The Adair County news., 1915-07-28
THE STORY OF
SANDY 0'NEILL
Friend of Poor Though Lack
ing Public Spirit.

life l don't know but that a CONNER
cial traveller sees as many of them as
any one.
Sitting in the reading room Of hotel
one cold winter evening l noticed an
old, badly dressed man come in, look
about him as If not knowing exactly
what to do, warm his hands by the
fire, then turn and go out. There was
something in his appearance that in
terested me. He seemed like a man
who had a history. l followed him
from the room in time to see him go
out into the cold. 1 asked the landlord
about him, and he told me the old
mans story.
Sandy O'Neill when young man
was the pet of the village, or, rather,
the village was Sandy's pet. Some
used to call him maudlin over other
peoples troubles, but those to whom he
gave his sympathy were of no such
mind and loved him as he deserved to
be loved. Sandy's only trouble was
that he had no means with which to
make people happy. He never met
child that he didn't run through his
pockets to find a cent for candy, and
when he failed to find one would often
lead his little prOtege to a shop and
provide the sweets ON tick But
Sandy's great charm was a cheerful
ness that communicated itself to 9TH
ers and was a relish to those in dis
tress.
SANDY had more in him than people
suspected. He never could become
prosperous by ordinary methods, for
he would give money faster than he
could possibly make 1t. His only chance
was to make it all at once. This he did.
A stranger came to town, took a fancy
to him and induced him to go with
him to the copper mines of Lake Su-
perior. There Sandy became possessed
Of an embryo mine, which proved of
great value, and he found himself
millionaire.
zone day ten years after Sandy had
left the town one of our morning
papers announced that Alexander
O'Neill, the distinguished copper king,
a former resident of this city, arrived
yesterday on visit to the place Of his
birth It was more than a visit, for
Sandy had come to stay.
"In view Of Sandy's past charitable
disposition, it was generally admitted
that he would do great deal with his
wealth for the town y public recep-
ton was accorded him. sUt II? by the
first citizens. noticed one mans name
on the reception committee whom I
had heard speak of Sandy O'Neill as
'maudlin over other peoples troubles
The organizers Of the testimonial were
all interested in property and enter
prises which they hoped would be ben
Gifted by the copper king. The greeting
Of those whom he had befriended was
different. They welcomed him with
smiles at his good fortune, with tears
at remembering his past kindnesses.
SANDY got through the reception as
best he could and put 1t behind him
as something not pleasant He went
about Just as he used to, sympathlzing
with his friends, only now when he left
them there was something substantial
In their hands to mark his visit He
did nothing for the town. only for the
people. For oae he put a new roof on
his house, for another paid off mort
gage, for another bought a cow that
the children might have plenty Of milk.
Wherever he found a sick person he
sent the doctor and provided comforts.
And everywhere that Sandy went he
gave as much comfort with his kindly,
CHEEKY words as with his money.
"But when those who had no need
for Sandy's small benefits found that
he would do nothing for the town.
when he had refused to take an inter
est in park which was intended to
bolster a real estate speculation, rail-
road that was to connect the place with
a neighboring city, dam to furnish
water power, they turned against him.
When he had first returned he was AL
exander O'Neill, the distinguished cop
per king He had not been In town
long before the first citizens spoke of
him as Sandy O'Neill, the man with
no public spirit whatever
"Well, for years Sandy pursued the
occupation he had chosen Of giving
away his money. Then came a great
commercial crisis, and the small bal
ance that was left to him disappeared.
Sandy was without cent. By this
time he had dropped from among the
first citizens. and his loss made not
ripple in that part of the community.
1t was a long while before it was
known among those he had befriended