Newport daily independent., 1905-06-30
NEW STORY OF STALE BREAD

NEW STORY OF STALE BREAD
 Mister, have you any loaves of stale bread today? If you have, my mamma wants two, and if you haven't a droop of the eyes, accompanied by a quickly clouded look of the countenance, indicated the fall in spirits such an an sWer would briHg-"wei, l guess we'll have to wait till some does get stale" But this- was not to be required as an example of the patience of poverty. The bakery boy proved susceptible to the plaintive tear, the hungry look, or the childish, pathetic words of the little q year-old urchin in "raggedy' clothes. All the bread in the shop was stale for the poor little fellow, who was doing his mothers errands and buying at the bar gain counter
 And you get two 1oaves for s cents, don't you?" said the little man, who was not yet resting upon his oars in the full satisfaction of a good 5-cert purchase, for he was not unaccustomed to seeing the few good things which came his way vanish at his touch. But the little wrinkles of happiness were not long Tn filling his honest eyes when the clerk again draWled yes in a perfunctory way that would hide the warmth of his own heart and pretend indifference to this little scene of poverty fighting with its few pennies against the encroachments of hunger But stoical indifference to the ill-fOrtune of others was not yet dominant Tn his buSiness-absorbed mind. He relinquished his claim to a needless, insensitive heart, and manifested his friendly interest in the young customer by inquiring his object in buying stale bread.
 We'll enough was this shopman ac- quainted with medical theories as to the efflcacies of dry bread as wholesome diet; but this knowledge dulled in no way his surprise at the hoy's cheerfully returned answer: Well, mamma says that bread two days old will make me bigger man." meanwhile swelling with pride at this roseate view of his future dimensions and idealized strength, "and mamma, she knows.
 And mamma does know The conf- dence of the child is not mistaken one, though his highest authority has but fancied infallibility.
 A funny little incident, the reader will say, and yet pathetic one withal. True sentiment Is teacher of fine ethics How often tears turk beneath smiles, and a mockery of seeming happiness hides a wounded and distressed heart It is the world and the worlds way Even it's in fants adopt the habit, and life proves but a pretense from babyhood to the grave. Yet, 1t is healthful tendency in many ways One stops, contemplates and ad- mires the happy enthusiast who brushes care aside, the healthful dispositioned optimist who detests moroseness and hides sorrow, yet how much greater are the contented poor who live not to com plain but to make light of their in- numerable hardships. Honor to him who disguises his lot and holds in secret resentment to his fate. The world has enough trouble without an airing of all our grievances, and the hero who, proud in his poverty, hides self and assumes the garb of charity in kindly feelings for his fellowman and the world in which he lives, is, after all, the greatest philan- thropist Yes, and the little one,' who bought stale bread because two loaves must secure the price of one, and made light of such dire necessity, is just such hero; nor is he mythical or romantical one The editor knew him and took this story from real life.