The labor world., 1911-01-28
HIS FRIENDS
He Entertained Them but Once
By DANIEL K. Won TROMP
Copyright, 1870 by American Press
Association.

Nesting among the green hills OF Ver-
mont one autumn on matter OF bust-
ness, l was walking. satchel in hand.
from the station to the hotel OF the
place when was accosted by CHEEKY
man, who asked me if were going to
stop overnight in the town. Upon my
telling him that such was my inten-
tion he said to me:
II sometimes receive guests in my
house and if you like will entertain
you"
Not relishing a stay in the average
country hotel. l concluded to go with
the man. He led me to the handsom-
est house in the place. 1t had no ap-
pearance Of being hotel. Indeed.
there was nothing public about 1t. l
was shown to a bedroom containing
every comfort and convenience. l ar
rived near the dinner hour and when
/ went down into the dining room
found there only mine host and his
family about q table at which there
was but one vacant seat. My host in
troduced me to his wife and daughters
and motioned me to the vacant chair.
Never was l more puzzled. had
been solicited. l supposed, by either a
hotel runner or landlord. yet SEEM
ed to be in private house. The con-
versation was general and was enliv-
ened by a bottle Of wine. This en-
barrassed me. for landlords are not
used to furnishing wine unless duly
ordered to be paid for. had ordered
no wine and did not know whether
would be permitted to return the
hosts civiity by doing so. After din
ner l spent a very pleasant evening
with him and his family and at bed
time retired to my room.
I was given my breakfast the next
morning alone. and. as nothing was
said about remaining longer after l
had eaten. l took up my satchel for
departure. Each one of the family
cordially bade me goodby. not one Of
them expressing desire to see me
again. though the eldest daughters
eyes sank to the floor at a pressure of
the hand I gave her. I could not
bring myself to call for bill. con-
tented myself with expressing my
thanks.
Going straight to the Office of man
with whom l had business. I informed
him of my adventure and asked If he
could give me an explanation. He
smiled and said:
Have you read in the Arabian
Nights Entertainment the story of
the man who. disgusted with the SELF
ishness Of humanity. every evening
invited stranger to sup and remain
the night with him and turned him
away in the morning?"
II have"
"You have been entertained by such
q man."
"And I will not be admitted under
his roof again.
''No"
1--WE shall see about that. But tell
me the story.
Evan Thompson inherited the
wealth of his father and grandfather
Evan was always very tender hearted
AS soon as he came into his property
he began to give it to any one who
needed it. He never wasted a penny
Of it. Every cent was a blessing to
whomsoever it was given. TO con-
dense the story. be gave away his
whole patrimony. including the house
in which he now lives. Not being sat-
1sfied to remain poor man among
ha III t.
prosperity. he went away and was not
seen again here for ten years. Then
he appeared one day ragged and for
lorn looking. There was scarcely
person in the town who had not at
some time been assisted by him. He
applied to one after another for help.
What assistance was given him was
so trifling that it served him but for
a brief period. Some of those he had
helped to prosperity made him small
loans, realizing that until they were
paid he would not trouble them again.
Some paid no attention whatever to
his solicitations. And 80. after he had
asked for help from everybody and
all had either refused him or put him
where he could not we'll ask for more.
he discovered that his former friends
when they saw him coming would
turn down a cross street before meet
ing him. Indeed. everybody wished
he would go away again and stay
away.
HE disappeared one morning, his ab-
sence being made manifest by his fail
ing to call on man who had promised
to lend him quarter. The man told
others Of the circumstance. and it soon
got abroad that 'Seedy' Thompson, as
he was called. had relieved the town
of his presence. Then one day some
thing happened The owner of the
Thompson homestead announced that
he had sold it for twice what he gave
for it. The next startler was the reg
1stry Of the deed to the premises In
the name Of Evan Thompson. Lastly,
one morning maiden lady passed the
Thompson house and reported that She
had seen 'Seedy' Thompson himself
sitting on the porch putting a cigar
The end Of II all was fhat Thonnao1,