Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-01-15
THE COBLER,S TEMPTATION.


Jareb Gropp sat in his little shop upon his
low bench, and he pegged and tapped away
merrily upon his worn knees. He was aJol-
ly fellow, this Jareb He owned the rooted
box in which he worked, and so he owned the
little matched cot adjoining In the cot he lived
with his wife aid seven children, and in the
! shop he worked cheerfully all day long He
was not afraid of robbers, for he had nothing
worth carrying OF and he feared no man for
he never did man wrong. IL. ..-
merry fellow was Jareb Gropp. He
sang as he pegged and his joyous notes lacked
only musical sound to make them attractive.
He was built after the same pattern as were
bis cot and shop. He was short, dumpy, with
round, shiny, good-natured face, with a
bald pate, though he was five and forty years
| old
| " Troll-de-roll de lol-lardo p sang Jareb
Gropp.
| Foll-de-rou- de- riddle -rol -de-rinctOm p
sounded voice from the inner door.
| Jareb looked up and saw his wife.
just match for Jareb, for all the world.
Short, fat, clean, good-natured and happy as
| queen She was dressed neatly for all her
poverty, and the flush of health glowed upon
her plump cheeks.
"Duck," said Jareb, "the like o'this never
happened afore." .a, ,
i"What is it, my own sugar plum ?' asked
| Hcpsebeth. 49,. .,..-.
Hepsebeth was her name, though she
hadn't heard it pronounced in full for many
years.
:" Dye see this shoe, delight ?" .... q:
| Yes, my love-" -.. .. ....
w'Tis the last work in the castle. Not an
other place to put a peg have | got by me-
Wen shut the gates, lower the draw-bridge,
| put the warder ON guard, and call up our
coach, eh 2"
Ye mean, well go and walk, pepper
| mint ~ -.
| 81 do, my treasure :"
"shall put on my silk or satin! Or my
new velvet: :"
"Put on all of them, my dear. Wen
make an appearance. Hi-fo- -rul- l-de-rido +!
There (tap) that's the lastpeg, and old Smiths
shoes are DONE Smith-Smih- didn't you
ever feel thankful you warn't Smith. Happy,
eh There was Smith put in Jail only last
year for robbing somebody. But we never
heard tell ola Crops being put in jail, never.
Now, my maple-sugar, we'll be off. Bring
up the little Groppses."
Hardly had Heppy departed, when man
made an appearance at the shop door. He
was an old man very well dressed, in black
throughout, carrying gold-headed cane, and
wearing watch chain o. the same precious
material.
"Are you cobbler" he asked as he en-
tered
81 was two minutes ago, sir 9, but | am
an old feudal baron now, sir Laddy Gropp
is going to ride out, sir, and I'm to attend to
| her. ..... ..-... -.
Eh-are you the man that does mend
ing mendng of boots and shoes ?" asked
the visitor moving back apacc, as though he
feared the strange fellow before him was era
Zy
" Yes sir" answered .Jareb, {" I'm the
| out for morc'n a month just tossed off the
last bit of work had in the shop. | had
| hurried it amazingly, and was just agOin to
to take a run down by the river with her lit
| tie ones"
"Ah-I see" said the old gentlemen, smil-
ing "Now you just run and tell your lady
to wait for you half an hour, and I'll satisfy
her for it. am in hurry. The stage leaves
| in an hour, and my front has g ivcn out Come,
you won't refuse to assist me under snch cir
| cumStances."
Hi-dum dc-follot! Well l suppose |
must stick to my business ~
| Thus speaking, Jarcb LIFT the shop, and
when he returned he put on his apron again
and settled into his low scat. The old man
took off his cloak, and sat down, and the cob
| bier pulled OIL the fractured boot. 1t was
ripped badly. Jareb made him a stout wax
end, singing mcrrily the while, and when
twas ready he took up the boot.
"You seem to be q happy fellow remark
ed the visitor, after he had watched Jarebs
good -natured face awhile
Why shouldn't | be =? l owe no m an
any thing-have my health-and love to do
my work. TOl-de-ro-lol-de larde"
you've laid by something, suppose, for
a rainy day ~ pursued the stranger.
| AYE, thousands upon thousands Of dol
lars, sir ~ cried Jareb, giving the awl furi-
Gus punch.
"What? So much as that ~
I" IIa I'd like to show them to We, sir, on
| ly they might have dirty faces. =, Seven of EN-
| sir! Seven of the best naturcd children We
ever saw, sir, and stout and rugged too"
! " All! | meant to ask you if you had not
managed to lay by a little money, my good
man. You seem steady and Industrious"
Money repeated Jareb, with comic
al leer. 'Does man lay by money when
he's a building himself houses and gardens :?
"NO, sir. Nor does man lay by money
when he makes half acrown a day, ,and rears
seven children. Them lectle 'uns will take
care of me when l am old, never fear, No,
No
Money or gold in boarded store
| have none of it-I have none;
live and breathe-l do no more
| To-day its q curse, tomorrow a bore
| Fol-de-rol ol-de- lido,
And I'm the happieSt man alive
| Fol-de-rol-l l-lolde-l lido.
"Then you live contcnted on your scanty
store % said the old man, regarding the cob
bier rather enviously.
i" Just as contentcd as the day is long, sir
And why shouldn't L? Iwon't starye while
there's crust of bread in the house, or a rip
ped shoe in the village. | should like money
if could have it; but I wouldn't pass one
day or night of discomfort for all the money
in the world"
"And if you had money what would you
do with it."
For the first time Jareb looked sober. His
awl was stopped in the puncture it had made,
and his eye rested vacantly upon the floor
When he spoke, all his highness of manner
was gone, and his voice was tremulous.
"iWell, I'll tell ye," he said, while twitch-
ing of the neither lip told that he felt deeply
81 can't help thinking, 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 chance to get leetle
more larnin' than their poor old fathers got
| shouldn't mind. l can't help thinking as
how't there might be a bright mind or two
amongst them, that might make doctor, OF
lawyer, or may be a minister, but never
mind-they're re in Gods hands, don't com.
plain. Complain ~ repeated Jareb, thrust
ing his awl through, and then pulling it out
"why should |? How many rich father
would give all he's worth if his children could
only be different from what they are Sickly
and weakly, may be, or perhaps bad and