The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-01-20
HOW TO PAY THE RENT.
A STORY OF A vENTR1LooUIsr.

the purpose of giving his ventriloquial lectures
at its different institutions His attention was
1 attracted by one shop, of rather humble appear
ance, from the circumstance of seeing the own
er of it always sitting at his work. and group OF
pretty children playing about the door From
the melancholy bits of black about their dress,
they were evidently motherless. Mr. Macmil-
Ian leared, from the inscription over the door,
! that the poor tradesman was named John Pen
n.y. and that he exercised the crafts and mystery
of boot and shoe-making. He was tall and thin,
with pale visage, and long hair, combed straight
down his cheeks His brow was thoughtful not
| to say careworn but there air of meek
| resignation about him that very touching.
The ventriloquist being a good-hearted man,
and having wife and family of his own, as he
gazed on the unconscious children, could not
help thinking of his ''a;n Mary, and the wee bit
BARNS he had left at hame." He could not re-
sst giving poor Penny turn, and improving
his own understanding at the same time by or
dering pair Of boots The humble tradesman,
who was, as usual, at his work, gratefully ac-
knowledged the order but, in answer to Mac
millan's very natural question-of when he
could have the boots, replied with deep sigh,
that he did not exactly know the order would
be executed as soon as possible but that he
could not fix any precise time. Macmillan, from
his knowledge of the world and being consid-
crate man, thought that perhaps, the poor Eel
low had not got the means to purchase the ma
terials there was blank air of poverty about
the shop. 81 will leave you half sovereign as
deposit, Z said he, ''get them done as soon as
possible" To his surprise, John Penny refused to
take any advance. at will be time enough to
pay for the boots when you get them said he
significantly Macmillan perplexed. He
looked earnestly at the son of ST. Crispn, whose
brow was more thoughtful, and his look more
eareworn than ordinarily Don't think me i'm
pertinent" said he, ''bu, is anything the mat
ter you seem unhappy" ''No, nothing very
Particular s'Nay, nay, I'm convinced there
is" returned Macmillan, whose sympathy be-
gan to be much awakened. ''Come what is it p
''Well, since you pressing" said Penny,
sighing deeply, 81 will confess there is-my
rent: / have gone back in my rent. was one
of the congregation of the Rev. Mr.. Tramp, the
minister of our local chapel s'You don't mean
you were one of the Jumpers 20 inquired Mac
IL,
will confess that was,' replied Penny, devout-
~ s.I stood high in favor with that singulary
pious man. All his congregation dealt with me
for boots and shoes. | thought l had received
a special call to furnish the Jumpers with ap-
proved soles but, alas one fine morning the
holy man TRANSLATED, | think his follow
ers called it, for he was nowhere to be found !!
This sad defalcation caused me to go back 1
could not meet my rent, and - ''Why, how
much do you owe ?' said the kind-hearted ven-
| triloquist. 81 am now nearly three quarters in
arrears; ii will soon be upwards Of EGO" 'tWho
is your landlord % esquire Summer" .sWhat !
of the Legionmills, Ancoats?'' ''Yes." 'Why,
he is one of the great cotton lords ,he is rich
as Jew If l we're to become surety, now,
don't you think he'd give you time p ''He has
been very patient l cannot complain of him.
But he is man OF business man of money.
Never having known want himself, he cannot
conceive it TO spring from any other cause than
improvidence, or worse, and has little sympathy
with it the last time he was here he said he
| should call once more and then, if the money
was not forthcoming, the law must take its
| course / expected him yesterday, and
| ''En, mercy, tuC uideeSA
you ?'' said Macmillan, 'you tremble." eyes,
| | see he's comming he has that fellow Broad
man, the broker, with him." Macmillan look
ed out, and saw, indeed, the Squire, his foot
man, and a very shabby, suspicious-looking fell
| low, apparently an EMPLOYEE of the broker
He had scarcely time to cast rapid glance a
round the deserted shop, and call all his thoughts
| together, ere the party were at the door. and
had entered. ssLet them come,' cried Penny,
| with an air of despairing resignation, 81 have
struggled Heaven knows ! as long as was able,
and can do no more" ''Well, Mr.. Penny,
said the Squire, blandly, advancing to the coun-
ter, ssyou know, of course, the cause of my vis-
it ?,' Here ahuge staring Poll Parrot, who, with
it's care. formed one of the few articles of fur
niture in the shop, began to whistle, 'call again
tomorrow. to the astonishment of all present
except Macmillan She followed this by 81
know bank" The Squire and broker stared
The Squire however, resumed, 'You are, OF
course, provided, Mr.. Penny ?" "Alas no
| SIR" said the poor tradesman, sit is useless to
deceive you any further cannot pay you at
this moment, nor either do know when can )
take my little property, sir, let it pay as far as
it will. will do the best that can Providence