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BEGGARS 808
But what was to be done f Happy thought I Before
the first bar of •• Annie Laurie " was finished, she laid
down her pen and gave up twenty-five minutes to skipping
contentedly in the back-yard, keeping time with the
instrument. Ana \lOW, wrote our author, she is in good
health and as shapely as a lath I
BEGGARS
People differ surprisingly in their attitude towards
beggars. I always find it difficult to say" no" to one in
the street, but have never given money without regretting
it afterwards ; and years ago I was told of a mendicant
who was overheard one evening coaching his young son
as to the kind of appeal to be made, with variations suitable
to different sorts of passers-by : smart young ladies,
retired colonels, elderly spinsters with pet dogs, etc. etc. ;
and while engaged thus as a mentor of youth he was
sorting out the scraps of victuals gathered into his wallet
during the day, throwing away the rubbish, legs of
chickens, underdone chops, and retaining only the dainty
morsels. Moreover, the C.O.S. people tell us ttlat if
all the money given in the streets were sent to them as
subscriptions, they would be greatly helped in their
admirable work and much knavery would go unrewarded.
If anyone is disposed to act on this, let him see to it that
the transaction is carried out. It is very easy to refuse the
beggar and forget the C.O.S. This would be to Bout
the lesson given by a characteristic tale of the large-hearted
General Gordon, who was blarneyed by a specious tramp
on the high-road near Southampton and gave him all
he had with him, a golden sovereign. They parted.
After some minutes · Gordon had, misgivings, enquired
from a policeman about the tramp, and learnt that he was
a well-known liar. Gordon's blood boiled, and he dashed
down the road after the unsuspecting tramp, and with
his thick stick gave him a sound hiding, but [orgot to get
1M .rot>ereign back I •
If you are inclined to give to the deft draughtsmen
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