Year: 1877

"I bought this receipt for soap. At first ] hired man to go arour d 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 l am compressing long story into short one with labored speaking; and labored listening, too, for it was not always quite easy to tell what was the word which the corkscrew brought up. Like an old cork, 1t was broken, and often came up in fragments. "I never expected to get married; for never thought that any woman whom I would have would have me. But you know, sir, the old proverb: Every Jack has his own Gill; and l found my Gill. And I don't believe there is man in New York that has got better wife than have.o

 The pride with which he said thisl and the love that lighted up his eyes l could easily believe him. It must be rare woman that could take such man for her husband; one that she must dress and undress to the end as she would a sick child. resolved at once that if l might l would know that wife.

 "And don't you imagine that am miserable, sir" he added. seem so to you because you judge me from your point of view. But see many rich man, and a strong man, and would not exchange with them have my advan- tages, too. Society claims great deal of you; but it never claims anything of me. 1 am independent"

 Oh, wise philosopher! Is there any philosophy like that of calm content7

 "And enjoy life; because, don't you see, sir, I have nothing to do but to study how to enjoy it."

 Do you go to church?" I asked.

 "Well, sir, am member of the Bap- tist church, but since I have moved away from the old church and gone among strangers, I don't go to church, for it might create sensation, don't you see"

 We'll. yes! Idid see. Imagined this creature shuffling up the broad aisle of a fashionable church, or even of an un- fashionable chapel, and thought he showed consideration for the worshipers and the preacher.

 "There is only one thing want" he added. "I would like to get into a li- brary."

 "A libraryl' said I. "What could you do in library?"

 ooh, as member, 1 mean, sir" said he, "I would like to get books out to read"

 took down his address, and with all the inimitable dignity of gentleman, he invited me to cali. Then, with an apolo- NoH n, r,f and an inquiry--for we had exchanged names-whether was the historian" Abbot" he shuffied out of my door. l had hardly got to my seat and my benin hand, before heard him shuffling back again. He peered round the corner of the doorway, and with that curious jack in-the-box motion of his held up three fingers. "Third bell," he said, ring the third bell" and he was off again.

 And sat down and thought; thought of the poor woman who began two years ago by selling her thousand dollar piano, and last week was found with her clothes and furniture all pawned and her only flannel garment, the remnant of an old blanket, wrapped around her; thought of that merchant who eighteen months ago was contributing to the support of one of our great charities and is now de- pendent on it for bread for his family; and here is this cripple, without the right use of legs, or arms, or hands, or voice, supporting himself and his wife, happy as king" and asking charity of no one; and said, will leave the thread un- spun on the editorial distatf until have written down this lesson for hard times.