I lost control of myself. My
old-time pugnacious spirit asserted itself, and I sprang forward like a
maddened bull, striking the brute a vicious blow upon the head with my
fist, and sending him sprawling several feet away. As he scrambled to
his feet, in a dazed condition, I rushed forward furiously, with the
intention of felling him to the ground. After allowing him to regain his
feet, I raised my arm to deal a well-directed blow with all my strength,
when something within me suddenly cried out: "Don't strike." "Don't make
a brute of yourself because the other did." "Let the law take its
course." And, as I hesitated momentarily, there passed through my mind
like an electric flash, these words:
"Always consult your soul for advice.
"Do no act your conscience will not sanction."
Then instantly recognizing the mandate I had so faithfully promised the
great Sagewoman to obey, I overcame my rage and allowed my arms to fall
to my sides without striking another blow.
Two policemen hurriedly approached the scene. I stated what had occurred
and requested them to take the bully to jail. To my surprise, however,
at the command of the well-dressed ruffian, who I afterward learned was
a wealthy financier, both myself and the beggar were taken to the
station-house. I was fined ten dollars, and the poor old man was
sentenced to jail for thirty days.
While I knew that in this case the law of justice had been misapplied in
favor of the cowardly Wretch with money, nevertheless I felt that I had
gained incalculable strength in self-control by not acting contrary to
the warning of my soul and making of myself the same kind of a brute as
the one whom I had intended to injure.
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