Page:The New Arcadia (Tucker).djvu/14

4 Finding a footing on some piles of lumber, he shook off the hand that was laid on his shoulder—swept his eye round the grizzled, not unkindly, faces about him, and said—

"Look here, my men, I am going to see that lad whom; unfortunately, I ran over. It was no fault of mine, as you know. The horse shied at that banner of yours the fellow was carrying, who is not here to speak for himself."

A smile rippled across the sea of good-natured faces.

"He's got a headache," suggested one.

"The little fellow," continued the doctor, "ran in front of the trap. I will see to him. Now as to you. That, I am more anxious about. Do not be fools. Do not be led astray by men who put a false construction on everything some of us may do, and who try to make you believe that every fellow who wears a black coat has a black heart. I'll take my jacket off to-morrow to work beside any honest man, as I have done before, if I can serve society better so, or to try to thrash the man who persists that I deliberately ran that youngster down, or want to over-ride any. Is that clear? Now, before I go, let me ask, why are you all hanging about the city, imploring Government and every one else to help you? Why not, for instance, seek the country, where a fair field and means of livelihood awaits you?"

"How can a man go and squat, what's got no tin?" growls one. "My children's had nothing to eat this blessed day." The speaker, who did not himself appear starved, was, like many of his companions, puffing clouds of smoke from an oft-replenished pipe.

"For my part," was the reply, "if my children were hungering I should deny myself a pipe. I'd like to see less incense and more sacrifice.'