The Trimmed Lamp, and Other Stories of the Four Million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Trimmed Lamp, and Other Stories of the Four Million
John Stuart Mill · en
“The Bishop of Long Island,” said Morley, “was to meet me here at 8 to
dine with me at the Kingfishers’ Club. But I can’t leave the father of
my friend Sol Smothers alone on the street. By St. Swithin, Mr.
Smothers, we Wall street men have to work! Tired is no name for it! I
was about to step across to the other corner and have a glass of ginger
ale with a dash of sherry when you approached me. You must let me take
you to Sol’s house, Mr. Smothers. But, before we take the car I hope
you will join me in”—
An hour later Morley seated himself on the end of a quiet bench in
Madison Square, with a twenty-five-cent cigar between his lips and $140
in deeply creased bills in his inside pocket. Content, light-hearted,
ironical, keenly philosophic, he watched the moon drifting in and out
amidst a maze of flying clouds. An old, ragged man with a low-bowed
head sat at the other end of the bench.
Presently the old man stirred and looked at his bench companion. In
Morley’s appearance he seemed to recognize something superior to the
usual nightly occupants of the benches.
“Kind sir,” he whined, “if you could spare a dime or even a few pennies
to one who”—
Morley cut short his stereotyped appeal by throwing him a dollar.
“God bless you!” said the old man. “I’ve been trying to find work for”—
“Work!” echoed Morley with his ringing laugh. “You are a fool, my
friend. The world is a rock to you, no doubt; but you must be an Aaron
and smite it with your rod. Then things better than water will gush out
of it for you. That is what the world is for. It gives to me whatever I
want from it.”
“God has blessed you,” said the old man. “It is only work that I have
known. And now I can get no more.”
“I must go home,” said Morley, rising and buttoning his coat. “I
stopped here only for a smoke. I hope you may find work.”
“May your kindness be rewarded this night,” said the old man.
“Oh,” said Morley, “you have your wish already. I am satisfied. I think
good luck follows me like a dog. I am for yonder bright hotel across
the square for the night. And what a moon that is lighting up the city
to-night. I think no one enjoys the moonlight and such little things as
I do. Well, a good-night to you.”
Morley walked to the corner where he would cross to his hotel. He blew
slow streams of smoke from his cigar heavenward. A policeman passing
saluted to his benign nod. What a fine moon it was.
The clock struck nine as a girl just entering womanhood stopped on the
corner waiting for the approaching car. She was hurrying as if homeward
from employment or delay. Her eyes were clear and pure, she was dressed
in simple white, she looked eagerly for the car and neither to the
right nor the left.
Morley knew her. Eight years before he had sat on the same bench with
her at school. There had been no sentiment between them—nothing but the
friendship of innocent days.