
done2"
"iias-has one of the water pipes burst1"
she asked as she looked around.
Don't Try to evade the queslion,, he
exclaimed as be took step nearer.
"Woman with heart Of stone you turned a
starving man from our door an hour ago"
"No didn't. An old tramp came along
and asked for 10 cents and'--
ole was no old tramp lie was The nus
band of a woman dying for the want of
food and care. lie himself hadn't tasted
food for day or two With tears in his
eyes and a heart full Of grief he asked you
Tor crust, for cold poiato-aye for
bone--and whet reply did you maker
iieartless, selfish female you bade him lie
gone"
81 say he was an old tramp whose breath
smelled Of whisky and he wanted 10 cents
70 buy moIe with. He's called here a
dozen times If you let ,hat man take you
in
'silenee!!' roarcd Mr. Bowser. ~ un-
dersiand rou perfectly. You have no heart.
The suifenngs Of your fellow beings arc
nothing TO you. You care not who dies or
who lives. starving man with diving
wife asks for a cold poiato--simpy cold
poiato-and you threaten him with the
polcei Heavens bat is there another such
"oIhhh in All ihis WOtldf'
''lt's no use to Try to make you under.
stand, said Mrs. lowser as she sat down. %
'Not bit Of IL; not bit" he replied.
III that poor man Is at the present moment
lying exhausted on the Sidewalk. while his
wifa has closed her eyes IN death. you alone
are TO blame for IL and wouldn't have
your conscience for all the wealth Of Col.
conda II able 10 drag himself back the
man IS now at our gate aud waiting for nc. .
shall accompany him home and alleviate
his distress. n she Is able 10 hear the
journey shall send his poor wife 10 the
hospital ~ an ambulance As for you
womsn-as for you and your accusing
conscience
only conscience does not accuse me. &"
she interrupted
las for you and your accusing con.
science You car SIC here in company and T
don begfudge you your reflections What
10 b'alcs Is ihc matter With that old cat?"
"Shc seems 60 he smiling." replied Mrs
Boascr as she looked over 10 where the
feline vas sitting with a grin on her face.
Mr. Bowscr looked around fora efowbar
bat as there was none handy he passed
down The hall and pot on bis overcoat and
hat and left Che house The man was al
The gate waiting for him. There we're new
tears 10 bis eyes aud a nca color of red 10
his n1sc
GLOW can ever thank you hind sirP"
he exclaimed as be led the way down the
street
~ want no thacks. replied Mr. Bowser.