The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-01-09
The Heavy Gross.
Translated for The Worcester Palladium from the Frenc
of EAILE soUyEsTRE, by STELLA.


| of EATLE SoUvEsTRE, by STELLA.
| An envi0us and Disconnected character is
perpetual cause of suffering TO Its possessor. L
is poison mingled with the sweetest joys, 1
thornssi his foot whose prickling he feels at eE
cry step in life.
| Robert Hope and Samuel Mullins had dwell
! side by side for more than a dozen years 1t II
probable that these neigh5ors Ould have alw"y'
lived upon good terms, if Samuel, who had serv'
ed under Admiral Nelson, had not earned 1T Tn"
falgar, small pension for which he paid by the
loss of one of his legs. This leg and his pension
we're, for Roberta continual subject of Jealousy
| He accused ate of having lett him his two legs
aud complained bitterly 80 God because he had
net been able, as he sail, to sell his legs at thu
| same price that Hullins had done. Every time
| that he went to pay his rent. he would say
grumhling. that his neigh was indeed happy
that he was IN state to settle his debts, as The
King had allotted him good pension, while he
poor fellow. could with difficulty make boil
ends of tn year meet, to say nothing of meeting
he demands of his creditors.
At first, Robert contenred himself with keep
ing bis reflections to himself, and with detailing
his grievances to his own ear; but by degI ees
his discomfort expressed itself more loudly and
became soon his constant and favorite theme O
conversation.
One day when he had allowed himself to de
lay paying his rent, and was advancing sad Is
towards Mr.. Taylor's house in order to make
his excuses tor his delay. he met his neighbor
Hulins, who was rs regular rs clock about his
rent which he had just paid. The sight even Of
Samuel had bad effect upon Robert. When
h, bent his head in answer to Holins' salute
his appearance singularly resembled that OF a
bull who il showing his horns TO dog Arriv-
tho OT tho lam ord
tail to receive a reprimand, and 10 be shown, as
an example, the conduct of his nelghbor who
always paid regularly, and to the last penny
Yes, yes;' murn.ured Robert, some people
are born with their mouths full of silver. HUI
Inns is lucky ; and l am not surprised that
he pays regularly when he has pension like
his.
= 'Hullns has pension. it is true r"plied Mr..
Taylor; bur his iEfrmty is a heav. cross and
il you were afflicted by it you would complain
even more.
No nos answered Hope. IF had been
50 fortunate as to lose leg like him, 20 years
ago, that would have been a famously protuc-
tive day for me. l would sell all my limbs for
such Il reward as Samuels. You call his oakcn
leg heavy cross For my part. l think his pen
sion ought TO make it light. The heaviest cross
that know is this being obliged TO come con-
tii.ualy and s=ttle for my rent.
MIR. Taylor Was man Of Joyous temperament,
but good observer. He had noticed for some
time Roberts envious disposition, and he re-
solved to convince him that the lightest cross
would soon become bur lensome 10 y discomfort
ed mind.
Il see. said he to Hope. shat you are quite
disposed to do nothing. Well; | can exempt
you from this obligation to work of which you
complain So bitterly. The cross Of your neigh
= 10, hos NnI1 =
Will you accept one much more light If en-
gage to acquit you of your rent Z
Bat what sort of n cross would you place
upon my shoulders : anxiouSly inquired Rob
ert who feared The proposition might not be ac-
cep'abie
This said Mr. Taylor, taking piece OF
chalk and tracing a white cross upon Roberts
coat. AS long as you will wear this l will not
ask you for peuny OF your rent.
Hope at frs. thoueht that his landlord was
es,:ng; but, beng assured that he WAS speaking
seriously, tie cried:
BY St. Geoige! you may say that You have
seen the last of my money, to' am willing to
carry such cross all my lite J
80 Robert departed congratusting himself
on his good furtune and, all along the road he
laughed to himself over the folly OF MIR. Taylor
who had so cheaply acquitted tim OF his rent
Never had he been oi so joyous a disposition
as at she moment of re-enteriug his dwelling
He found fault with nothing, and his dog came
and sat down at his feet without his thinking to
punish him foi his familiarity
AS he seated himself, upon arriving, his wife
did not at first noti.e the white cross that he
bore upon his shoulders; but, passing behind
her husband il order to wind her cuckuO-clock
she suddenly cried in sharp voice,
'Ah great God, Robert where have you
been? You have on your back u cross foot
long You come, without doubt.from the tavern,
and some drunken friend has played you this
trick to make you look like foo-as if you
needed anything so ridiculous for that. Rise,
and keep still, while brush off this cross :
'Stop!' cried Hope, suddenly turning away.
My coat doesn't need you! Go aud knit your
stockings, and let my coat alone !
This shall not be I cried Mistress H0pe,in Il
voice sill more piercing. L don't wish my
husband e. become the laughing stock of the VII
age, and if have to tear your coat to pieces
You shall not wear this ridiculous cross.
So saying his wife eli deavored to brush his
shoulder. Knowing that all resi- stance would
be useless, he angrily escaped from the house.
violently slamming the door behind him.
What a fury = muttered he. 'lfshe had been
more gentle should have told her what good
iuck had come to me. But she doesn't deserve
TO know
H.
ed the c1rner of his house. What is that white
Cross you have ON your back 2
NEEDLE with your own clothes!' insolently
rejoned Hope, continuing on his way.
Mr.. Hope, said little Patty Stevens, the
daughter OF the market woman. One moment,
If you please, HE rub out the great cross
that snmel.udy mzde on your back.
Go and sell your behring's, you idle girl! re-
piled Robert, and not busy yourself with those
who are going by.
The little girl, completely amazed, FASTENED
inrU her mothers shop.
At this moment Hope approached the house
Of the butte ,er who was 'alkng.on his door Sill
with lis neighbor the blacksmith
You are last the man | want he cried. stop
ping Robert; and he began to talk with him on
business, but hardly had he commenced when
old Peggy Turton came BY dressed in her speck-
lei plaid and T b:ue apron.
AS | live, Mr. Hope, cried he, gathering up
her apron III her hands, your back is horror
TO seen
Robert turned round to tell her to let him alone;
but the blacksmith now perceived the mark
thai Mr. Tay lor had made.
BY heaven! look !! said he laughing, 1T
would serve for sign for the White Cross tav-
ern.
Il suppose, added the butcher. that his wife
mas put thls -lSh on Ills shoulders Ior Ae@i Va
losing him.
Hope ielt that there was only one way tor
him TO escape at once iron Peggy's apron AMI
the jokes OF The butcher and he black smith 50
he FASTENED away not without having called The
goo d woman al old witch, aud his two ne gh-
bors idle torIs.' But The cross began 10 weigh
more heavily upon his shoulders than he could
at first have believed.
Moreover, unlucky Robert seemed des tined
70 unwelcome encounters; for he had scarcely
goue many steps when he found himself i'll front
OF The sch 5ol-house The schuol done, and
The scholars were pushing out at this mOmen'
INTO the stree disposed 10 prof by all occasions
for mischief which might be presented Hope
was seized with a terrible anxiety and he SEEM
ed already TO near hurrahs behind him. HIS
fears We're soon realized. Hardly had h. passed
the school house gate when prolonged cry OF
derisioa was raised, and rs many a. fifty sch 81