The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-01-28
LiGe Among tle Eolee1les.


From ''Mrs Lirrper's lodgings" BY Charles Dickens
/ am plain man, Major and you may not
dislike to hear plain statement of facts from
me. Some Of these facts lie beyond my un-
Outstanding. do not pretend to explain them
| only know that they happened as | relate
them, and that pledge myself for the truth
Of every word Of them.
/ began life roughly enough, down among
the pottsries. was an orphan and my ear
lest recolections are of a great porcelain
mandatory in the country Of the sotteries,
whSre helped about the yard, picking up
what half-pence fell in my way, and slept in
the harness,loft over the stable These were
hard times; but things bcttered themselves
as | grew older and stronger, especially after
George Barnard had come to be foreman of the
yard.
George Barnard was Wcseyan-we were
mostly disssnters in the potteries-sober, clear
headed, somewhat Sul1y and silent, but good
fellow every inch of him, and nay beet friend
at the time when most needed a coed frisnd.
lie took me out Of the yard and act me to tho
furnace-worll lie entered me on the books
at fixed rate Of wages lie helped me TO
pay for a little cheap schooling four nights 3
week aud he led me to 60 with him on Sun
days to the chapel down by the river side,
where first saw Leah Payne. She was his
sweetheart, and so pretty that l used 10 for
get the preacher and everybody else, when l
looked at her. When size joined in the sing
ing, | heard no voice but hsrs If she asked
me for the hymn book. I used to blush and
trembTe believe / worghipped her, in my
stupid, Ignorant way and think | Worship
-, r
u different fashion. | felt | owed him every
thing knew that he had saved me, body
and mind; aud losked upon him as savage
might look upon a missionary.
Leah was the daughter OF plumber, who
lived close to the chapel. She was twenty
and George about seven or eight and-thirty
Some captious folks said there was too much
difference in their ages but she was SO seri-
GUS minded, and they loved each other SO ear
nestly and quietly, that, if nothing had come
between thsm during their courtghip, | don't
believe the question Of disparity would ever
have troubled the happiness of their married
lives. Something did come, however, and
that something was Frenchman, called Lew
il Laroche. He was painter on porcelain,
from the famous works at SeYres, and our
master, it was said, he'd engaged him for three
years certain, at such wages as none Of our
people, however skillful, could hope to cora
mand. 1t was about the beginning or middle
ofESeptember when he first came among US.
He looked very young was small, dark, and
well made; had little white soft hands, and q
silk moustaChe and spoke English nearly az
well IS do. None Of us liked him, but that
was only natural, seeing how he was put ev-
er the head of every Englishlnan in the place.
Besides, he was always smiling and civil, we
couldn't help seeing that he thought himself
ever 50 much better than the rest OF US and
that was not pleasant. Neither was it pleas
ant to see him strolling about the town, when
working hours were over, smoking good CT
cars, when we were found to be content with
pipe Of common tobacco hiring horse on
Sunday afternoon when we were trudging
afoot; aud taking his pleasure as if the world
was made for him to enjoy and US to work
| in.
"3en, hoy" said George, there's something
wrong about that Frenchman."
1t was on Sunday afternoon, and we were
sitting on a pile Of empty seggars against the
furnace-room waiting till the men should al
have cleared out of the yard, Seggars are
deep earthen boxes in which the pottery is put
while being fired in the kiln.
looked up inquiringly.
''About the Count Z" said l. for that wal
the nickname by which he went il the pot
terry.
George nodded, and paused for momen
with his chin resting Oh his palms.
He has an evil eye" said he; ''and falls
IsInile. There Is something wrong abou
him.
drew nearer, and listened to George as /
he had been an oracle,
Besides" added he, in his slow, quiet way
with his eyes fixed straight before him, as
he was thinking aloud, there's young lool
about him that isn't natural. Take him jus
at sight and you'd think he was almost
boy; but look close at him; see the little fin
wrinkles under his eyes, and the hard line.
about his mouth, and then tell me his age
you can! Why, Ben, boy, he's as old as
am, pretty near ay, and as strong, too
You stare; but I tell you that, slight as h
looks, he could fling you over his shoulder a
If you were feather. And, as for hi
hands, little and white as they are, there ar
muscles Of iron inside them, take my wor
for it.
But, George, how can you know p
Because l have a warning against him,
replied George, very grarely. because
Whenever he is by, feel as if my eyes say
clearer, and my ears heard keeuer than 9
other times. Maybe its presumption, but
sometimes feel as if had a call to guard my
self and Others against him. Look at til
> children, Ben, how they shrink away frol
him; and see there, now. Ask Captain VIII;
he thinks Of him. Ben, that dog likes him I
better than I do
looked, and saw Captain crouching by h
kennel with his ears laid back, growing an,
iblyas the Frenchman came slowly down Il
steps leading from his own workshop at Il
upper end OF the yard On the last step
! paused, lighted cigar, glanced around as
, to see whether any one was by, and then wall
ed straight over to within a couple CT yarC
: OF rSe kennel. Captain gave a short, angr
snarl, and laid his muzzIe close down uDc