The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-07-14
AIMS AND THE MAN
[Copyr1ght 1pO6. hy 4. c. MeClure. J


away monOtonOusly, 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 rusty gray
beard patiently ground the crank. In
the little tin cup beside the organ were
three pennies, and suspended from the
Old mans Dsok was a tt1 sign with
tile time worn anRounoehent, II Am
Blind"
As Francesca West and young Hol-
lander came Nown the street the organ
was In the throes Of Lead, Kindly
Light" and the 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 manp' And, fish
ing a quarter from her purse, she
dropped 1t 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 humbugr be commented as
they continued their way down the
street
"Why do you say that" Francesca
asked.
We'll" 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
Rest assured he saw the quarter and
its donor as well as l did"
Anyway" she said, "he earns the
pittance he gets. Imagine sitting there
all the morning grinding that organ
and listening to its drone, all for three
pennies"
Don't let the pennies deceive you,"
Hollander protested HE puts the
nickelS and dimes in his pockets 1t
would hurt business to have the tin
cup look too prosperous. BY this time
your quarter is safely salted with the
rest, and the three pennies make their
pathetic appeal to other tender hearts" :"
Francesca's brow wrinkled in disap-
proval.
I'D bate to look at the world through
such green goggles of cynicismr" she
said. II always give something to
every beggar in my path"
ALLOW me to take exception to that
statement" said the young man. Some
Of the beggars' pleas you don't deign
to notice"
Indeed" said the girl with slight
lifting Of her pretty eyebrows. When
have you noticed such oversight on
my partT
There Is one beggar In particular" t"
said Hollander, IAN honest beggar, too,
whom you utterly ignore. BE needs
your aims far more than your pseudo
blind organ grinders
Where is this neglected beggar"
she asked. when have / seen himY
He has dogged your steps for the
last Ave years." he said gravely He
has sat at your feet and held out his
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 dirtyF she asked.
Would know he was beggar just
to see hlm2"
"You would know he was beggar
just to hear him." he returned.
rs it money he begsf" she inquired
sweetly.
No." he said, "it's not money he
wants He has enough Of that him
self He begs for interest and sym
pathy and love"
And suppose dropped some love
er-that is, sympathy, l mean--in his
cup, what would he do2 Would he
grind me tune on a decrepit barrel or
ganf
He'd give you lifelong devotion in
return" he said earnestly.
Perhaps he's as big humbug as the
blind man. she mused Perhaps he's
picked the metuphorical dimes and
nickels out of his cup and slowed them
in bis pockets, and only let's me see the
three pathetic pennies"
"Francescar' he said in hurt surprise.
She laughed rather uneasily.
Il said perhaps, she reminded him.
Il see,' ne said, somewhat Modified.
There was silence between them for
a moment
Hes an honest beggar," the young
man said.
Hes a most persistent one" she
laughed
You say you give aims to every rag
ged mendicant who crosses your path.
You wouldn't pass him by, would your"
he asked
IF thought he really needed
alms"- she began.
HE does! I assure you he does" he
said eagerly.
Then, just to stop his begging" said
Francesca, looking at cornice on the
other side of the street. T'll-I'll give
him what he asks"
On his way home they passed the old
man with the barrel organ again. Hol-