The Beggar and His Host

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 121, 30 May 1885, Page 5

The Beggar and His Host

" Where I sups, I sleops," once said a mendicant to a gontleman who had called him in from tho streots in tho ovoning, with a viow to loam his no doubt pathetic history. Whisky and bread and cheese had been supplied to the guest in liberal quantities, and he naturally folt disinclined to exchange such comfortable quarters for his own dismal home. A noar relation of that sensible beggar, if not the vory man himself, may be found at Sheffield. While exercising his profession ono night, properly clad in ragged raiment, ho attracted the attention of a benovolent gentleman. The poor wretch looked very miserable; tho philanthropist remembered his own comfortable houso ; why not try tho experiment of making Lazarus acquainted, for a brief while, with the pleasures of Dives '! The happy thought was at ouce carried out, and tho aged tatterdemalion found himself living in what for him was unimagined luxury. Thislasted fortwodaysand nights, and then the genial philanthropist proposed to terminate the visit, expecting, no doubt, a shower of thanks for his kindness. What he received was a shower of abuse, accompanied by a positive refusal to turn out. Forcible ejection had, therefore, to be resorted to, and this had the effect of producing such exasperation iv the guest's mind that he proceeded to demolish the windows of his late hospitable refuge. When brought before tho magistrates for that unlawful act ho justified it on the ground that his entertainer had no right to treat him so well unless he meant the treatment to continue. Although a somewhat ungrateful line of defence, there is a kernel of truth in it which deserves the consideration of impulsive philanthropists.