, 1861-06-27
Desperate Deborah.

do you, sir :" asked the Relieving Officer. but
you would not, though" he added. "She was
before your time. 4 beautiful creature she was,
most certainly | never had to deal with one
like her, and sincerely trust such another may
not arrive while I'm Relieving Officer"
"Whats become Of herr" -
"Oh, she married at last, and is now living
quite as lady, over in Tarnsey yondcr. Her
poverty was brought TO close in most sngu-
| lar manner"
"Lct's have tho story, Mr.. Jones"
We'll, sir, it's not very long one. Deborah
Thomknson was the daughter Of Il very humbio
shopkeepcr in Bramblcstonc, widower. WHO
John Thomkinson was, and where he came from,
nobody ever knew. He was an elderly man,
very reserved and very cross. Only one man
ever had the bollncss to ask him for particulars
Of himself, and Thompkirson replied by catching
the man by the throat and nearly strangllng
him. No one, after that, put to Thomkinson any
similar question. Well, Deborah was his daugh.
ter. She was u wonder in two ways. FIRST,
she was n perfect gantess, fully six feet high
and broad in proportion, and her arms were hike
a strong blacksmiths. Secondly, her temper
was the most violent you can imagine. The
least thing sent her into frenzy, and she would
lay about her, right and left, in a way to demol-
ish everything around her. She and her father
quarrelled Gcarfully. All the people in the town
knew and dreaded her, and she came to be
called Desperate Deborah not in her pre-
scnce, though, | should remark. l scarcely
think there was man in the place who would
so have styled her in her hearing.
The father died; Deborah was LEFT destitute.
One day she made her appearance at the Union
Office was out Mr.. Flack attended 10 her.
al want relief"
"Sorry its come 10 that, Deborah" replied
Al, H.. Uun
fore the Board on Thursday. DO you need any.
thing in the mcantme?"
"Of course | do. want bread, and meat,
and beer. do look as though lived on airI"
Cant say you do, Deborah" replied Mr..
Flack. "Well, III give you halfquartern loai,
just for the present, and when Mr.. Jones"
"Give INC a halfquartcrn Loaf" screamed
the young lady. whats the good Of thatp
Come, | must have halEa.crOwn! Out with
ii"
"Now, Dcborah," urged Mr. Flack, gently,
for there was no help handy, aud he was but a
little man: "be reasonable. Take the bread,
and, as I've told you, when Mr.. Jones'"
"Give me the Loaf" she interrupted.
"Tnerc, there's nice one" said Mr.. Flack.
with sickly smile, taking one from off very
high shelf, which he reached by ladder, and
handing il to her.
"Thank You; am so grateful" was Debo-
Tah's reply; and, as she uttered it, with one
bound she was over the counter.
"Ihat shelf wants an ornament" cried the
gentle membrr Of the Fair sex. " 1t shall have
onc;" and, in an instant she had Mr.. Flack in
her arms, aud had deposited him Oh the shell
whence he had taken the bread. And there, as
shc had removed the ladder found him, on my
return in the course Of a few minutes, neryously
pceping over, after the manner Of a very young
kitten, not yet able to jump
But this was only the beginning. Deborah
the Desperate had now declared war against the
Union authorities, and she carried Il on with vi
gOr Her mode Of conducting war had this lead.
ing characteristics, Strike tho enemy at all times,
and under all circumstances" She no sooner
caught sight Of anybody having any connection
with the Union, than she made atter him and
as n battle with her was not to be contemplated,
if Il could be avoided, tho enemy invariably
sought safety in flight, remember my extreme
astOnishment at seeing, on the "Wednesday prior
to the Thursday on which she was to be exam.
incd by the guardians, q highly respectable
guardian, named TOurncvillc, "a Frenchman)
troiting along the street, gasping, groaning, and
calculating, In manner quite frightful. l tried
to stop him, inquiring the cause Of his perturba-
ton.
"Go away, 60 awayl" he shouted, vehem-
emily. Not stop me, dear Mr.. Jones, not stop
the !" and he plunged forward like . mailman.
looked round, and saw Deborah in the dis.
tance, and--well, don't mind owning it-l was
out Of the way in two seconds
| had an appointment with Mr.. TouTneyille
that afternoon, at tho Union House. Instead Of
keeping it, he sent me note, which ran thus:-
"Dear Sir:--I am quite precluded by cir
cumstances from coming to you. Please como
to me. You will find the back gate open.
. ... Truly yours r . :. l
~. TouRNEvILLE"
avery odd I" thought I, as trulgcd over.
"Why should go in the back way, wonderG"
The moment was in tho house, its master
clutched me by the arm.
"llavent been out, not ono yard, since the
morning, hc said in subducd tone.
"Not i'll, hope" ! said.
"NO, not sick" he replied; "but but, look
hcre-see what you sce."
looked from the front window, and not far
of, deserted tho terrible Deborah, evidently
keeping lynx eye upon the house.
"Just you read" said Mr.. TOurnevillo, and
he put into my hand dirty scrap Of paper.
This was LEFT here this day."
read as follows:
"Villin!-GI yer you have been torking agin
nc. When sees you, III have a little parley
,"Servant,
"DEnonAn."
The next day she was had up before the Board
Of Guardians. ] remember there was q great
DISCUSSION as 10 whether We should not iOrcgo
seeing her; but we were ashamed Of the laugh
which would arise, Il, ih her case, we dOviated
from our rule.
"lIere We arc, twelve men," observed the
Chairman, "and there's the porter outside.
Surely we can managc unc woman"
So Miss Deborah was ushCred in. ! know
IL. Il. N..fA L.. 4