The Fifth Wheel

theranksofthebedlinemovedclosertogether;foritwascold.theywerealluvialdepositofthestreamoflifelodgedinthedeltaoffifthavenueandbroadway.thebedlinersstampedtheirfreezingfeet，lookedattheemptybenchesinmadisonsquarewhencejackfrosthadevictedthem，andmutteredtooneanotherinaconfusionoftongues.theflatironbuilding，withitsimpious，cloud-piercingarchitectureloomingmistilyabovethemontheoppositedelta，mightwellhavestoodforthetowerofbabel，whencethesepolyglotidlershadbeencalledbythewingedwalkingdelegateofthelord.

standingonapineboxaheadhigherthanhisflockofgoats，thepreacherexhortedwhatevertransientandshiftingaudiencethenorthwinddoledouttohim.itwasaslavemarket.fifteencentsboughtyouaman.youdeededhimtomorpheus;andtherecordingangelgaveyoucredit.

thepreacherwasincrediblyearnestandunwearied.hehadlookedoverthelistofthingsonemaydoforonesfellowman，andhadassumedforhimselfthetaskofputtingtobedallwhomightapplyathissoapboxonthenightsofwednesdayandsunday.thatleftbutfivenightsforotherphilanthropiststohandle;andhadtheydonetheirpartaswell，thiswickedcitymighthavebecomeavastarcadiandormitorywhereallmightsnoozeandsnorethehappyhoursaway，lettingproblemplaysandtherentmanandbusinessgotothedeuce.

thehourofeightwasbutalittlewhilepast;sightseersinasmall，darkmassofpayoreweregatheredintheshadowofgeneralworthsmonument.nowandthen，shyly，ostentatiously，carelessly，orwithconscientiousexactnessonewouldstepforwardandbestowuponthepreachersmallbillsorsilver.thenalieutenantofscandinaviancoloringandenthusiasmwouldmarchawaytoalodginghousewithasquadoftheredeemed.allthewhilethepreacherexhortedthecrowdintermsbeautifullydevoidofeloquence-splendidwiththedeadly，accusativemonotonyoftruth.beforethepictureofthebedlinersfadesyoumusthearonephraseofthepreachers-theonethatformedhisthemethatnight.itisworthyofbeingstenciledonallthewhiteribbonsintheworld.