The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-08-27
SIMON SANKEY'S SHILLINC.

SIMON SANKEY'S SHILLING.
On steep hillside, sloping down to one of our
lovely English rivers, stands small village.
looking So still and sequestered, that none would
imagine that the greater part Of its inhabitants
are weavers, employed In silk mill little high
er up the river. How it has preserved its print
tive rural appearance it is difficult to say per-
haps the owner Of the above mentioned mill,
struck with the picturesque beauty of its detach-
ed cottages, followed the example of the original
inhabitants, and built smaller ones for his work
people; for the hillside is dotted over with cot
tages OF every variety, from amongst which rises
the taper spire Of the village church, surrounded
by its quiet battle-ground. There is, however,
one exception to the general aspect of the viii
lage. AT the foot of the hill is one row of cot
/ tages facing the river, with gay flower pots in
'front.' sloplng to the waters edge and larger gar
dens behind, divided from each other by thick
thorn hedges. In one of the cleanest of these cot
tages, with the trimmest fower-pots and best
stocked garden, there lived at the time knew
Westlelgh, certain Simon Sawley, OR rather,
to speak more correctly, | should say certain
Mrs Simon Sawley, for she being the most au.
thortative person, the residence was always so
designated in the village. Simon was a well
meaning, good natured, inofensve sort of a man
"a good hand at his work but not celebrated
for great power of intellect or strength of mind
His wife was a pretty little woman, with soft
UFOHH eyes, d line clear complexion, a neat COM
pact figure and mild expression of countenance
Her voice was sweet and subdued in its tone, and
to judge from appearances, you would have pro-
nounced her the meekest and gentlest of her gen.
tie sex. But alas appearances are proyerbially
deceitful-a truth to which, no doubt, we can all
testify but none with more reason than poor
Simon. Martha Sawley, to use her own phrase,
''was not woman to be put upon by any body !"
which meant that she was a woman who would
| have her in NIT Of ho1x In
fact like many mid-Iooking, smooth-spoken wo-
men, Martha possessed that unconquerable OBJ
shnacy that neither entreaties threats
soften or subdue. She never scolded she rarely
lectured, but quietly and steadily pursued the set
tied purpose OF her soul, regardless alike OF the
wishes or convenience of others. If ever it hap
/ pended that she met with more than usual oppo-
sition, she would assume the air of deeply in
jured person, maintain an obstinate silence, or
| when absolutely obliged to speak, answer only in
| monnosyllables and in Short tall into sullen
fit, from which nothing short of the most entire
submission to her will could arouse her. 1t was
rarely indeed, that honest Simon ventured upon
any thing like opposition for, though not pos
sessed OF extraordinary development Of either
the arithmetical or reasoning powers, he had
learned from experience, to count the cost before
entering upon the war, and to avoid contest
| which must end in total defeat There was, how
ever, one point, upon which, though he secretly
INDUCED in feelings of a rebeous and insubor-
dinate nature. Mrs Sawley insisted that he
should every Saturday night briug home to her
! the whole OF his weeks wages, without any
deduction whatever. This, of course was quite
right, land what every good husband does or ought
to do but this was not all she would not allow
him penny in his pocket, not even on the
dition of never spending it for as she was wont
to remark, " men are but men at the best, and
fra creatures, therefore it was better not to put
,4ofs0 ia Hail
she could not see what a man, who had good
wife to provide every thing comfortable for him,
could want with money" He worked for it, and
she spent it to the best advantage of course and
that, in her opinion was the order of Providence.
One lovely evening towards the latter end of
spring, Simon was busy in his garden. 1t hap
pened that he was occupied near the hedge which
divided his territories from those of his next
neghbor. Like most remarkable individuals,
Simon had his eccentricities, one of which was,
when any affair Of moment weighed on his mind,
OF INDUCING in audible soliloquy and he
worked, he talked to the following effect: ''Wel,
it is too bad, that it is thirty shillings week,
let alone odd jobs, and never farthing to bless
myself with Tom Jones said he wouldn't stand
it if he was me; he'd be master. But it's easy
talking he knows nothing aboutt; he isn't mar
Eed, and don't know Martha. Well never mind
I've got-yes, here il is, safe and sound-I've got
shilling | hare shilling that nobody knows
nothing about" And after gazing fondly at it
Tor some minutes, he put it again into his pocket.
which he buttoned carefully up, pulled his waist
coat well down, and patting it several times to
make sure there was no outward and visible sign
OF the hid treasure, he resumed his work with
great self compacency. 1t is commonly said
that stone walls have ears and it has been no
torious fact, ever since the day of King Midass
barber, that woods and groves the most treach-
erous OF conhdents. Certain it was that Simon's
secret was no longer his own it passed into the
possession of another through the instrumentalitv
OF the above mentioned hedge.
However, Simon continued his work in blissful
ignorance, until the sound of Martha's voice from
the back door warned him that supper was ready
That night he lay awake some time longer than
usual, revolving in his mind how ne should dis
pose OF the bewildering sum in his possession
First, he thought of purchasing himself new
hshlng-rod. then of buying fine tulip for his
flower garden. Various temptations Of similar
nature presented themselves to his imagination
but to all there was one grand objection, nqui-
ries were sure to be made as to where the pur-
chase money came from Martha gould get to
know all about it, and that would never do so
the idea was dismissed entirely. Then he dete,s
mined to keep it until good opportunity occurred
OF proving to his fellow workmen and acquaint-
ance, especially to Tom Jones, that he had money,
and could spend it on glass OF ale Or mug OF
porter with the best of them. AT last bright
/ 4 n. II. kA mil