The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

panon ladder.
He talks a little German" said the
other. ''Wait-he says-Tom took the
jam. He saw him while he lay here half
asleep
few bites of jam by a coclzney who
probably needs it. The next nearest ap-
proach is the begging. Have you an in
come, have YOU profession, have you a
sustaining family kind friends? Then
no one else in the ship is SO blest. One
youth who made no secret of his good
raising was on one day thrice besought
by as many men for charity of the very
breeches he was wearing. He could not
nourish a dependence so vile. And where
the Thames turns pea-green at Graves
end and he knew his labors were ended,
he tied the peg-tops in bundle and light
heartedly cast them over the rail.
For a larger sample of beggary, take
the case of Jack and Willie. Willie was
sandy youth, with big-topped head,
thinly thatched, a large Adams apple and
a charming clarity of head tones in con-
versation. He smiled at all and several,
| sunnily-a merry, happy-hearted ingenue,
with his Hello. chaps, how are your
and WELL | never ate a meal like this
| in the Waldorf Astoria and Good
| night, lads, ALL a fine sleep to you
At the first haying he was assigned to
another gang that Jacks The latter was
W
hay to a dozen cattle. while the rest of
| his gang went to a lower hold. A bulk
| head half closed the end of his section.
, AS he neared this Wilie's horid face
peeped round. Hello, mate, how do you
like it?'' OIe stepped through and began
| shaking down to Jacks cattle). Hello,
am | going too far? O, we'll, I don t
mind. It's all in the voyage, amt it,
eh' | don't mind helping you bit.
Here's He squirmed past the angle and
with lookout eye behind sailed through
flake after flake from his bale. There,
break it up, and say nothing about it. It's
all in the voyage. Amt l right eh?'
The next day, Sunday, at supper, he
slid down from his bunk and came to
Jack, bearing on his knife point hunk
of duff. 1t was brown-baked, like the Of
ficers ate Here try this" he said.
'Where d'you get it %
"Never mind where 1 got It, Go ahead
and eat Not so bad, eh? Goes to your
heartfelt? %
And again when the marmalade was
opened, Now" saws he, behind his hand,
this will go pretty fast But I've a cup
here, and if you say, I'll fill it, and we
can share together, half and half, so long
as it lasts" SO they ate out of the same
| cup, closer than brothers
| his bunk, toying with sweet caporal.
| Jack requested a smoke. There's three
i 10 laSt me lne rest Ol tne voyage, says
Willie, unpocketng the box. Jack, how
| ever, sacrificed one. You're welcome" !"
| said Willie, though it's not as if I could
| buy more of the steward when these are
gone D'you know what I've got to do
| when / land in London? I've got to hoof
| it 200 miles to my home in Yorkshire. I've
got just pence hapenny to do it on-19
| cents American money
| ''Why don't you work in London and
| earn your fare?'' asked Jack. innocently.
| 1--WE a. wife and two children needing
me. And works scarce in London. 1t Is
| in the states, too I've been trying to
get work for six weeks in five states. I've
| got no heart left in me. You don't know
how it is, you chaps with tons of money.
| But if | was to clean up the table and
| dishes and bring down the tea every day,
do you think the men would make up a
| little purse for me?'
| why, sure said Jack, cordially, "Tll
| put it up to them myself"
! Its not that I'm begging. But / know
| if anyone else was on his uppers, like /
am, I'd glady stand him for the price
| of his fare home
| Willie, genly pressed, unfolded his sad
| tale day by day. In pity, Jack relieved
/ him of half his mental duties. and with
| out remonstrance saw him neglect the
other half At landing the fellow had