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but as the hirsute signs of juvenility have worked against my political
progress I do not regret it。 As a partially bald young man I shall have
more power。 The terms that I have to offer are simply this： you can do
everything you want； go anywhere you choose； if you will only leave this
place。 I have a hundred thousand…dollar draft on the United States
Treasury in my pocket at your immediate disposal。〃
〃But what's to become of me？〃 asked Chitterlings。
〃Your case has already been under advisement。 The Secretary of
State； who is an intelligent man； is determined to recognize you as de jure
and de facto the only loyal representative of the Patagonian government。
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You may safely proceed to Washington as its envoy extraordinary。 I dine
with the secretary next week。〃
〃And yourself； old fellow？〃
〃I only wish that twenty years from now you will recognize by your
influence and votes the rights of C。 F。 H。 Golightly to the presidency。〃
And here ends our story。 Trusting that my dear young friends may
take whatever example or moral their respective parents and guardians
may deem fittest from these pages； I hope in future years to portray further
the career of those three young heroes I have already introduced in the
spring…time of life to their charitable consideration。
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THE MAN WHOSE YOKE WAS
NOT EASY
He was a spare man； and； physically； an ill…conditioned man； but at
first glance scarcely a seedy man。 The indications of reduced
circumstances in the male of the better class are； I fancy； first visible in the
boots and shirt； the boots offensively exhibiting a degree of polish
inconsistent with their dilapidated condition； and the shirt showing an
extent of ostentatious surface that is invariably fatal to the threadbare
waist…coat that it partially covers。 He was a pale man； and； I fancied； still
paler from his black clothes。
He handed me a note。
It was from a certain physician； a man of broad culture and broader
experience； a man who had devoted the greater part of his active life to the
alleviation of sorrow and suffering； a man who had lived up to the noble
vows of a noble profession； a man who locked in his honorable breast the
secrets of a hundred families； whose face was as kindly； whose touch was
as gentle； in the wards of the great public hospitals as it was beside the
laced curtains of the dying Narcissa； a man who； through long contact
with suffering； had acquired a universal tenderness and breadth of kindly
philosophy； a man who； day and night； was at the beck and call of anguish；
a man who never asked the creed； belief； moral or worldly standing of the
sufferer； or even his ability to pay the few coins that enabled him （the
physician） to exist and practice his calling； in brief； a man who so nearly
lived up to the example of the Great Master that it seems strange I am
writing of him as a doctor of medicine and not of divinity。
The note was in pencil； characteristically brief； and ran thus：
〃Here is the man I spoke of。 He ought to be good material for you。〃
For a moment I sat looking from the note to the man； and sounding the
〃dim perilous depths〃 of my memory for the meaning of this mysterious
communication。 The good 〃material；〃 however； soon relieved my
embarrassment by putting his hand on his waistcoat； coming toward me；
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and saying； 〃It is just here； you can feel it。〃
It was not necessary for me to do so。 In a flash I remembered that my
medical friend had told me of a certain poor patient； once a soldier； who；
among his other trials and uncertainties； was afflicted with an aneurism
caused by the buckle of his knapsack pressing upon the arch of the aorta。
It was liable to burst at any shock or any moment。 The poor fellow's
yoke had indeed been too heavy。
In the presence of such a tremendous possibility I think for an instant I
felt anxious only about myself。 What I should do； how dispose of the
body； how explain the circumstance of his taking off； how evade the
ubiquitous reporter and the coroner's inquest； how a suspicion might arise
that I had in some way； through negligence or for some dark purpose；
unknown to the jury； precipitated the catastrophe； all flashed before me。
Even the note； with its darkly suggestive offer of 〃good material〃 for me；
looked diabolically significant。 What might not an intelligent lawyer
make of it？
I tore it up instantly； and with feverish courtesy begged him to be
seated。
〃You don't care to feel it？〃 he asked； a little anxiously。
〃No。〃
〃Nor see it？〃
〃No。〃
He sighed； a trifle sadly； as if I had rejected the only favor he could
bestow。 I saw at once that he had been under frequent exhibition to the
doctors； and that he was； perhaps； a trifle vain of this attention。 This
perception was corroborated a moment later by his producing a copy of a
medical magazine； with a remark that on the sixth page I would find a full
statement of his case。
〃Could I serve him in any way？〃 I asked。
It appeared that I could。 If I could help him to any light employment；
something that did not require any great physical exertion or mental
excitement； he would be thankful。 But he wanted me to understand that
he was not； strictly speaking； a poor man； that some years before the
discovery of his fatal complaint he had taken out a life insurance policy
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for five thousand dollars； and that he had raked and scraped enough
together to pay it up； and that he would not leave his wife and four
children destitute。 〃You see；〃 he added； 〃if I could find some sort of light
work to do； and kinder sled along； you knowuntil〃
He stopped； awkwardly。
I have heard several noted actors thrill their audiences with a single
phrase。 I think I never was as honestly moved by any spoken word as
that 〃until；〃 or the pause that followed it。 He was evidently quite
unconscious of its effect； for as I took a seat beside him on the sofa； and
looked more closely in his waxen face； I could see that he was evidently
embarrassed； and would have explained himself further； if I had not
stopped him。
Possibly it was the dramatic idea； or possibly chance； but a few days
afterward； meeting a certain kind…hearted theatrical manager； I asked him
if he had any light employment for a man who was an invalid？ 〃Can he
walk？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Stand up for fifteen minutes？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Then I'll take
him。