Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-07-19
AIMS AND THE MAN

away monotonousiy, its sqUeaky drone
all but drowned in the roar Of traffic
In the street. Its three tunes followed
one another in ceaseless. succession.
The jerky strains of After the Ball''
were supplanted by THE Last Rose of
Summer" and this in turn gave way to
lead, Kindly Light" a rendition
which Was unique in uneven breaks
and phthisicky wheezes due to compli-
cations in the Internal mechanism of
the dilapidated affair.
Huddled ON the bricks of the side
walk, his back resting against an iron
fence, an old man with a rusty gray
beard patiently ground the crank. In
the little tin cup beside the organ We're
three pennies, and suspended from the
old mans neck was Il tin sign with
the time worn announcement, Il Am
Blind"
AS Francesca West and young Hol-
lander came down the street the organ
was in the throcs of Lead Kindly
Light" and tie spasmodic snarls it
sent out seemed somewhat In the ma
ture of a protest. Francesca caught
the young mans arm, and they halted
before the organ.
oh she said under her breath,
what horrible Old mani" And, fish
ing quarter from her purse, she
dropped ii into the tin cup.
The old man touched his hat, grunt-
ed a stereotyped Thanks, num-" and
the hymn squeaked along its uneven
way. Hollander watched the proceed
ing with grim smile.
The old humbug" he commented as
they continued their way down the
street.
why do you say that?' Francesca
asked.
Well" said Hollander, perhaps you
noticed he suffixed his thanks with a
mum instead of sir | was watch
ing closely and saw the old codger
covertly open the eye nearest the cup.
Test assured he saw the quarter and
its donor as well as did"
anyway" she said. 'he earns the
pittlnce he gets. Imagine sitting there
al The morning grinding that organ
mi l.s.o-.-S 10 its drone. all for three
pennies"
Don't let the pennies deceive you,"
Hollander protested. he puts the
nickels ana dimes in his pockets. 1t
would hurt business to have the tin
cup look too prosperous. BY this time
your quarter Is safely sailed with the
rest, and the three pennies make their
pathetic appeal to other tender hearts"
Francesca's brow wrinkled in disap-
prevail.
I'D hate to look at the world through
such green goggles of cynicism," She
said Il always give something to
every beggar in my path"
ALLOW me to take exception 10 that
statement said the young man. Some
of the beggars' pleas you don't deign
TO notice"
Indeed" said the girl with a slight
lifting of her pretty eyebrows. when
have you noticed such oversight on
my partf"
There is one beggar in particular, g."
said Hollander, IAN honest beggar. too.
whom you utterly ignore. He needs
your aims far more than your pseudo
blind organ grinders"
Where is this neglected beggar?"
she asked. when have | seen him.
'He has logged your steps for the
last five years" he said gravely. "He
b., IA 10
little tin cup for aims, but you have
been blind to his presence and deaf
to his plants"
francesca smiled maliciously.
"Is he ragged and dirty" she asked
would l know he was beggar just
to see him."
'You would know he was a beggar
Just to hear him." he returned.
SIS 1t money he begs?" she inquired
sweetly.
NO" he said, Its not money he
wants. He has enough OF that him
self He begs for interest and sym
pathy and love"
and suppose l dropped some love
er-that is, sympathy, 1 mean-in his
cup, what would he do? Would he
grind me tune on decrepit barrel or
gan?'
He'd give you lifelong devotion in
return" he said earnestly.
Perhaps he's as big humbug as the
blind man." she unused. Perhaps he's
picked the metaphoricaI dimes and
nicllels out of his cup and slowed them
In his pockets, and only lets me see the
three pathetic pennies
Francesca he said in hurt surprise.
She laughed rather uneasily.
II said perhaps, she reminded him.
II see," he said, somewhat Modified.
There was silence between them for
q moment.
Hes an honest beggar," the young
man said.
Hes a most persistent one" she
laughed.
Sar x.nY, e,iva aims tn ax-or1r