Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-11-19
A POOR CLERKS STORY.


tions for lodging, / lighted upon a fairly
presentable house IN stumbling sort of ter
race, not very distant from the principal
thoroughfare of that section of the town. /
was admitted-after repeated knocks, and
Just as NV patience was becoming exhausted
by an old woman of about sixty-fve,
though it is possible that she might have been
prematurely aged by want and illness. When
| inquired of the FORTRESS the terms of the
lodgings, the poor old creature, who was
shaking in voice and body from a sort of pal
sy, stammered out that she would call her
daughter to answer my questions, but would
please step inside moment" complied,
and waited on the ragged mat in the dingy
passage while the old woman hObbled and
ierked herself down stairs to the kitchen.
knew when she arrived at the door, for a dull
sound of voices which had noticed upon en-
tering, suddenly expanded into confused
roar, in which | detected both male and fe-
male laughter. The occupants of the kitch-
en-, who were evidently carousing, though it
was but three o'clock in the afternoon, SEEM
ed to me to greet the old woman with shouts
of derisiOn. Something hard was flung at
her at her entrance, am sure, for / heard
her cry out in her quaky treble, and the mis-
sile, whatever it was, rolling upon the wood
en- floor A great laugh was raised at this
sally, after which recognized the trembling
tones of the old woman, declaring,I presume,
/. the mission which had so unseasOnably in
terrupted the mirth in the kitchen. There
was a lull directly, and shortly aiterward
heard a younger and lighter step ascending
the staircase, and my landlday stood before
me- She was bold, sluttish-loOking woman
of about thirty, with face which, though not
positively Unlocking, was of low stamp, and
Il. IL
sued a smirk and courtesy to the prospective
lodger; but perceived trihing thickness
of utterance, and peculiar lack of lustre in
her eyes, which were outward and visible
signs of excess. She excused herself for not
waitingupon me Immediately; but sit was
all owing TO that stupid old wOman-servant
which she kept out of charity, tho Heaven
knew, she did nothing for the use of the
house in return for all the eatin' and drinkiI'
which was provided" and so on. Abusing
the Wretched old woman, and denying in
every word the fact that it was her mother of
whom she spoke so evilly, the landlady pre-
ceded me to the drawing-rOOm floor" and
threw open the door with conscious pride.
They were very inferior lodgings. believe at
anv other time / should have incOntinently
left the spot; but something prompted me,
and agreed to lodge there for a month. l
/ was determined to know something more
about my shaky old friend.
1 had agreed upon taking lodgings from the
first of December till the New Years day
following; and on beginning my reign in my
new quarters, | found the wisdom of hiring
apartments of this sort weekly, plan ever
afterward adopted. Nothing could have been
more completely incOnvenient as far as ac-
cOmmOdatiOn and attendance were concerned
and vet | staid, for l had already found an
interest in the place. THE shaky old woman
was the servant of all work, the factOtum,
the flag of the lodgings. Often have myself
relieved her of the breakfast-tray, when the
cup and saucer and butteT-bOat and teapot
have been trembling responsibility, and the
egg designed for my humble repast has been
rolling wildly from side to side, like barrel
on deck in a storm. She cleaned the boots,
swept the stairs answered the bell, fetched
the beer tho sinecurel, and performed, in
short, every mental office, while her shame
less daughter and recreant sOn-inlaw ate,
drank land were drunk), and slept at ease,
with all household burdens, save that light
one of receiving the dodgers money, shifted
from their young shoulders TO her crazy care.
After due amount of patience on my part,
/ ventured TO inquire of the old handmaidsas
to the me,,gge of the slipshod household.
"Why do yOu do all the work ;" l said
kindly to her one morning, after extricated
my breakfast lat the expense of the egg
from entire dissolution at her hands. at is
too much for YOU"
To NV surprise the poor old woman sat
down an chair and burst into tears. was
not a little astOnished, but held my tongue
till she had somewhat recovered, when l
again remarked, ''Pm afraid this is too much
for you do, day after day"
The old creature rose suddenly, and tOtter-
ed to the door. 81 humbly pray your pardon,
Sir" she stammered. 81 forgot myself
I've been unwell lately, sir, and the children
have"
"Stay," said. 90 Shut the door and tell
me all about it. am anxious to know all
about you, andif can do anything"
"Oh no, dear Sir" cried the poor old
wretch, trembling with fear, in addition to
her usual palsy. {" Don't notice me, Sir, if
you please; pray don't. If they were to
know that had bOan crying. or talking to
you, they'd" Here che paused, and looked
neryOusly at the door.
" What would they do ?" asked.
'They'd beat me, Sir. She often does, i'll
forget any thing and he, OH he's awful
swearing, aud finging pewter pots at me. i
was i'll once for weeks, from a blow he gave
me.n
"Why on earth do they ill-treat you ?"
asked. You do all the work, while they
idle. There must be some ,ther reason.n n
"Sir," said the old wOmaI. with some pride
in her voiee-eracked, jerks, md feeble as it
was" was once worth moi than a thou
sand pounds mean when m. husband died,
and before she was married. j set them UP,
but they robbed me of all M money; and
they know it, and keep me he ;, and hate
and ill-treat me in consequence
"Why do you stay? l asked but aim0-.
ment after l was conscious of z folly of
my question, as the old woman ans, sred--. {
"Where conld go to, Sir!
The simplicity and despair of this esponse
convincing me that should do no good by
personally interfering in the domestic misun-
derstandings, / RETAINED from further ques-
tioning, and waited for some issue to this
course of i'll treatment, when might, thofSh'
an outsider, be justified in stepping in as a
check IL soon came. In the Christmas
week the poor old mother took to her bed,
thoroughly conquered by the hard weather
and the increasing work. Every dayI heard
angry voices and curses through the sthin'
wainscOting which separated my bedroom
from the wretched old creatures sleeping
den. Afeeble squeaking was all that rough
usage, neglect, or execution elected. My
blood used to blaze within me at the coward
ice and the low triumph Of that drunken and
disreputable pair, who junketed while their
mother was gasping for breath, or calling for
common assistance. did once forget my po-
sitiOn, and attempted to expostulate with the
Id