impatiently waited for, from the mouth of an old beggar, answered somewhat roughly: “What is the matter? speak old grey-beard!”
“You and I,” the other proceeded, “were to-day the first to come to this bridge, and now we are likewise the last to leave it. As to myself, and those like me, our calling keeps us here; but you do not belong to our corporation, and yet you have spent your whole day here. Pray tell me, if it is no secret, what was your reason for it, what is it that weighs on your heart, which it seems youmean to get rid of here?”
“What would it serve thee, old man,” said Frank, “to know what ails me, or know what lies heavy on my heart? It can be of no consequence to thee.”
“Sir, I take an interest in you; you have twice given me alms to-day, for which God reward you; but your face is not now so happy like as it was in the morning, and that grieves me.”
This good-natured sympathy of the old soldier pleased our misanthrop, and he gave him a
