Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/227

Rh was so excited I thought he was really dead. There were some gentlemen coming toward me—I got behind a high step to see what they would do—they passed by and never noticed him. I waited and saw two gentlemen come along; they noticed him, and seeing me looking at him, one of them said: "I believe he is dead." They felt his pulse, "no, says the other, he is not dead, come along, he is only drunk." By this time several had come up; when I saw the men notice him I started to go, but hearing one of them say, "Oh, let him be, he is only a drunken fellow," I stepped up and said, "Gentlemen, if he is drunk he is a man; let him be taken to the station house and cared for, and be punished when he is sober." One of the gentlemen remarked that I was right, and called a watchman to take him to the station house. I went home perfectly satisfied, and was pleased to think that I had at least got a man in the watch house.

When I got home I found there had been many calls, some I was sorry to miss, and there were others I was glad I chanced to be from home when they came. It was now nine o'clock; I sat down to supper, thinking I should have such a good time to rest myself and be quiet, congratulating myself that I had not been angry or said a thing that was wrong, although I had disappointed a lady or two.

Next morning I went my rounds. On going to the lady's I have before mentioned, I heard again the old sound—"My money and my position; such and such a one is supported by my money." I left those sounds behind me, and, on my way home, I met three ladies going to prayer-meeting, and they made me promise