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Show DISHONESTY PAINED HIM. BU Confidence In Human Natnra Shaken by an Immigrant. "KveiytMng's dead wTongin this world," paid a shabby man who wag sitting on a park bench the other day to bis companion, "and I ain't got no confidence In human nature left. Everybody Is sklnnin' everybody every-body else, It seems to me, and genovine old fashioned honesty's all gone to the dogs. This country is so wicked that even the ignorant ig-norant immigrant sucks in dishonesty with his first whiff of Battery air. "I was a-walking down there only this morning, when an innocent looking Pole comes np to me and begins to Jabber at me in the worst attempt at English you evor heard. "'What do you want?' says I, taking pity on him, for he looked so confused and lost like. " 'Wanta finda inspector man,' says he. " 'What fori" says I. " 'Give beem thisa,' says he, pulling a fat envelope half way out of the inside pocket Of his waistcoat and ramming it back again In a jiffy. " 'What's his name?' gays I. - " 'JForgetta,' gays the poor devil, with a most perplexed look. 'De boss will sack lue,' aud be began to cry. "Well, I learned from big actions and his horrible words, after a good deal of trouble, that he had only been in the country a month and had got Ids first job that week. That the boss sweater for whom he worked bad sect him down to the Battery to deliver de-liver a letter to a customs inspector whose liamn be, the poor Pole, had forgotten. " 'Let me see the package,' says I; 'can't you read the address?' " 'No reada,' he says, dolefully, as he pulled open his waistcoat just far enough for me to see the top of the letter. " 'Well, I can't help you,' says I, 'unless you let me see the address,' "He was afraid to let it out of his hands for a minute, but finally I got hold of it and conld tell at a touch that it had a roll of bills in it. Besides that it was marked in small characters up In one corner, 't28; pay messenger fifty' cents.' " 'Why, it's addressed to me,' says I surprised sur-prised like. 'I've been looking for this all t he morning. It's mighty lucky you found j me. , You must be more careful to remember remem-ber names that are told you after this till you have learned to read the English. I've a good mind to tell your boss of your care-j care-j lessnnw.' "The poor creature fairly squirmed with I fear when I said that and begged me not to ! report him. " 'Well, I'll not do it this time,' says I savagely, 'but don't do it again. Here's your fifty cents. Now get bock as quick as you can and say to your boss that I said it would be all right.' "As soon as he was gone I opened the envelope, en-velope, and would you believe it, there was nothing inside but paper. "Bow kin a man retain any confidence in human natur under such discouragement? Me? Bunco Pete skinned by a greasy Immigrant Im-migrant just landed! The perfesh wants protection just as bad as any other trade from European pauper competition. "New York Tribune. |