The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-02-07


hurt the feelings of worthy man and
imbittered him against his fellow men.
The man may not have been tramp.
You asked him no questions and can
not therefore say that he was. The
chances are ninety In hundred that
he was some poor man out Of work"
"He didn't look to me like working
man." replied Mrs. Bowser.
Bowser Pities Tramp.
I But that's nothing to go by. His
wife may be lying Ill. He may have a
sick child. Some hard hearted land
lord may be about to turn him into the
street. He saw the house all lighted
UP and came up the steps with hope In
his heart. He probably said to him
self that Christian family lived here
and that he was sure Of help. When
you opened the door and saw the poor
man standing there know just how
you looked at him. 1t was look that
drove all hope from his heart even be-
fore you had spoken word. He knew
that he would get a stone instead Of
bread"
II simply asked what he wanted"
Eyes, but / know your way Of ask
ing. Did you inquire into the situation
of affairs? Do you know whether his
wife lies at the point of death or notf
Can you say that he has not gone home
to children who are crying for bread
When the man left here feeling that
all the world was against him, he
might have gone down to the river and
committed suicide, II you have driven
him to that, Mrs. Bowser, don't see
how you can ever forgive yourself"
IF you want me to give money to
every beggar that comes along then
you must furnish It," she retorted
rather sharply.
"Thats not the question. We know
that there are undeserving people so
llclting charity, but at the same time
there are others that we should be glad
to assist. What complain Of Is thai
you did not ascertain whether he wa:
deserving or undeservlng."
"Am to invite the next tramp into
the parlor and ask for his storyf"
scolds His Wife.
mo, ma'am. You are to keep righ
on In your cold blooded way and drive
deserving people to suicide. How
many you have thus driven l canno
say, but the list must be long one."
Mrs. Bowser had no more to say
and the meal was finished in silence
As they went up to the sitting room
she worked up smile and said:
1--WE haven't been to the theater TO
quite some time. Suppose we go to
night?"
II happen to have other business oil
hand tonight" replied Mr.. Bowser.
"Golng to a clubf'
mo | am going TO settle this ques
sion of charity. contend that the maj
that called here was no tramp, con
tend that you ought to have listened I
his story. | have got that faith in IN
fellow men that believe their heart
and their purses are ever open to allie
yiate deserving case"
"Wellfr
"And + am going to prove It to you.
"But how can you?"
"Mrs. Bowser, am going to put o.
an old overcoat and cap and go forth
l am going to halt several pedestrian
and call at several houses. Not one o
them will turn me down. Not one o
them will say me nay"
But how silly all that would be
You may run across some one VIII
knows you. If you will let 1t all g
and come along to the theater, / vii
give the next tramp quarter ant
talk to him with tears In my eyes,"
Believes In Fellow Man.
Her levity was unfortunate. 1t onl.
strengthened M Bowser in his deter
mination. He looked at her very seri