Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1896 — A Man with Hopes. [ARTICLE]

A Man with Hopes.

Near midnight the other evening I oat down on one of the seats of the Thames embankment when a ragamuffin began pestering me for a penny. After I had given him sixpence I said: “You must go hungry for a long time?” “Yes, sir.” “And you seldom sleep in a bed 7" “Very seldom.” “And your clothes are badly out at the elbows?” , “I need a new suit, sir.” “On the whole, you haven’t much to live for, I take it?” “Not very much, sir, and if it wasn’t for my hopes I'd take a header into the river.” v “What hopes have you?” “Well, sir, I’ll put your tenner with nine bob more on the races to-morrow, and if I win I’ll sit down to a champagne supper and buy myself a box of Havana cigars. That's what I hope for, sir, and I thank you and good night.” I shouted at him to come back with my coin, but he vanished in the gloom in the direction of Blackfrlars bridge.— Pearson’s Weekly.