Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-05
FORGOTTEN OF men.
By W. Bert Foster.
Observation-Disclosures I

He sat, a little dried figure OF a
man with face like winter apple,
In the sunniest angle of the debtors
court. The much hacked armchair
which he occupied had evidently seen
service in its better days at the desk
of some good-natured official. His
thin hair showed in silver streaks
between the rim of his battered hat
and the frayed collar of his coat. His
other apparel correspondent with the
hat and coat; he was shabby, but not
unkempt. The shiny coat was
brushed speckless; the old shoes,
rudeIy patched by the prison cobbler,
were polished; his face was clearly
shaven. Old Jimmy's neatness was
source of wonder to his comrades in
debtors row.
He was a patriarch of the constant
ly changing company who idled daily
in the court behind the workhouse.
They called themselves "boarders"-
pleasantly at which each was ex-
pected to laugh; but after time the
laugh grew hollow, and the jibe was
mockery.
Some idled away the dragging
hours at dominoes, or wrangled nois-
lily over the quoits at the further end
of the court. There were those, how
ever, who walked the court incessant-
ly-Sfor exercise" they said; but it
was the exercise of the Gagged creature
used to the wild freedom of the for
ests and plains.
Old Jimmy was past both stages
of the experience. AS the nonchalance
of the first few weeks gives way to the
lash of.anxiety which drives man to
and fro like the captive beast, SO the
latter had, in old Jimmy's case, grad
ually grown into a gentle apathy.
Old Jimmy had been in the debtors
prison five years. The grave and the
prison door successfully shut out the
memory of man, and five years is
long time for ones friends to re-
member. He had no kin and few
friends when the prison door closed
upon him and he had been forgotten
long since.
But there was one who had not.
He was not quite forgotten of men.
The pitiful spite of the man who
had sent old Jimmy to this place, and
the pitiful stubbornness of the debtor
himself, still kept him here. Some
times newcomers asked the patriarch
why he did not "take the OATH" and
the question always brought flush
to his withered cheek and an express
sion to his eye that few understood.
He felt that it would give his enemy
more satisfaction for him to obtain
his freedom in that way than it did to
keep him shut up; therefore he re-
fused the proffered means of escape.
The officers were all friendly with
old Jimmy. He never made any trou-
BILE and he was useful in breaking
in" newcomers. Sometimes they mar
yelled that so quiet and unobstrusive
q man could be so stubborn.
what would you do If you got
out, Jimmy?" somebody asked.
"I'm sure l don't know" replied
the patriarch, gently. II had begun
to find it hard to get work because OF
my age when l came in. 1t would
/ suppose, be much harder now
Well, expect ! am much better OF
here, and as long as am here know
that there is at least one of my fell
lowmen outside who thinks of me.
A ghost of a smile fiickered across
his face. "Yes, yes" he repeated, q
expect am much better off here"
AS he sat in the fall sunshine to
day, his face was as grave and Inn
passive as usual; but memories were
stirring within him that had not trou
bled him for months. It was thu
anniversary of his entrance upoI
prison life and-but who can express
the feelings of soul whose limits
have been the bare gray walls of I
prison pen for so long time? Per
haps not the soul itself.
So wrapped in thought was he tina
he did not notice the sudden hush II
the court, or hear the firm, quick stel
at his side. 1t was only when hant
rested on his shoulder, that he LOOKED
up. The deputy himself stood besld
him.
We'll, Jimmy, I've got news 70
you" The CHEEKY voice rang out Il
sharp contrast to the hum of subdue,
conversation that had before filed tn
air.
"For me, deputy?" The old ma
had risen and looked into the officer
face with slowly dawning surprise.
"Yes, Jimmy. The best kind o
news" Then he added, in a lowe
tone: you're going out.
"Pm-going-out?"
"That's it, my man."
The old man moistened his lips BIZ
fore speaking again and his voic
shook:
"Are you sure It's me, deputy2"
"0f course / ami" The deputy
laugh again filled the court. II cam
to tell you myself, old man. Why,
verify believe you're not glad!"
Old Jimmy's face had paled an
his voice still trembled.
"What-what has happened, slr?'
"To him?"
Old Jimmy always spoke of HIS Ell
envy in that way and the official a
most unconsciously adopted the tern
The patriarch nodded.
II couldn't tell you. Simply II
money for your board hasn't come, {
that let's you out. Go get your tral
and come along"
The old mans tear-filled ey'
blinked slowly. He stammered, bl
did not move, as though he failed y
to comprehend the wonderful thir
that had befalIen him.
"Come, man, hurry up!" exclaimC
the deputy, more brusquely.
AS though to punishment, vii
! head low on his breast and pail
cheeks, the patriarch crossed Il
| court. Some Of his comrades, wi
| had listened with interest to the co
1 | ,rarooffon crOudod forward IN n