The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-03-22
SeleGt Storp.
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.

The Young pastor stood by the gate and
shaded his eyes as he looked down the road.
As the approaching figure came little,
nearer. he understood the oddity Of its
appearance. There were two men, and
one of them was carrying the other on his
back. When they reached the pastor the
burden bearer paused. He was stout
) fellow of more than medium height.
"Howdy, sir" he said in deep voice,
II trust you are quite well p
Quite well, thank you,'' the young
pastor replied. ;,
) The burden on the stout mans back
squirmed uneasily. ''Lemme down, Tom,
it said.
The stout man voice suddenly softened.
''You amt bit heavy, Phil. Don you
get down unless you re tired o riding. -
Il am tired said the burden.
ssFriend of mine who's little bit under
the weather." the stout man explained
sGot a bit tired coming up that long hill,
and that's how I happened to be totlng
him. -
The pastor looked at the stout man
friend. He was only boy of eighteen,
perhaps, whose appearance showed the
ravages of wasting disease.
"Phil ain what you'd call pretty ro-
bust, the stout man somewhat hastily
explained. 'tHe's little shaky about the
legs and wants feshing up bit. All he
needs is a breath or two of this mountain
air, and plateful of good country feed.
The boy shook his head.
ssTom knows better" he said in his
hoarse tones II amt a-goin to get
well, an he knows it. It's my lungs
The stout man gave the boy a playful
shake
"We want to find a boarding place,
Phil and I. Just quiet house where
the air is good and the feed is good, and
where we can see the sun rise and set.
And we IL pay well for it.
The pastor reflected for moment.
81 think the place for you is the Widow
Langley's,' he answered. ''She has
plenty of room and [ have no doubt will
be glad to receive you. She lives just be-
yond the turn in the road You can see
her chimney through the trees there. "
''Thank you," said the stout man.
'Come, Phil
The pastor stood in the roadway watch
ing the two strangers until they passed
around the curve The stout man was
merrily whistling and keeping step to the
music. The sick boy head dropped upon
his bearer shoulder.
That evening the pastor had caller.
1t was the stout man. He came up the
walk little difidently. The pastor was
on the broad porch. "Come up" he
said cordially. II am glad to see you
again. Take this easy chair
The stranger hesitatingly accepted.
s"Thanky, he said. "You are very
good. You see,'' he hesitated again,
'.you see I thought it would be we'll to
know somebody in the neighborhood and
it struck me the parson was the very one
[ ought to know
1.-The boy is in critical state, said
the parson.
eyes, he is
There was little silence.
''Do you wish me to recommend doc
tor p
The stout man shook his head
s.No. The boy had all the doctoring
he can stand He's going to take his
tonic out of the mountain air. y
"Have you come far?'' the pastor
asked.
ssFrom Amityville. My partner s there
at the hot springs trying to boil out his
rheumatism. We're all show people, you
see, he presently added.
'sAnd is the boy in the show business,
too p the latter asked.
Eyes. he was born into it. His father
was trapeze performer and his mother a
bicycle rider. The lad is leaper and
tumbler. Father and mother are both
dead and since the boy got so sick he
couldn't work, my partner and have been
looking after MIN. y
The sight Of the boy clinging about the
neck of the stout stranger arose before the
pastor.
"You are fine fellow he said, Il
am glad to know you
The stout man HuSneu.
s.None O. that" he abruptly said.
s.We knew his father and mother.
They were worthy people, and the boy is a
good boy. Neither my partner nor [ have
been married, and the youngster sort O
seems like son to us. There's no ques-
ton about money-we have all that S
needed.
There was brief silence.
II don't think that ever met circus
performer BEFORE" said the young pastor
The stout man laughed.
II guess we're all human" he said
ssWe have all joys and sorrows, our laughs
and our pains, very much the same as other
folks No doubt you re sort O prejudiced
against us?''
II was, said the young pastor. "It
was part of my bringing up
The stout man nodded.
''You'll pardon my saying so, parson, -
he slowly remarked, ''but it seems to me
that pre- ejudice is often another name for
ignorance.
''Tm a young man, ~ said the pastor,
'I have much to learn.
Again the stout man nodded.
you're going at it in the right way,
he said. "And now [ want to ask IA
vor. want you to come up and see the
lad. You'll know how to talk to him.
He won't stand for any preaching, but
there'll be chance to put in helpful
word now and then
He talked to the lad, and he read to
him-and the boy was pleased at his COM