The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-01-04
Twice Sentenced.

Twice Sentenced.
do you need man to work abou
your place, sir ?"
Judge Parker looked up from his Law
books and papers to the questioner,
stalwart man about thirty years of age
poor, but genteel in appearance, and re
spectful in manner and speech.
"Take chair said the Judge, Pc
litely, motioning to one near him.
mo, thank you, sir; prefer to stand
if you please. The door was open and
made bold to walk in. l knocked severa
times on the door frame. but you didn'
hear me. | came in just to ask if 20,
need man to do any sort of work abou
your place? you do not, I'll not tax,
up any more of your time, as l see you r,
busy. But / hope you do, sir; 1 neec
work badly"
''Iou are a stranger in Pixley, are yor
not?" asked the Judge, leaning back il
his chair.
partly so. lived here years ago."
"Your name?'
"John."
Your surname ~
81 would like you to call me just John
sir, if you please"
Don't you know, my man, that with
holding your name is not good recon-
mendation and very likely to make ar
unfavorable IMPRESSION"
81 know it sir, but if you'll only try
me, l think you'll find that my faithful
ness and desire to do everything right
will make up for the rest of my name"
Something about the mans bearing
and appearance strongly impressed Judge
Parker, inspiring a desire to know more
of him. and he said:
well, I'll tell you caudidly, that like
your appearance and manner, but when
a man refuses to give his name there's al
ways something wrong"
There is something wrong, sir. I'll
be honest with you, there is something
wrong with the name, but not with me
not now. l could easily give you a
false name. Amt the fact that | don't
give one some sign of honesty, and won't
you please look at that as a recommen-
dation, sir ~
ct is an Indication, certainly" re.
sponded the Judge Nov, it Just hap.
pens that l do need a man about my
country place here; need one badly.
Summer is upon us, bringing great deal
of work to be done about the grounds
have a man for the stable and hores, so
so the new hand would have to do the
rough work, moving the lawn, raking,
wedding, saving wood, keeping the
grounds in good order, running errands
and so on. Would you be willing to do
that ?"
certainly, sir" John hopefully, re-
sponded. "I'll be only too glad if you'll
try me-"
But you are an able bodied young fel-
low, who could make at some trade
much more than could give you for the
work mentioned, and if l mistake not
your appearance. you have had higher
aims than this sort of work.
THAT is all true, sir. l could make
more at other work, and 1 have had
higher aims, but you see how misfortune
steps in sometimes ON our aims. But I'd
be glad to do such work as you said for
the summer, if you'll only give me a
trial"
What are your terms ?"
"That is not important, sir"
mot important? Why, my man, it is
becoming plain to me that you have
some object other than this work; some
plan which such position is to subserve.
Haven't you?"
"Not exactly plan, but have a rea-
son for coming to you that I'd rather
not tell, you please. It's not wrong
purpose, and l hope you won't refuse me
the work on its account"
at gives rise to unfavorable suspicious,
though. An unusual number of things
are against you. You refuse to give
your name, you seek work plainly be.
meath your abilities, wages are unim-
portant, and lastly. the work is not your
chief object You must certainly be
aware that these would be good grounds
for turning you away"
81 am aware of that, sir, and was
afraid that when l came to you that
would appear in bad light, but l con.
cluded to be honest about it, anyhow.
Try me, though, sir; you'll not regret it
l want the place surely, more than l car
tell. Pm in distress. l have nothing
else to say. My appearance is my only
recommendation. If that won't do,
must go"
He looked pleadingly at the Judge
who, rising, came from behind his desk
and standing close to the applicant said
We'll, John, let me tell you that your
candor and evident truthfulness have
impressed me strongly in your favor, de
spite the appearance against you. II
try you for month, but you must moi
complain if you are denied certain priv
leges that would be accorded to mar
who has proven himself trustworthy, OF
if your actions are more closely
watched"
I've seen those consequences, sir, ant
it's all right. They are to be expected
under the circumstances, and | won
complain. Do as you please with me til
you feel can be trusted. Show me tn
work at once. sir. if you can. couldn
find words to thank you, sir. even if yor
had time to hear them. My work mus
show you how grateful ! am"