The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-01-11
A SLIP BETWEEN CUP AND LIP.

Some one has demanded, really forgo
who, how il is that so many cobblers be
come wonderful men. will just mention
two, who, though dead, are still exercising
silent and mighty influence upon Chris
tendom-Jaco5 Behmen and George Fox
Newton himself "ploughed with Behmen'
heifer;" and so we owe, indirectly, the
greatest scientific impetus Of the moderr
world to a theosophzing shoemaker. The
great William Law, the spiritual father o.
John Wesley, and of the Methodist move
ment of the last century, and-some say
of the Anglo Catholic movement of thi,
century, confessed that the humble jacob
was bis true teacher. II so, we owe the
two greatest religious impetuses of modern
England to poor Christian cobber.
II this were to be an essay upon wonder
ful shoemakers, ], think could add list
which would be really surprising. Howev-
er, IL is not to be an essay on wonderful
sboemakers, but merely the transcript of one
episode out of the life of certain poor hon.
est journeyman cobbler, by name William
Griffin, ard out of the life of his betrothed
sweetheart, Anne Moss.
William Griffin and Anne Moss had
been engaged since she was fifteen and he
twenty years old Greatpoverty, a drunk
en- father, the death of her neither, and the
necessity of independent work, had made
Anne thoughtful little woman long be-
fore she had reached the ace called woman
hood-a fact which feel it necessary to
state, as ,he prud n reader might other.
wise stop during the relation, to say over to
himself or herself, three or four sober old
proverbs concerning the evil of very early
engagements, and the ignorance of their
own minds supposed to be generally char
acterisiic of young girls with which prov
erbs | most cordially agree, reselving the
right of exclusion from all their conditions
TO Anne Moss alone. For il, as certain
spasmodic poet has said, we are to count
lite by heart throbs, not by minutes, why
then, our little Anne coull reckon upon
heart throbs enough at the age of fifteen to
attest her right to all the honors. privileges
and considerations of fifty.
Anne was little less than fifteen when
she took the place of maid ofall work.
This exchange of her miserable home for
domestic service was merely an escape out
of The fire into the frying pan. Both Of
them were fiery trial to the poor girl; but
the latter burnt itAe less fiercely. For,
although her mistress never beat her, never
swore a her-whilc her father frequently
did both-bccausc tie lady had not heat
or passion enough in her nature for such
violent exercises, yet she made the little
servants life very bitter to her 10y her iu-
finite applications Of "Thou shalt not."-
Everything That was humane, natural,
pleasant, or desirable, had this waving be-
fore it, like the flaming sword, to keep off
Anne's eyes, hands, and longings. Above
all she was allowed nr followers. Mrs.
Darah, shsving never-she thanked good
nesS--bccn in love herself, considered love
the most ridIcuIoas folly and dclusion uu-
der the sur. Even il il might be ndulged
in by people who had time and mcncy for
it, it certainly was not fit for scrvanis.--
She was often heard 20 say llat love made
more thieves than malice or selfshncss id
destroyed cold meat mere rapidly than hy
blows; and would empty larder quicker
than a whole hungry family. She had
had servants with huge appetites, and SER
vaIts with lover she found both expensive
but the latter tho worse; Cor even if their
own appetitos were ordinry ry, their lovers
were usually exorbtant.
In spite Of these restrictions of her mis-.
tress, Anne met William very often. They
managed to have walks together, TO bctroth !
themselves to each other; and after five |
years steady love, under great difficulties,
TO fix at last a wedding day; she by that |
time being twenty, and he twenty-five.
During these years Of courtship, they
had both worked very hard, and saved some
money. Williams situation was as good
as his sweethcaris' was unpromising. In
deed, he always thought, and almost hoped
too, that Anne must need nearly every far
thing of her scanty wages for her dress.-
The proud youth delighted himself with
the belief that she was dependent upon him
his love was pleased with tho fancy that
he should bestow everything on her, and
receive nothing in return. He intended to
set up small shop of his own, and begin
an independent business with his welded
wife.
But the long selfreliance Of his sweet
heart had made her too proud to enter a
home to which she contributed no tangible
goods 1t was kind and loving in William
she said, and like him, to declare tha, "f
she had thousands, he should like her none
the better" She should like to have thou
sands, just to give them to him. Yet, since
she had not the income of duchess or Of
a bankers heiress, she would do what she
could towards enriching him with the in
como of poor little servant maid. She
kept secret stocking for her few, far-be-
tween and hardearne guineas. Wher
William talked of anything he had bought
or contemplated buying, the loving maiden
inwardly smiled with her delight at the sly,
additions 10 his comfort and
pleasure which it was her intention and in
her power to add.
Williams work was ten miles from his
sweetbearts; so he had a walk Of twenty
miles whenever he wished to see her. He
could afford this only once week-namc-
ly, on Saturday evenings; for then he could
sleep at tavern, spond some Of the Sun
day with Anne, and return at night, to be
in time for the work Of the new week.