Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-11-09
The FOOLS Pence.

In the yeur l83-, in handsomely fur
nished parlor which opened out of that noted
London gin shop called The Punch Bowl
SAT its mistress, the guadily dressed Mrs.
Crowder, conversing with an obsequious
neighbor.
why, Mrs. Crowder, really must say
you have things in The first style! What
elegant papering! what noble cbairsl what a
pair of fire screens! all SO bright and fresh!
Then the elegant stone coppings 10 your
windows, and those beautiful French win.
dow lramesl And you have been sending
your daughters to the genleolesl boarding
school; your shop is the best filled in all this
part of London, Where can you find the
needfu for these grand things. Dear Mrs.
Crowder how do YOU managel'
Mrs. Crowder simpered, and cast look of
smiling contempt through the half open door
into the shop, filled with drough,y custom.
ers. The fools pence!-'TIs THE FOOLS
PENCE that does it for u.s. she said. And her
voice rose, more shrill and loud than usual,
with the triumph she felt.
Her word reached the ear of one Gus.
lomer-George Manly, the carpenter, who
stood near lhe counter. Turning his eyes
upon those around him, he saw pale, sunken
cheeks, inAamed eyes, and ragged garments.
He then turned them upon The stately apart
men;; he looked through The door into the
parlor, and saw looking glasses, and pic.
lures, and gliding, and fine furniture, and q
rich carpet and Miss Lucy ina 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 10 turn into all this rich 6nery on my
right! a.-s 1w
well, strand what's for youl' said q
shrill voice which had made The fools
pence ring in his ears.
"A glass of gin, ma'am, is what was
waiting for; but think I've paid the last
FOOLS pence that | shall pu. down on this
counter for many long day.
Manly hasted home. Ills wife and his
two little girls were seated al work. They
were Thin and pale, and really in want Of
food. The room looked very ch0erless, and
and their fire was so small as hardly 10 be
felt; yet the duIest observer would be struck
with The nealness that reigned. cd
1t was joyful surprize 10 them, his re.
turning so early that night, and returning
sober, and 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 at -.
His wife smiled and said, working does
not affect my eyes, and she beckoned to hel
little boy, who was standing apart in cor
ner--eviden,y as culpril. *, ju ias
i why, John, what's this | sect said hi'
father. 'Come and tell me what you have
been doing
j The Baker came for his money tonight
, and would no,leaye the loaves without ii
f but though he was CROSS and rough. he sale
mother was moi 10 blame, and that he wa'
! sure you had been drinking away all the
I, money; and when he was gone mo,he
/, cried over her work, and she did NOT say
anything. did no. know she was crying
ill saw her tears dropping ON her hands
, and then said bad words, and mother pu
a me in the corner
D Tell me what your bad words were
: john said his father; mot swearing,
3 hopel' o 9H a'i h'y1" ~
: mo- said John, coloring; said you wer
4 bad mani said, bad fatherI' a7F