Southern shield., 1851-01-25
THE FOOLS PENCE.


 Bowl" sat it's mistress, the gaudiy dressed Mrs. Crowder, conversng with an obsequi- ous neighbor.
 "Why, Mrs. Crowder, really must say you have things in the first style. What elegant papering what noble chairs what pair of fire screens all so bright and tresh Then, the elegant stone copings to your windows, and those beautiful French win dow frames! Aud you have been sending your daughters to the genteelest boarding schoo,; your shop is the best furnished. and your cellars are the best furnished in all this part of Lunnun. Where can you find the needful for all these grand things Z! Dear Mrs. Crowder, how do you man. age!'
 Mrs. Crowder simpered, and cast look of smiling contempt through the half open door, into the shop, then filled with drouthy customers. The fools pence--it is the FOOLS PENCE that does it for us she said. And her voice rose more shril and loud than usual, with the triumph she had felt
 Her words reached the ears of one cus- tomer-George Manly, the carpenter, who stood near the counter. Turning his eyes upon those around him, he saw pale sunken cheeks, infamed eyes, and ragged garments he looked through the door into the par Tor, and saw looking glasses and pictures, and gliding and fine furniture, and rich carpet, and Mrs. Lucy in silk gown at her piano and he thought to himself how strange it is. how curious that all this wretchedness on my left hand should be made to turn into all this rich tinery on my right
 Well sir, and what's for you!' said a shril voice which had made the Fools pence ring in his ears.
 "A glass of gin ma'am, is what l was waiting for, but Pve paid the last Fools pence that shall put down on this counter for many long day, think"
 Manly hastened home. His wife and his two little girls were seated at work. They were thin and really in want of food. The room looked very cheerlesS, and their fire was so small as hardly to be felt: yet the dulIest observer would have been struck by the neatness that reigned.
 It was a joyful surprise 10 them, his re- turning so early that night, and returning sober, ana in good humor.
 Your eyes are weak tonight, wife, said George, or else you have been crying
 Pm afraid you work too much by candle light.
 His wife smiled and said, !" working does not hurt ny eyes," and she beckoned to her little boy, who was standing apart in a corner-evidently as cul prit. | 'Why, John, what's this see ?'' said his father. Come and tell me what you have been doing
 John was plain spoken boy, and had a straight forward way. He came up to his father, and looked full in his face, and said !, "The Baker came for his money tonight, and would not leave the loaves without it but though he was cross and rough, he said mother was not to blame, and that he was sure you had been drinking away all the money; and when he was gone, moth- CT cried over her work, but she did not say any thing. did not know that she was crying till saw her tears dropping on her hands, and then said bad words and moth CT put me in the corner"
 "Tell me what your bad words were, John?" said his father, mot swearing, 1 hope!''
 "No," said John, coloring, "I said you were bad man! Isaid bad, fatherl'
 "And they were bad words, am sure," said his mother; but you are forgiven, so now bring me some coal from the box"
 George looked at the face of his wife, and as he met the tender glance of her mild eyes now turned 10 him, he felt the tears rise in his own. He rose up and putting money into her hands, ne said, "There is my I.o ek's wages. Come, come, hold out both hands, for you have not got all yet. Lay it out for the best, as you always do. l hope this will be the beginning of better doings on my part, and happier days on yours"
 George told his wife, after the children were gone 10 bed, that when he saw what the pence of the poor could do towards keeping up fine house, and dressing out the landlords wife and daughters, and that when he thought of his own hard working, accomplishing Susan, and His children in want. and almost in rags, while he was sit ting drinking, night after night, destroying his health and strength, he was so struck with sorrow and shame, that he seemed to come to himself at last He determined from that hour, never again to put the in- toxicating glass to his lips.
 More than year afterwards, one Sunday afternoon, as Mrs. Crowder. of the Punch Bowl, was walking with her daughters to the tea gardens, they were overtaken by violent shower of rain, and had become at least half drenched, when they entered a comfortable looking house, distinguished by its comforts and tidiness from all others near it. Its good natured mistress and her two girls did all they could to dry and wipe