Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-24
THE COBBLER.s TEMPTATION,

Jolly fellow, this Jareb. Poor, tits true, but
just poor enough to be free from care He
owned the rooted box in which he worked, and
80 be owned the little thstched cot that ioined
it, In the cot he lived with his wife and seven
children, and in the shop he worked cheerfuIIy
all the day long. He was not afraid of rob.
bers, for be had nothing worth carrying off
and be feared no man, for he never did man a
wrong.
A merry fellow was Jareb Gropp. He sang
n he pegged, and his joyous notes lacked only
musical sound to make them attractive. He
vas built after the same pattern as were his
cot and shop. He was short and dumpy, with
round, shiny, good natured face, and with a
bald pate, though he was but Eve and forty
years old.
Troll de-rol-de-lol-lsrdo, sang Jareb.
"Fol-de-rol-de- Tiddle-de- rolf -rinctum!" was
heard from the inner door.
Jareb looked up and saw bis wife
just a match Tor Jareb for all the world
Short, fat, clean, gOod-nstured, and happy as
happy queen. She was dressed neatly for
all her poverty, and the flush of health glowed
upon her plump cheeks
Duck, - said Jareb, " the ikeso this never
What is it, my own sugar plum?" asked
Hepseba;h was her name, though she hadn't
heard 1t pronounced in full for years.
ID ye see this shoe, delight"
Yes, my love-
lis the last work in the castle. Not an
other place to put peg have got by me.
Wen shut the gates, lower the drawbridge,
put the warder on guard, and call up our
"Ye mean ws'Il go and walk, peppermint
do, my treasure"
velvet ?''
Put on all of 'em, my dear Well make
an appearance Hi-fol-de-rol de-ri-do. There,
ttap) that's the last peg, and old Smiths shoes
TX az l-Fs
feel thankful your name warn't Smith, Heppy
en- there was Smith put in Jail last week
for robbin' somebody. But you never heard
tell OF Gropp's bein put in Jail, never. Now,
my maple sugar, we'll be of. Bring up the
little Groppses."
Hardly had Heppy departed, when a man
made his appearance at the shop door He
was an old man, very well dressed, in black
throughout, with gold headed cane, and
wearing watch chain Of the same precious
material.
"Are you a eobbler?" he asked, as he en-
tered.
IL was two minutes ago, sir; but I'm an old
feudal baron now, sir! Lady Gropp is going
to ride out sir, " and IN to attend her
"kh-are you the man that does mending2
mending OF boots and shoes ~ asked the WIS.,
ltor, moving back a pace, as though he feared
the strange fellow before him was crazy
Yes, sir," answered Jareb, u I'm the man
But, ye see, my wife hasn't walked out for
HOAo nAOnlH just tOseeQ on the last bit
OF work l had in the shop. I'd hurried il
amazingly, and was just agoin' to take a run
down by the river, with her and the little ones -
"Ahs-I see" said the old gentleman,
smiling Now you just run and tell your
lady to wait for you half an hour and I'll sat
lsfy her for it. 1 am in a hurry. The stage
leaves in hour, and my boot has given out
Come, you won't refuse to assist me under such
circumstance
''Hi-dum de foI-lol! Well, pose must
stick 10 my business -
Thus speaking Jareb left the shop, and when
he returned he put on his apron again and set
tied in his low seat The old man took off his
cloak and sat down. and the cobbler pulled off
the fractured boot 1t was ripped badly Jareb
made him a stout waxed- end, singing merrily
the while, and when twas ready he took up
the boot
., You seem to be happy fellow" said the
visitor, after he bad watched Jarebs good
natured face awhile.
Why shOuldn be- owe no man any
thing-have my health-and love to do nv
work. Tol-de-rol- ol-de-lardo."
You We laid by something, suppose for q
rainy day - pursued the stranger
'Ay, thousands upon thousands of dollars,
SIR cried Jareb, giving bis awl furious
- WHAT So much as that?''
Ha d like 10 show 'em to ye, sir, only
they might have dirty faces. Seven of 'em,
sir! Seven of the best natured children ye
ever saw, sir, and stout and ragged too"
All! l meant 10 ask you if you had not
managed to lay by little money, my good
man. You seem steady and industrious
Money repeated Jsreb with a comical
ieer 81 Does man lay by money when he is
building himself houses and gardens! No.
sir Nor does man lay by money when he
makes half crown a day, and rears seven
children. Them little 'uns will take care of
me when 1 sm old, never fear. No, no
Money Of gold, in boarded store
have none Of i'll have none;
live and bfesthe-I do more
TODAY its a curse, to- morrow a bone
Fol de-rol lol de-lido.
And I'm the happieSt man alive
Fol de-rol lol de-lido."
Then you live contented on your scanty
bier rather enyiOusly.
Just as contented as the day is long. sir
And why shouldn't L? l won't starve while |
there's crust of bread in the house, or a
ripped shoe in the village. ! should like
money if could have it, but 1 wouldn't pass
one day and night of discomfort for all the
money in the world"
And if you had money, what would you
do with it!''
For the frat time Jareb looked sober. His
awl was stopped in the puncture it had made.
aud his eye rested vaeantly upon the floor
When he spoke, all his lightness of manner
was gone, and his voice was tremulous
Well, I'll tell ye," he said, while the
tWitchlng Of the neither lip told that he felt
deeply. - / can't help thinkin' that my little
ones aren't coming up as some folks little
ones are. They are good and honest, and
happy but if they could have a chance to get
ieetle more larnn' than their poor old fathers
got, shouldn't mind. can't help thinkin'
as hOw't there might be a bright mind or two
amongst them, that might make a doctor, a
lawyer, OF maybe a minister But never mind
they re IN Gods hands don't compIain.
Complain 2" repeated Jareb, thrusting bis awI
through, and then pulling it out-"wby should
l. How many a rich father would ,;v. ali
he's worth if bis children could only be d. f~T-
ent from what they sre2 Sickly and weakly
may be, or perhaps bad and wicked Hi!
There's no such a word complain
For by 10 VIZ nothing can gain,
save trouble aRd all mental pain.
With a-fol-dr rol de -di- do
No NO. sir I've got enouvh and that's