Year: 1877

1


open and curious shufiiing noise fol-
lowed, which made me look up for a
moment from my paper. 1t was but
for moment; saw, as / supposed, a
crippled beggar, shuflling his way on
his knees toward my chair. waved
him away with my hand. Nothing
for yOu," said resolutely, little i'm
patiently, possibly, aud turned back to
my desk, caught up the broken thread,
and wound up the completed sentence
from the editorial distaff. But the beg
gar was not repelled. He answered
something; with a divided attention |
could not make out what. Nothing
for yOu," / repeated, somewhat more
vigorously than before. The answer
was plain enough this time, and in a
tone that commanded attention; al
am no beggar, SIR"


He was on his knees; his legs from
his knees to his feet we're useless apen-
dages, which dragged after him and
produced the shufflng sound which
first attracted my attention. His whole
body was disjointed; his arms alternatly
hung down like the wooden arm of
great toy, and moved about in gro
tesque attempt at gesture-like the toy
arm when the image is pulled by the
string from below. When he spoke
he wOrmed and twisted his head
from side to side, and contOrted his
face with the vigor of his endeavor, as
though the words we're stored below
and could be brought up out of reluc-
tant throat only by wrestling and in
vincible will. But his eye was clear,
and his whole face, when in repOse,
not unhandsOme.


81 have got something to sell, sir,
and it is no humbug, either"


Then | noticed for the first time a
leathern bag slung over his shoulder.
With curious spasmodiC twist he dove
into it and brought out tin box lab
elled Prof. IS soap; warranted
to take out grease spots, etc. In this as
in every motion, his arms and hands
and fingers made wild attempts before
they succeeded in their purpose, like
those of a three or four months old
babe, that has not yet come in possess
ion of itself.


"What brought you into this condi-
tion, my friend ?" said ], looking down
upon him.


81 was born cripple, sir" he said.
"Rut," he added, quickly, as though
he saw some sympathy in my face, and
would refuse it, "yOu must not think
that suffer, for | don't. | have no
pain; it is only weakness; weakness of
the spine, the doctor tells me, so that |
don't have good use of my arms or legs
or face. But don't suffer. And am
not unhappy" u.


could hardly look in his face while
he was speaking, his endeavors were so
distressingly labOred. l rarely give to
beggars; for that very reason am al
ways reluctant to turn away any one,
from the gamin who is sweeping the
street crossing up, who is endeavoring
to earn an honest living. bought his
patent soap and gave him the price--a
quarter. He turned to go away;
should as soon have thought Of Offering
charity to any other Independent mer-
chant as to him, but stopped him with
question. 1t needed but very little
touch Of sympathy to open his heart.
He told me his story:


"My father was mechanic. ! was
always from my birth as you see me
now. He supported me till was 2S.
But didn't like it. ] wanted to be
self-supporting."


noted curious feature In his Ian
guage. 1t was that of one born in the
lower ranks, but self educated by
courses of reading outside the literature
of his companions. thought this at
the time; it was confirmed by a sugges-
tive hint afterward.


81 told my father. He laughed at
me. What can you do9 said he. |
told him that he cOnld not always sup
port me; he must die some and he
mad no money. "Fhe Lord W Jprovide,
said he. But that did not suit me. |
resolved that If / could not have my
own way | would run away"


There was something pathetlcally
humorous in this picture of a man-boy
OF 2S running away on his knees from
tyrannical father who despotically in
sisted on providing for him. Whether
he actually did run away or not he did
not tell me and did not ask him.


81 bought this recipe for soap. At
first | hired man to go around with
me and take care of me, but that did
not pay. Then went to hotel and
hired porter to dress and undress me.
In the daytime took care of myself"


All this and much more-for am
COMPRISING long story in a short one
with labored speaking; and labored
listening, for 1t was always not quite
easy to understand what was the word
which the corkscrew brought up. Like
an old cork it was broken, and always
came up In fragments.


81 never expected to get married, for
never thought that any woman whom
would have would have me. But you
know, sir, the old proverb, Every Jack
has his Gill : aud | found my Gill. And
| don't believe there's man in this
city that has got a better wife than /
have. And don't you imagine that /