University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-11-30
OHuer Goldsmith

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Wayfarer's Inn all was warmth. The
candles had been snuffed, the supper
dishes cleared away, and ale brought
in. The landlord and the stranger
had drawn their chairs to a table be-
fore the fireside. Great mugs OF ale
sat before them, and now and then
with satisfied smack of pleasure
they swallowed great draughts OF the
beverage Few were out a night
like this The f;ckering flames leaned
and danced casting fantastic shadows
tover the low gabled ceiling from
whose rafters dried vegetables hung
in profuse bunches.
The carrier from London brings
news that Goldsmith has been dead
thesa three weeks ventured the
portly keeper of the inn by way of
hospitality. Il am but from London, -
replied the nan OF travels. slowly
raising his stien to his lips and
drinking deeply. did but leave his
bedside. We had known each other
for years. 1t was in Switzerland |
first met him. had stopped at the
close Of a hard days toll DER noun
tain ruggishness for bit of supper
| While the guests were eating. a
slender little man. with limbs i'll knit.
his ugly features marred by poX
marks, sat in cornsr and played
upon broken flute. His music was
good and when we had finished
might eat. The next morning we took
the road together. our paths lay in
the same direction. He was with me
into Italy.
Il liked the man and one night "a
we lay by the roadside. | asked from
whence he might come My friend
ship touched him deeply and he told
me OF his early life 1t seems he was
born in Ireland about the 2Sth year
Cf this eighteenth century at little
village called Pallas. AS boy he
was sent to country school house
where he acquired a passion for rhym-
ing Irish verses and learned a little
ancient language. Al the age of sew
enteen he had started in to make his
way through Trinity College al Dub
! lin by doing menial services for the
other scholars. Here he was put
! down for a Ounce and spent a life of
poverty and low dissipation. but at
last succeeded in getting a degree of
honor.
He was now twenty-one years of
age and spent his time at home loaf
ing about, and trying his hand at
| various professions. He wanted to
enter the ministry. became private
tutor. and afterwards decided he would
| go to the colonies in America. His
folks gave him ample funds for the
journey, but on the way he fingered
in Cork at a gambling den and lost all
his money. Next he studied law but
gave this up for medicine. After
some work along this line he finally
| found himself without the knowledge
of doctor, standing in the world with
only the clothes on his back and an
old flute on which he had often vailed
away the dreary hours OF nights of
hunger. With his flute he set out to
make his way and it was so | found
him in Switzerland"
The speaker ceased drained his long
handled cup, and pushed it silently to-
ward his host The keeper rose and
taking the vessel wobbled to the cask
in far corner. filed the empty mug.
and setting it before the narrator,
seated himself again before the CHEEKY
fire.
I'VE next met in Dover" continued
the man taking up the threads of his
story. He was fricndless and his
music would no longer cali forth the
daily bread. He turned his hand to
various trades, pounded drugs and de-
lived medicine, and begged his exist
=nce with a band OF worthless va
grants. went on to London to ply
my trade as type-setter He followed
with a band of strolling actors. who
soon broke up. Again Goldsmith was
without means, and wanting to do
what | could for the luckless fellow,
Il found odd jobs that he might busy
himself with around the shop. He
liked the work and soon became
writer's hack. renting a dirty little
garret where he spent his hours of
labor. He had now found what he
could do. | see by yon book shelf
you are man of some learning Gold
smith now wrote articles for our re-