Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-25
THE STORY OF TIM.

who had lost almost the whole of his hair,
partly from age, and partly from the friction
of his fur cap, which he never laid aside,
either by day or night. He had helpmeet
as ancient as himself, but who differed from
him in having hump. Our story, however,
does not relate to them, but to a son of theirs,
called Timoney, who was q sharp lad enough
but who had learnt nothing but to play on a
fife. The old man, thinking that music, how
ever sweet, would never fill the belly, and
that it was quite impossible to live on an emp
ty. stomach, determined to have the boy
taught some trade; but, ere fixing what it
should be, he deemed it expedient to consult
his old woman upon the subject, and accord
ingly requested her opinion-adding that he
would wish to see the boy either black
smith or tailor.
''No!" cried the old woman, s'I'll have him
neither the one nor the other The black
smith, by always going amidst fire and SCOT,
is so begrimmed that he looks rather like a
devil than man. Would you make mon
ster of him? As for tailor-I don't deny
that tailoring is a rare art, but sitting doubled
up In little time brings on a consumption"
'tThen what would you make of him? cried
the old man.
''Make of hint" said she; 'why, a gold
smith or a painter, or something similar.
''And do you KNOW" said the old man,
chow. much money one must lay down to
have him bound either to a goldsmith or a
painter! Why, it would swallow up all we
have, or more"
They disputed so long, that they almost
came to blows. The old woman had already
armed herself with the fre-pan. At last,
however, they agreed to bind their son to the
first master they should meet, whatever his
trade might be. So the old man, taking with
him the sum of ten roubles, which he des-
tined for the binding of his son out as an
apprentice, set out, leading Tim by the hand.
1t happened that the first people he met were
two born brothers, who maintained them
selves by levylng taxes on the highway, and
besides being tax gatherers, were expert tail
ors, using their needles so adroitly that with
stitch or two they could make for them
selves a coat or mantle; in plain language,
they were robbers.
The old man, after saluting them, said:
care you craftsmen"
ooh, yes and very skillful Ones" replied
the highwaymen.
''And what may be your trade?" inquired
the old man.
''What is that to your" they replied.
"Why, wish to give my son trade" said
the old man.
they cried, ''and instruct him in what we
understand ourselves. As for our trade, we
have particular reasons for not telling you
what that is. Know, however, that you will
never repent having entrusted your son to
our hands,"
"But what must give you for all your
trouble, my good people?" exclaimed the old
man.
''Why, you can hardly give us less than
twenty roubles," replied the craftsmen.
sob! where shall get so much money ?'
cried the old man. 81 have but ten roubles
in all the world"
''Oh, very well! hand them over" said
they. "We'll take them, although they be
only ten roubles; we don't wish to higgle
with YOU
The old man gave them the money, and,
begging them to spare no pains in teaching
his son their trade, he trudged homeward
Remembering, however, that it was necessary
to know where they dwelt, he turned back,
and went along with them. After some time,
they came to a house in very great wood,
where the thieves lived with young girl who
was their sister. On their arrival they took
Oft from Tim his rough country caftan and
brooches, and clothed him in habiliments of
the very best quality, and RECALLED the old man
with plenty of capital wine So the old man.
after staying an hour or two, left their dwell
ling quite happy and content.
As soon as it was night, the thieves thought
that they would give Tim his first lesson in
their art-so, arming him in the same manner
as they did themselves, with a pike and long
knife they went out on the road. AS soon as
they were got there, one Of the masters said
to the pupil:
''Suppose, now, any people were to attack
us, what would you do, Tim?"
"Whats this for?" said he, grasping his
knife; with this | don't care straw for
dozen men,"
sit will be of service to you, no doubt,
some time or other" said the thieves; ''t
will be best, however, that your first essay be
in something not quite so dangerous as levy
ing taxes on the highways generally is. We
will go to the neighboring monastrv. and
break into the treasury of the Archimandrite
we shall find there enough to enrich u.s."
sob! just as you please" cried Tim
''where the master goes, the prentice fol-
lows"
So away they went, all three in high spirits.
When they came to the cloister, they flung an
iron hook upon the roof of the treasure room,
and Tim, climbing up by means of rope
which was attached to it, at once gave proof
that he was anything but dull pupil. In a
Il
the treasury were broken open, money bags
were piled upon the floor, and then flung
down out of the treasury upon the ground,
where they were gathered up by Tins COM
rades; and what had taken a long series of
years to acquire was in few minutes lost to
the proprietor. All would have gone on in
the smoothest manner in the world, provided
Tim had been anything of a fool. But he
knew perfectly well that his friends below
would take all the money by virtue Of being
his instructors, and would not give him a
share; he therefore took from out of a chest
the cloak of the Archimandrite, which was
made of the choicest skin, and flung it out of
the hole upon the ground, intending it for him
self; but had no sooner done so than one of
his masters took it up and put on. Tim,
then, letting himself down. began to feel for
the cloak upon the ground, for it was very
dark.
"What are you cropping for9" inquired his
masters.
81 am seeking for my cloak" answered
Timoney.
''What do you mean by calling it yours ?"
said one. 81 have put it on myself How
should it belong to your
"Because," said Tim, 81 took it for myself,
and not for you"
"But we are your instructors" said they,
consequently whatever you take belongs en-
tirely to u.s."
ooh, mol" cried he with loud voice. 81