It Happened This Way.
When I Was Out With The Innocents Abroad, The Ship
Stopped In The Russian Port Of Odessa And I Went Ashore,
With Others, To View The Town.
I got separated from the rest,
and wandered about alone, until late in the afternoon,
when I entered a
Greek church to see what it was like.
When I was ready to leave, I observed two wrinkled old
women standing stiffly upright against the inner wall,
near the door, with their brown palms open to receive alms.
I contributed to the nearer one, and passed out.
I had gone fifty yards, perhaps, when it occurred to me
that I must remain ashore all night, as I had heard
that the ship's business would carry her away at four
o'clock and keep her away until morning. It was a little
after four now. I had come ashore with only two pieces
of money, both about the same size, but differing largely
in value - one was a French gold piece worth four dollars,
the other a Turkish coin worth two cents and a half.
With a sudden and horrified misgiving, I put my hand in
my pocket, now, and sure enough, I fetched out that Turkish
penny!
Here was a situation. A hotel would require pay in
advance - I must walk the street all night, and perhaps
be arrested as a suspicious character. There was but one
way out of the difficulty - I flew back to the church,
and softly entered.
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