The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-07-10
BUTTING THE STONE WALL.
7. J. Snauldinr

/ Rpoululus,
| An Old rickety wagon, drawn by
half starved horse, came painful,
up the streets bf Vienna and stoppet
| at the northeast corner of the John
son County courthouse square.
Beside the wagon was an old man
tie walked staggeringly as though
weakened by hunger and fatigue
his clothes hung in rags over hi.
gaunt frame and his beard and hal.
We're long and unkempt. There was
on his face. his clothes and his great
knotted hands the CRIME and grease
OF many weary days. The man was
a wreck Inside the diiapidated We
hicle were a half dozen children
all apparently Of about the same size
ali dirty and .frowsy and ragged.
None Of them large enough to earn
wage and no mother to care for
them. 1t was a pItiable spectacle.
When the wagon stopped the mar
swayed somewhat and leaned against
the wheel for moment to recover
his strength. No one doubted that
the man was completely exhausted.
he was obviously nor drunk. He was
staggering, tremlEng, tired and
weary traveller and a crowd of per
haps fifty men gathered about his
outfit to hear his story and to offer
him help.
His tale was heart rending
enough, surely He was a refugee
from the Mississippi food district
dan was on his way across southern
bound for relatives in Ken
lucky. His home had been swept
away and his wife drowned before
his eyes. He had seen her swirlet1
away on the boiling food waters and
looked in vain for her body. Wher
The story was done a dozen hands
we're lingering coins.
But the man now changed from
poor, weary unfortunate into WILD
fanatic, He rolled UP his
sleeves; he threw away his hat: h.
lifted his gaunt arms on high and
'egan to preach eternal punishment
md damnation to the human race In
and the rich in particular
lie sang and prayed and shouted AMI
aved. He shook with the force OF /
lis own vehemence and finally fett |
0 the ground, pouring out scathin. |
and vituperation be
ause the people would not help him
With money.
And those who few moments be-
ore had jingled coins ard wStted fol
n opportunity to press them into
ne old mans hat withdrew the.f
ands, smiled in disgust, and turned
way. The nan had defeated his |
wn cause. A few days before this a
ian came into Vienna carrying a
ably ne was ragged, tired and al
lost sick. He was on his way to \ I
earby town where relatives awaited
I'm. He had no money at all AMI
9TH he and the child were hungry
young farmer was about to Jour
BY to the town In question: and of
red the poor fellow ride. But
stead of accepting in spirit OIL
attitude the help so offered, the
an got into an argument and made
Q farmer so angry that he drove |
way by himself and left the poorfl
oxen father and child sitting ipI
'Ject misery by the roadside.
And these two cases are typical of
e and human nature the worldt
err
Half of our efforts are eithe
asted entirely or work actual harr,
the other half.
We work hard: we toll faithfully
labor notwithstanding, bil1 W;
;nofhiR systematically Or witt
s'tiveness. We build one momensl
d tear It down the next; we clint
re and slide there we push for.
nd now only to pull back 4 mo
nj later @No deep laid plan-ne
'eful expenditure of thought alonrI
certain definite line-all hit and
and fit--make and break I
living along In the line Of least {
lstance; always in rut: defeat I
gour own ambition through de.
crate misdirection of effort or &C.
y indifference or laziness.
o goes the world Wise is the mani
9 recognizes a principle and sets
head to make use of it. When all .
n has six little children dependent
him he has absolutely no bust. :,
$ TO rave at the rich OF hurl II
operation at his fellows. WhatI o,
needs ss actual help He cannot t.
help by raising mems ire. Nor
he benefit the cause he advo. a.
20 His whole effort is worse ).
n thrown away
When a tired. weary traveller ia Ar
rying a heavy burden end needs M
help OF his fellow man he has II
business fooling with the problem M
he other mans politics or OF that = =,
'r mans salvation. Tbs, things +,
dangerous to his appeal for help &C.
can do no good besides for they trt
'e men mad and ,iisgusted. 1t is
name that We vHak turn on our so'
and leave poor solii in dis ~ ~
s--but It Is not only human ma III,