Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-12

for Bob, thinking of the sick, whose
people could not go to market, was
inclined to hide his own hunger.
"Ho, ho" exclaimed Mr.. Bloggs, for
he knew very well that the boy was
hiding his hunger. Aas
"Do you call that Lief" the Shep-
herd asked as soon as the minister
had gone.
"a little one! But in my opinion it
don't count" said Mr.. Bloggs. you
were thinking Of those who need food
more than you and that turns it square
around. l call it golden lie-I do"
The minister had scarcely turned
the corner of the street, when he met
Hiram Blenkinsop, who was shivering
along without an overcoat, the dog
Christmas at his heels.
Mr.. Singleton stopped him.
"Why, man ftHaven't you an over
coat?" he, asked. -
NO. sir It's hangin' on a peg in
pawnshOp over in Hazelmead: 1t amt
dom the peg any good nor me
ueither" .s55&
"Well, sir, you come with me-" said
the minister. "It's about dinner TIME,
anyway and I guess you need lining
as well as covering" %JfF
The drunkard looked into the face
of the minister. KY
"Say it ag'in," he muttered,
II wouldn't wonder if little food
would make you feel better" Mr.. Sin
gleton added -
"a little, did you say?" Blenkinsop
asked.
make it a lot-as much as you
can accommodate"
"And do you mean that We want me
to go an eat, in yer houseT'
"Yes, at my table-why not?"
st wouldn't be respectable. don't
want to be too particular, but tramp
must draw the line somewhere"
"Tll be on my best behavior Come
on" said the minister.
The two men FASTENED up the street
followed by the detected little yellow
dog Christmas.
Mrs. Singleton and her daughter
were out with a committee Of the
childrens helpers and the minister
was dining alone that day and, as
usual, at one o'clock, that being the
hour for dinner in the village of Bing-
vile.
Tell me about yourself" said the
minister as they sat down at the ia
BILE.
"Myself-did you say?" Hiram Blen-
unGer his chair to conceal it's disrepu.
| table appearance, while his dog had
partly hidden himself under a serving
table where he seemed to be shiverlng
with apprehension as he peered out
with raised hackles, at the stays head
over the mantel.
"Yes." sg.s%6
81 amt got any Self, sir; it's all
gone" said Blenkinsop, as he took q
swallow Of water.
"a man without any Self is curl
Gus creature" the minister remarked
"Tm as empty as woOdpecker's
hole in the winter time. The bird has
flown. belong to This ere dog. He's
poor dog. I'm all he's got. If he
had to pay license on me I'd have
to be killed. He's kind to me. He's
the only friend I've got"
Hiram Blenkinsop riveted his atten
ton upon an old warming-pan tina
hung by the fireplace. He hardly looked
at the face of the minister.
"How did you come to lose you
Self" the latter asked.
Married a bad woman and took t.
drink A mans Self can stand colt
an hunger AN shipwreck an loss O
friends an money an any quantt,
O. bad luck, take it as 1t comes, but
bad woman breaks the works in hin
an stops his clock dead. Leastways
it done that to mel"
"She is like an arrow in his liver,
the minister quoted. "Mr. BlenkinsoI
where do you stay nights"
1--WE a shake-down in the little lof
over the OF blacksmith shop on Waite
street. There are cracks in the ga
Bile, an the snow an the wind blow
in, an the place is dark an smell
o. coal gas an horses feet, but Christ
mas an l snug up together an manag
to live through the winter. In he
weather we sleep under a tree in tn
OF graveyard an study astronomy
Sometimes l wish l was there fo
good"
wouldn't you like a bed in a con
Portable house?"
mo. l couldn't take the dog ther
an I'd have to git up like other folks"
would you think that a hardship
"Well, We see, sir, If ye're layil
down We amt hungry. Then, too,
likes to dilly-dally in bed"
what may that meanT the mil
lister asked.
81 likes to lay an think an bull
air castles"
what kind of castles?"
"Well, sir. I'm thinkin' often o.
time when I'll have grand suit
clothes, and a shiny silk tile on N