Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1903 — With Variations. [ARTICLE]

With Variations.

The way of the philanthropist, of whom the author of “A Third PotPourri” tells, seems unduly hard. The philanthropist, who was a gentle old lady of Exeter, England, got hold of a maimed sailor, who moved her to great pity. To help him along she purchased a tray on which he was to expose gingerbread for sale. She gave him a start In gingerbread, also the privilege of standing before her most respectable residence to cry his wares. In addition, she composed and taught him the following words to repeat at intervals: “Will any good, kind Christian buy some fine, spicy gingerbread of a poor, afflicted old man?” The first morning the sailor sold a ■hilling’s worth of gingerbread In a short time, and his success went to his head. Pretty soon, fregn his station on the pavement In fpdnt of the gentle old lady’s house, his voice floated In to her in this appeal: “Will any poor, afflicted Christian bay some good, kind gingerbread of a fine, spicy old man?” Despite this sadly mixed cry, trade

became very good—so good. Indeed that when the philanthropist agalN heard her words they ran: “Will any fine, spicy Christian buy some poor, afflicted gingerbread ot 4 good, kind old man?”