The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-18
Damon and Pythias
How Two Old Buns Worked
a Crowd.
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1915. by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

Just after breakfast the other morn
ing an old bum made his way from the
street to an empty bench In one of the
city parks. He wasn't a tramp. lie
wasn't a vag. He wasn't hobo.
There was no name to fit him except
bum"
Soon younger bum came sneaking
across the park and sat down on the
other end Of the bench. He also gazed
into vacancy. He also heaved deep
sigh They had not even looked at
each other when the old bum mum
bled:
Ibid you git anything?"
mot a red. / was giving the old gent
fine song and dance about my dying
wife when cop appeared and shook
me till my teeth ratified"
There's an old gent coming this
way" said the big bum. He looks like
an Uncle RUDE walking out to see the
sights of the city. Let's work the old
gag on him."
around so as to stretch out on his back
and lay his head in the lap Of the
younger one and close his eyes.
Yes. Uncle RUDE had come to town
the day before. He had put up at a
hotel near the park and was out at an
early hour to see If the town had grown
any since his last visit of twenty years
ago. AS his walk brought him near the
buns his curiosity was excited. Here
was a case that demanded investiga-
ton, and Uncle Rube advanced and
called out:
Say, now, but what's the matter
here?"
"Sick," was the answer.
"Sick, Ell? What kind Of sicknessT
"Weak heart. 1t allus goes back on
him when he's been without food for
three or four days"
Good Lord! But you don't tell me
that's the case now?"
Damon, how long is it since you
had a meal?" tenderly asked the little
bum as he bent over the head on his
knees.
"Mebbe week" was the faint reply.
II can't believe it," said Uncle RUDE.
Nothing to eat for a week right here
in this big town, where they throw
away enough every day to feed a hum
dred hogs. What's his name"
His name is Damon and mine is
Pythias. We are comrades. You've
read about Damon and Pythias of old,
haven't you"
Il guess have" replied Uncle RUDE, !
with doubtful look, "but I've forgot
ten. But what are we going to do
about this case?'
"You are good man." said Pythias,
but you have come too late. Damon.
he has come too late. hasn't he?"
Il think he has, Pythias, but mebbe
there is just one chance yet If could
sit down to a full meal once more |
think my life could be saved; other
wise there is no hope for me-"
Does he think that food will save
him ?" anxiously asked Uncle RUDE.
AT this moment half a dozen men
.rossing the park stopped to inquire
what ma ndppeneu. ana lyIHlhs an
'wered their questions by saying:
Poor Damon's heart has given out
IN him at last"
"Neighbors, the case is this" added
Uncle RUDE, with flourish of his arm.
This here dying man has been with
tut food In your midst for a hull week
While you have been trotting around
With loaded stomachs."
More men came up until the crowd
numbered thirty or forty. Most Of
hem took a look at Damon, whose /
ands were clinched and eyeballs turn
d up, and then smiled at each other
was an old gag, and many OF them
ad seen IL worked before.
Uncle Rube took a dollar bin from
lis pocket and dropped It In his hat
nd passed the hat around among the ;
rowd. saying:
IF | ever met with a worthy cause, ,
his is the one OF all. should be
shamed to 20 home and face Hannah ,