The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-08-14


trouble at the sight of that lone girl there on the
bridge The sound of her plantive voice has touched
his heart and the good nature in him Whispers
'Help her Ralph A few hasty strides and he has
reached her side
"Pardon a stranger addressing you, lady, but
heard your words. You in trouble. May
help you?"
ooh! you heard" and the girl falls back step
or two from Ralph and her frightened eyes Tx
themselves upon him.
Crust me, lady, believe me, [ am a gentleman
and from my heart L pity you. Fray let me uo
what [ can for you"
II believe YOU are a gentleman and your face
marks YOU one, but you can do nothing for me,
and signing the girl turns her head and her gaze
is again fixed on the three brass balls gllmmerlng
in the gas light.
some crisp bank notes in his pocket, but he thinks
'If offer her one of these, she will refuse, Tor
by the look of her eyes [ know she will not accept
charity You must get some other way, Ralpn, my
boy Ha! by Jove J. I'll try it !"
Il can help you lady" Ralph again repeats
know your difficulty. Your mother is sick and you
want money and you have no other way of getting
it except through the medium of pawn office.
which is so repugnant to your feelings am
man and used to roughing it. I'll transact your
business for you"
No answer on the part of the girl, only lowering
of her head.
i
return If you don't let me help you, well, III say
you don't trust Ralph Hinton
"There" and the girl fevershly thrust packet
into Ralph's hand 'It's fathers ring, but it was
to save mother"
..TJ he hack in two two's," said Ralph as his
hand closes on the packet containing the ring Come
out on this street and walk slowly up and down until
I return. Courage, lady. your mother shall have
foodn and Ralph crossed the streets and entered
| the pawn shop
The object lesson Ralph Hinton got on human
want and sufferings after he entered the pawn shop
was one he never afterwards forgot. Born IN land
of plenty the child of wealthy parents, his every
wish satisfied he never knew what 1T was to want.
He was totally stranger to the inner life OF the
moor. All. We wealthy who roll about IN automo-
biles, We wealthy who spend thousands on delicious
meats and wines and give fortunes tor silks and
trinkets and forget the poor Lazarus at your door
steps. You can never conceive because you have
never felt the pangs of hunger what 1t is to want
home. shelter, the agony that father and mother
feel when their offspring ask for crust OF bread
and there is none to give, and Ralph hinton as he
upon that line of poor before that high counter
| in the pawn shop learns a lesson on human
| suffering that no book could teach him. he
old man and the young man, the boy and girl, the
father and mother are there and the features OF
| each are written starvation and want 1t is true,
drink has brought many there, but the main cause
| is want of work and sickness. And how teverlshly
| these poor await their turn and when their turn
comes they cast their bundles the counter, their
clothes and boots. and other articles precious to
them that they may obtain the rent of their rooms
| and q scantv meal Sick at heart Ralph hinton
leaves the shop His brows are knitted and on MS
| face is seriousness that never was there oe1ore
| Half wav down the street under the light OF gas
1an stands the girl he has befriended. He has he1
fathers ring still in his hands, but at the sight OF
her he sims it into his pocket He has reached heI
;de and assuming cheerful aspect he thrusts into
her hand an English banknote with the words:
ITS all right, lady. 1 have got few paltry
shillings on your fathers ring sufficient to buy
few necessaries for your mother
"May God bless you forever" and the girl SEXES
RaIpb's hands in grateful acknowledgement.
"Thank you, lady, and now may L help you tur
ther and aid you to get what you want tor your
mother and then see you homer
"Ohl I am trespasslng too much on your goou
ness and time and !,
part with,
"The kindness if you but knew it lady. is all or
YOUR side. We are wasting time. Come"
As thew proceeded homeward after they had got
ten what was necessary for the girls mother the
girl told Ralph her history.
| .eMy parents are both French and was born neal
Dion When was but twelve, my parents came tt
/ london for nv father thought he would succeed
Of HE business better there. He was painter anC
while his health continued good we had everything
we required But three years ago ne got lung trou
BILE the air of London was so different to his owl
sunny France As the days advanced he grew worse
and almost all his savings went for medicine and t'
the doctors fees year ago he died and mothe
and I we're left alone with scarcely ten pounds
sa must do something for living and got worl
in laundry, but mother lost her health and hao
70 cease work and stay at home take of her
Our savings daily decreased and for the past weei
we had scarcely crust of bread to eat and the res
you know uv
hard lot. May 1 ask your name"
Lucille Davoust. But here, l am at home =. A
the pirl led Ralph into dingy court and up fligh
of stairs to the fifth story: :,
This is mothers ROOM and the girl enters witt
ooh! motherl God is good to US. l have 1000 AM
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