Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1883 — A Sharp Trick. [ARTICLE]

A Sharp Trick.

Says the Little Book Gazette: Several days ago a man came to Arkansaw, and failing to secure work, he went around town begging for something to eat. Everywhere he was refused, and finally he went into a vacant store-room and sent a boy after a newspaper reporter. When the reporter oame che man said: “I have been commanded by the Lord to fast 100 days, and I think that I can accomplish the feat,* for the Lord says that I must.” The reporter published a long account of the man’s intentions, and quite a sensation was created. The Chief of Police went down the man he most eat, that the Lord might command him to starve, but that the city would have to bury him. The man swore that he would not eat, and the Chief went to a restaurant and ordered a heavy meal to be sent to the fanatia The meal camaand the man, merely eating enough to sustain life, put the remainder in a carpet-bag. The Chief of Police came again, and asked the man if he had eaten, and he replied that he had not, but that he had given the meal to a tramp. The Chief sent another meal whioh found the‘‘gripsack” repository. Then the church ladies came, loaded him with sandwiches and oakes, and when the carpet-bag would hold no more, the man thanked the peopla shouldered his larder, and started off remarking a 3 he went: “Enough to last me way down in Texas.’