Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1898 — WORKED AN OLD TRICK. [ARTICLE]

WORKED AN OLD TRICK.

The Deaf and Dumb Man Had to Speak. “In my time,” said a broker to his friends at Delmonico’s the other day, according to the New York Times, “I have observed many sad and touching scenes, but never one which affected me as much as the one I witnessed last week. “Passing along a busy thoroughfare, I paused for an instant in order to read and reflect upon the miseries of a man who bore the legend ‘Deaf and Dumfb,’ picturing to myself my’ own condition under like circumstances, when the following remark somewhat startled me: “ ‘Say, J immie, here’s a poor deaf and dumb man. Father gave me five cents to spend, but I think I’d rather give jt to him. He needs it more than I do.’ “This was followed by the chink of a coin in the tin cup. “Instinctively I turned to the boy who had made this remark to his companion and said: “ ‘Noble boy, I overheard y’our generous words. You shall not want for the money. Here is a dime.’ “With a curtsey and ‘Thank you, sir,’ he fled. “I turned to the deaf and dumb man. The muscles of his face seemed to be working to a degree rarely seen on a man bereft of those important senses. Unable to contain himself longer, he blurted out: “ ‘Say, you’re dopey. That kid has worked that racket before. That fi-pence is made of lead I ’ “I went home and communed with myself.”