The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-04-07
The FOePS Pence,

y
nished parlor which naensassnt offthat
noted London gin shop, called "The
Punch Bowl,n sat its mistress, the gau-
dily dressed MRS. Crowder, conversing
with an obsequious neighbor.
"Why, Mrs. Crowder, | really must
say you have things in the first style (?
What elegant paperiug! what noble
chairs! what pair of fre-sereens all
so bright and fresh! Then the elegant
stone copings TO your windows, and
these beautiful French window frames
And you have been sending your daugh-
tiers to the genteelest boardlng-school !;
your shop is the best fitted in all this
part of London. Where can you find
the needful for these things? Dear
Mrs. Crowder, how do you manage 2"
Mrs. Crowder simpered, and cast a
look of simple contempt through the
half-opened door, into the shop filled
with draughty customers. "The FOOLS
pence-'tis the FOOLS pence that does it
for u.s. she said-and her voice more
shrill and louder than usual, with the
triumph she felt.
Her words reached one customer,
George Manley, 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 then turned
upon the stately apartment; he looked
through the door into the parlor, saw
looking glasses and pictures, and gild-
ing, the fine furniture, and a rich car
pet, and Miss Lucy in a silk gown, at
her piano; and he thought TO himself
how strange it is! how curious it is
that all this wretchedness on nay left
hand. should BE made to run into all this
rich finery on my right.
well, s;r-and what's for you 2i
saidsa shrill ;vuice. which made the
:: fooFs pence ring in his ear.
"A glass of gin, ma'am, is what I
am waiting for but think I've paid
the last fools pence that | shall put
down on this counterfor many long
day
Manley hastened home His wife and
two little girls were seated at work.
They were thin and pale, really in
want Of food. The room looked very
cheerless and their fire was so small
as hardly to be felt, yet the dulIest OBJ
server would be struck with the neat
ness that reigned.
Ii was joyful surprise TO them, his
returning SO early that night, and re-
turning 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"
His wife smiled, and said, Working,
does not effect my eyes," and she
beckoned 10 her little boy, who was
standing apart in corner-evidently
as a culprit.
"Why. John, what's this l see % said
his father. Come and tell me what
you have been doing"
The baker came for his money to-
night, 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, mother cried
over her work, but she did not say any
thing. | did moi know she was crying
till saw her tears dropping on her
hand, and then said bad words, and
mother put me in the corner.
.Tell me what your bad words were.
John, said his father, q not swearing, |
hope %
No. said John, coloring; said you
were bad mani said, bad father.n
And they were bad words sure"
said his mother, Esbnt yon 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 gaze of her
mild blue eyes now tarned to him, he
felt the tears rise to his own. He rose
up, and putting money into her hands,
he said, g There are my weeks wages.
Come, come, hold out both hands for
you have not got all yet. Lay it out for
the best, as yon always do. | hope this
will be beginning of better doings on
my part, and happier days on yours.n
G60I5G lulu HIS Wu0, dItSI tHG Gull
dren had gone TO 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
and when he thought of his
own hard working and accomplishing
Susan, and his children ia want and al
most in rags, while he night afteFnight,
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 intoxicating
glass TO his lips.
More than year afterwards ON Sun
day afternoon, as Mrs. Crowder, of the
Punch Bowl was walking with her
daughters to the tea, gardens, they were
overtaken by a violent shower of rain,
and had become at least half drenehed,
when they entered comfortable look
Ing house, distinguished by its comforts
and tidiness fromall others near it Its
rood natured mistress and her two girls
lid all they could to try and wipe away