The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-07-15
"A. mere LABORER.
What a Traveller Observed In a
Certain Land.
THE ToILER IN THE FIELD.
Poverty and Hard Work Killed Him.
but Is He Had . Crust In His
! Pocket He Was Not Destitute-Ths
. Traveller Expresses Thought.

Pocket He Was Not Oestitute-The
Traveller Expresses q Thought.
To a certain land there once came
a traveller. He had lived cheerfully.
and his instincts were not perverted
by bad theories or dwarfed by good
ones. In this land he felt lonely. He
saw a laborer In field and leaned
over a fence to watch him. The lord
of that land passed by. and he also
watched.
II grieve over that laborer." said the
lord of the land. Il find work for him
In my field. and he lives in abject pow
.erty. cannot understand it,"
Perhaps" said the traveller. 1T is
because this is your field"
mo" said the lord of the land. "for,
you see. find work for him. He lives
on work."
ut Is a curious land" said the trav-
eler. PERSONALLY live on food, cloth.
ing, hope and liberty"
This is a mere laborer." said the
lady of the land. who had Joined them
nually. But I suspect he drinks"
1T is a strange land" said the trav.
eler. 81 drink myself. Don't your
The lady of the land put up her
golden pinch-nose and said. Sir
This was form of courtesy In the
land.
The lord Of the land explained in a
kind voice. I'VE certainly imbibe at
times-a little champagne
But this creature. I suspect" said
the lady. "swills beer" And she sigh
ed. being also kindly.
A charitable person Joined them just
then. ''It is true" he said. HE had
what is called half a pint yesterday"
The lady sighed again.
Look" said the traveller quickly.
1.-THE laborer Is nearly exhausted. Let
us help him."
BE careful" said the lord of the
land. "or you will destroy his sense Of
responsibility.
And" said the lady, make him
less deferential or even presumptu-
GUS"
Il should think" said the traveller.
gusting us his poverty"
HE himself Is disgusting" said the
lady.
HUM said the traveller.
The lady adjusted her golden pinch
nose
AS an expert In these matters" said
the charitable I'erson. Il advise eau
ton. ! observe that he Is not yet des-
titute. Even now he il about to eat a
piece OF bread"
We" said the lord of the land. 'are
as earnest US you in our desire to help
the deserving. I may say I approve Of
your aims-at any rate. to large ex-
tent. But the time is not yet ripe.
Let us come tomorrow"
They led the traveller away and talk
ed. kindly with him. and he said.
Hum"
The next day they came to the field
and found the laborer dying. The
traveller spoke with undue warmth as
he climbed hastily over the fence. The
others followed him through a gate.
They found the traveller about to give
food and drink to the laborer.
stay" said the charitable person;
''you are evidently una wnre Of the in
EQUITY of indiscrimina teness."
II can discriminate between a full
man and an empty one." said the trav-
eler.
That" said the charitable person,
lis irrelevant. Let me Investigate the
case"
Thereupon he questioned the laborer
with great skill. which the lord and
lady were able to appreciate. The
The '"r was quite unframed and mere
ttNvea> T.
~ Adgets> ne the charitable person
In due Il. his man is really desti-
said: IL think T. help him little"
tute. 1t Is time 70 ans dead" cried
But. d-u II. the ~
the traveller. ted, but
The other three were sholl.-
they behaved with dignity.
".At least" said the lord of'the lands
he died In state Of independence
And" snid the lady, ''un- ,o,,
ing. though perhaps p. .rrateful."
And" said p $500.
a.. lie charitable person,
ue vs. N.Y. aemoralized by aid before
ne WIS ALLY destitute There is even
nov 4 crust In his pocket. which
'" ..iingly overlook"
He grew the corn for It," said the
traveller.
I'm my field" said the lord of the
land.
And yet" said the traveller, "ht
lived in abject poverty. 1t is disgust
ing"
sit is" said the lady. "but we will
not reproach him for it. now he 1
dead"
"Humw said the traveller.
Besides" she added kindly, bu
with conviction. "this sort Of peopl
knows no better"
ct is true. madam" said the trave