The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-07
THE BLIND MAN AND THE
BOY,

Where the mouth OF the SUBWAY
was pouring forth one stream OF
passengers and receiving another
saw a picture that will be one OF
my most lasting possessions.
II was a blind man being led across
the intersection of tracks and down
the stairs into the station of the un-
derground railway He was a man
of 30 or more, with long, fine, white
hair that lay softly about face as
sweet and strong as saints. His
black clothes, high waistcoat and soft
black hat suggested the cleric. But
there was nothing else to distinguish
him from the mass OF men who were
streaming in and out OF the subway.
crowding, jostling and showing dis
position TO trample each other-noth-
Ing bnut a smile that lay upon ones
heart as a benedictioD.
1t was a neryasive smile, like the
last rich glow of sunset, Like that,
too, it sought out no one obpject, but
shone upon all. 1t was like the glow,
too, in being the last radiance OF the
day-for there was an air OF fragility
about the whitchaired, black-clad man
that spoke OF the imminence of
another life. But despite the fact he
was old and weak and blind and
helpless he smiled.
His guide. robust, brown-skinned,
Ted-cheeked boy with strength speak
ing in the stream Of red beneath
the brown hair, frowned He was
hurrying impatiently along dragging
the blind man with him at a gait that
was neither dignilied nor comfortable.
But the weak old man smiled and
the boy frowned Why?
Because the man was thinking
How fortunate | am to have the
support OF this strong young arm!
How glad | am of the chance to have
come out where the sunshine bathcs
me in soft waves. Life Is very good
and people are very kind. | am glad,
glad, glad
Because the boy was thinking,
What luck to have to lug this old
follow around when ! want TO be do.
ing something else! | could be play
sitting in the back yard whistling.
| am mad, mad, mad"
Suppose the man had thought
This youngster is fairly dragging
me along the street. must be a
ridiculous spectacle. How do | know
that he wont drag me in fr'
a car? Boys will be brats. Why did
| come out. anyway? It's beastly
hot. What's life when you're blind
No one wants to bother with you.
| wish | were dead and all OF the
hundreds of persons whom he met
that day would have been cast down
by his frown instead OF being up
lifted by his smile.
Suppose the boy had thought
Poor old fellow, Gee 1t must be
terrible to be blind. Wonder how
he got that way? Wonder If | dare
ask him? Look out for that step.
sir! Am / walking too fast for you ?'
And everyone who met him would
have been frightened by the example
OF youth supporting age. supporting
81 with a smile.
The man smiled and the bay
frowneJ because of thought training
i he man had trained himself 10 think
little about himself and much about
others He had schooled himself 10
the habit O. ignoring the unpleasant
things in lie. and to sweet accept,
aDce of those which were inevitable,
The boy had been self-taught, per.
haps with home help, to think, what
of me? When shall | play? Where
shall I meet the boys? How shall
manage TO have all the good times
going2"
Perhaps lney had had the same
character starting point. the semi
savagery or selfish childhood. But
the winds of life had bent the man
away from self They may still per
form the same service for the boy.
Ada Patterson in Denver News.