Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-01


swered Jenkins,
The landlord, meanwhile, had placed the
table on its legs again, gathered up the.
broken crockerv, &c, and was about to re-
tire, when jenkins told him to score the
damage to his account, and give him change
for five pound note. ai. -J .f".
"Here's for your wounds, said jenkins,
counting the change, and tossing half,
sovereign to Nicholas "and here's for your
banked appetite;" he continued, tossing
him another. -.-sI ~ .
"You're queer un," observed Nicholas,
looking at the two half-sovereigns, and
then at the donor, with ludicrous mixture
ofsurprise and JOY, amazingly puzzled to
make out what it all meant. dlu d.
80 everybody says,o replied jenkins,
putting the rest of the change into his pock-
ct, and motioning Nicholas to do the like by
the two half-sovereigns that lay before
him. -ai
''Oh, I've no objection, of course!" said
Nicholas, and picked up the money as if he
expected it would burn his fingers, exam
inng it also as though he thought it must
be counterfeit. "Well, if this isn't 60,
don't know what is!' he added, when he
saw they were gold; and with chuckle,
conveyed them into his waistcoat pocket.
"And now, suppose we CO." rejoined Mr..
JENKINS, rising.
'With all my heart" responded Nicholas,
as he followed him out of the room, Won
dering what was to come next. ......
They gained the street. Pursuing their
walk in profound silence till they reached
the Strand, Mr.. Jenkins suddenly addressed |
Nicholas. "That's monstrous shabby hat |
of yours" saidh ..-..'
at is" quoth Nicholas; "but it's my best |
and worst"
''Step into that shop, and fit yourself with
better" replied Mr.. jenkins, pointing to
a hatter's across the road. "Here's money
to pay for it, and I'll wait here till you re-
turn" He gave him, as he spoke, five
pound note.
''Sure-ly, he's mad ~ said Nicholas, as
he entered the hatter'S shop.
The purchase was soon made, and Mich
olas rejoining his companion, gave him the
change-E3, los. '...
THAT will do" said he, surveying Mich
olas, as he put the change into his pocket
without counting it. "Ay, now you look a
little better; but can't take you home in
those clothes, my friend; | must rig you out
in new suit at one of the ready-made
warehouses in Holywell street."
So saying, they made for HolFwell street,
and as they went along, Mr.. jenkins put
another note in his hand. "That's ten"
sail he; you'll get coat, waistcoat and
trowsers, with pair of Wellingtons, for
about five or six pounds; and then we'll go
to dinner"
Arrived at tire corner, Mr.. jenkins told
him to go into the first shop he came to,
equip himself and return.
This never can be earnestw exclaimed
Nicholas, once more alone; "but aohdt the
joke is, curse me If can fathom."
Nicholas had conscience, though tailor.
He not only selected cheap suit, but gave
Mr.. Jenkins the benefit of his professional
knowledge, beating down the price upon
the plea of such bad workmanship as none
but a tailor could have discerned. This
occupied some time. When he returned to
where he had left Mr.. Jenkins, he was
gone.
He stood for some moments looking about
in every direction, and was upon the point
of quitting his post to return to the Blue
Posts, in order that he might learn who
Mr.. jenkins was and where he lived, when
a ragged, dirty boy came running towards
him. tt
do you want Mr.. Jenkias'" said he.
Eyes"
"He's waiting for you at Temple Bar
He gived me this (holding up shilling) to
come and tell you. He said should see a
gentleman with bundle under his arm,
looking as if he had lost something"
"Lost something" repeated Nicholas, as
he turned in the direction of Temple Bar.
''Found something, think!" and then he
laughed at the idea of being called gen.
tleman "though for the matter of that"
he added, surveying himself as he spoke,
''if fine feathers make fine birds, I'm an
outside gentleman at any rate"
Thus soliloquizing, he reached Temple
Bar, where he found Mr.. Jenkins talking
with a shabby-looking man dressed in a
drab greatcoat, long leather CATERS, his hat
slouched over his face, and a huge cudgel
in his hand for a walking stick. AS Nicho-
las drew near they separated, but not be-
tore the stranger had fixed his ewes upon
Nicholas with strange scrutiniZing eX-
preston, that he shrunk involuntarily from
their gaze.
''You were long time Smting yourself"
said Mr.. Jenkins, laying an emphasis upon
the word ''suiting," as if he meant to make
pun.
IL was driving hard bargain" replied
Nicholas-"as hard s. one as if it had been
my own money, for hate to be imposed
upon. got the whole for f3, los. 3d., after
a long haggle about the odd sixpence."
upon my word" exclaimed Jenkins,
receiving the difference from Nicholas as
he spoke, "you have done both yourself and
me justice, | must say. You'll do now," he
added, looking at him from head to foot,
tall except your hands. You must get a
pair of gloves"
They walked down Fleet street, and the
first hosier's they came to, Mr.. Jenkins,
pulling out another five-pound note, gave
it to Nicholas, with directions to go in and
buy pair.
Hadn't you better give me silver?" said
Nicholas. Perhaps they won't have
change"
"Perhaps you'll try" replied Mr.. Jenk-
ins, as he walked on in the direction to
Bridge street.
"Well," exclaimed Nicholas, as he left
the shop, "if this is to be the go, surely
he'll buy me shirt,
Nicholas was mistaken. Mr.. jenkins
seemed now to be quite satisfied, and pro-
ceeded eastward till he reached the neigh
borhood of Whitechapel, he turned into a
narrow court, containing aboutsa dozen
houses. Before helargest of these he stop
ped, and, taking a key from his pocket,
opened the door. -, u. .... -
II hope dinner is ready" said he.
This was the first word he had spoken all
the way foom Bridge street.
!" / hope SO, too" replied Nicholas, gaily,
"tor I'm as hungry as a wolf" =, E.-, Z, !.
They entered dark passage, Mr.. Jenkins
closing and locking the door after him.
"This way,"' said he, ascending flight of
stairs, which Nicholas could only dimly
descry, and up Which he stumbled more
than once in following his guide. ',1s5
Arrived on the first landing, Mr.. Jenkins
kad the door 0f n rathar : N oiOlIa no rt-