El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-09
Ira m o.
BY EdOuard OsmOnt.

a MAN opened the gate leading into
n the small front yard and
= walked up to the house to ask
I for something to eat Moved by the
miserable appearance of the tramp.
I Nine. Germier listened to his appeal
and was about to give him some money
Then she saw that he was young and
strong and able TO work and thought
better Of it. She was woman OF prln-
CipleS. who wanted nothing better than
to relieve human suffering, but she did
not encourage laZiness. And she said:
But my poor man, why don't you
work?"
"Oh, madame. I would be only too
happy if I could find some work"
L am sure you could if you really
"As if I had not tried everywhere,
but luck is against me / can find no
one who needs me-
THAT is very strange"
Il am as surprised as you are mad
am, but it is true nevertheless ON
work, work, I am Just dying TO 1ino
some work. I am actually sick from
this enforced idleness- Work! why j
would work for nothing just Tor the
pleasure of the thing NoW-thls morn
ing-this morning happened 10 pass
the village church You know tney
are repairing the tower. There were
a lot Of bags Of cement lying aTounql q.
You may not believe me, madam, but II
is gospel truth I am telling you when
I say that the craving Tor Work was
so strong within me that actually
picked up one of those bags and carried
it on my shoulder 80 times AROUND the
church. That just shows you how eager
am to get something to do
Wen, my good man, I think we un-
derstand one another / won't give
you money for nothing, but / viii give
you some work ard pay you wei Tor
it. Are you wiling
Certainly, madam, am ready to do
anything you ask. How happy / Ieel
that I am to have work, real work once
80 begin with" said the little wo-
man, there is a wagon load OF wood
in that shed. VIII you please unload
that and I will give you good lunch.
The mans face darkened-
Unload a wagon! Oh, madam, If you
only kneW-imagine one day some time
ago I was unloading a wagon load OF
coal I don't know how il happened,
but I dropped a bag Of 200 pounds on
q little girl Of three or four years VINO
was looking at me and killed ner on
the spot. I shall never forget it as lons
as I live. You will understand me when
I say that since that day I can't bear
thinking of unloading q wagon And
before that time I just loved to unload
wagons. I could not pass by a wagon
without unloading IT, just for the pleas
Ure Of it. The desire was stronger than
I. 1t was the greatest pleasure Of my
life. They used to call me the Unload
er. But since that day can't DO t., u
brushes my heart even to think Of IL.
see the dead little child, the whole
family in tears. The memory Of il al
most sets me mad On, madam, don't
ask me. 1 viii do anything except Z
that"
slWeu. we will say nothing more
about 1t. I understand that you abhOr
the thought of this particular kind Of
work, and so 1 viii ask you to sprinkle |
the garden"
hands In ]
Now, If that is not just like my bad I
luck. Sprinkle the garden! why, my /
dear lady. you don't know, OF course, I
that I have just spent six weeks in I
the hospital unable to turn over in I
bed by rheumatism. The doctor has I
given me strict orders to avoid damp I
ness. I beg you to note that before !
that time I just loved that kind OF I
work. 1t was impossible for me to pass 4
q vegetable garden without sprlnklng ]
all the beds You have no Idea how I
that work interested me il was my 4
greatest pleasure in life. Everybody I
called me THE Sprinkler" But since I
I was sick I have been robbed OF this 4
enjoyment If 1 should sprinkle your /
garden now, I know / should be SICK
bed to take care OF for at least Two
weeks and I really can't run that risk
Ask me to do any kind Of work but
sprinkling."
Ilen must Try TO llLlA 5OLlleL-l-i-5
else for you. Yes, I know one thing
you can do You will carry all the
furniture and rugs out Of the parlor,
but be very careful not to break any
Of my bricabrac. Then after that you
wiz wax and polish the floor"
This time the man tore out bunch
Of hair indcspair-
There never was a man tiI5 like Of
me in bad luck. I really never had a
lecent chance all my life. Bricabrac!
Why, madam, I have never been able to
touch any without breaking it in
pieces. I am that clumsy
Just look at my hands, What can a
nan do with such paWs2 I am built
Tor heavy work. If you want me to
larry your trunks to the station or to
AXE your piano to the tuner, or TO put
your billiard table on top of the roof,
am just the man. But bricabrac, Re
lily my conscience fOrbids me touching
hat. 7 would smash all Of IT. Tt would
Tot be honest of me to say otherwise"
Nine. Germier began to feel really
annoyed.
But, my good man." she said, II have
10 billiard table and I am not going toll
raveL Now just tell me yourself what
-Ou could do in a house like mine. We