The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-23

Mr.. Pococks manner was so peculiar
that my curiosity wss excitei, and begge
him TO relate the story. He began thus:
"YoH can see, think, Mr.. CrsnbrooI
that I am an enthusiast in my art wa
born 70 be boot maker. l am not one O
those tradesmen who cease TO tlink of thei
occupation directly their shutters are put
My entire walking thoughts are devoted /,
boot making. After years of meditation,
have devised an instrument for measurins
the human foot, which will entirely super
cede the present barbArously rude expe
disnts of rule and tape. l shsll take oui
the patent in England. / merely mention
this TO show you that am devoted to my
profession.
IL the spring of the year, the 238sh
New York was encamped on Arlington
Heights, close to this city. The 238sh il
crack regiment most the officers are
men Of GOOD position, and. as a matter Of
course, they pstronized me. One day Oh e
of them said to, me (he was fellow with
great splay-foot which my utmost skill
could scarcely render pssssble): "Ssy,
Pocock, L must bring one Of our lieuten-
ants down 10 see you. He deserves to
have S civilized bootmAker" So he
brought me Van RENSSELAER,, carelessly
dressed young man, with thin, thought
full lace, end great eyes that seemed look
ing into the middle of next week, or at
anything sooner than what was right be-
fore them. This young gentleman had
been educated at West Point (they're
mostly West Pointers in the 23Sshl, and
his whole soul was given up to studying
military tactics and mar Buvers. He
didn't care for balls, or politics, or speech
flying and, if you will believe me, this
misguided young man, with foot which
the Apollo Belvidere might have enyied,
was actually wearing slop shoes, picked up
promiscuopsly at any chance store he
passed. 1t nearly brought the tears into
my eyes, and as traced out the design of
his mstchless foot in my fac simile book, I
said i: Lieutenant I snail be proud to
make your boots for the rest of your life
for noIhingn
VI would not allow any inferior work
man to meddle wi tn these boots; they were
closed by my own hands. l spent long
time over them, too, putting In an artistic
touch here and there, just as painter does
with q pet picture. But when l went
over to Arlington Heights, intending to
present the boots in person (my negro boy
Pete was respectfully carrying them be-
hind me, J I found to my griel and chsgrin,
that Lieutenant Van RENSSELAER, had
gone-gone away at less than four and
twenty hours notice He had grown
tired of the uneventful life of 3 Washing
ton soldier, and had exchanged into the
army of the Tennessee, under General Nc
Pherson, Just then about TO start from
hn
paign. Well, Mr.. CrRDbTook, it was q |
great disappointment. simply put the
boots away on g top shelf of that show !
case IN the shop, and troubled my hesd no
more about them. A month or six weeks |
had passed away, and the spring mud Of |
our streets had become converted into sum-
mer dust. It was Friday, the 27ih of May,
the hour was seven o'clock in the evening,
and was sitting in this back psrlor medi-
.ating over my new machine. My young
men had all left for the day my wife (sbe
Is an American LADY, was away on a visit
10 her frIeRds in Trenton, N. j; the two
[rish girls were busy ironing in the kitch-
M Pete had gone to deliver q pSir of ls-
lies walking Balmorals at the White
House. ] mention all these little fscts to
how you that 1 was perfectly tranquil and
composed on that evening. Well, sir,
lad closed my eyes during an especially
evere train of thought and when opened
hem sgain saw that somebody had come
nto the shop. It was an officer in full
inform, and be had mounted chair, and
vas endeAvoring TO reach something from
he top of the show case.
"Allow me, sir" said with the utmost
)lsndness, not in the least surprised, for
lou know, Mr.. Cranbrook, that military
Gentlemen do eccentric things occasionally
-"Sllow me, sir,n said. va-s
"Thank you" he answered. very politely;
I can reach them myself"
II looked up and saw it was Lieutenant
Van Rensselaer, My face flushed with
'leasure. Lieutenant exclaimed, Pm
delighted to see you Permit me to have
he honor OF taxing
"My good friend" he replied rather
oldly, 'is soldier should always perform
hese services for himself 1 want no as
istance, merely want the bock-hooks
nd little French chalk" With these
words he sat down, took the book hooks
rom my hands, which were tremulous
With anxious delight, kicked off his ready
made shoes, and with the most extrsor-
insry rapidly Thereby proving the soft
less of the leather and the excellence of
he ft) put on the new boots.
. At the sight Of those model feet en-.
ased in what l may justly call those model
'oots l was nearly overPowered- My de-
ight was so exquisite as to be almost pain
ul; but 1t did not last long, for, with the
imple and indeed uugrscious words:
Yes, these will do pretty well" the lieu
ensnt walked out of the shop.
az know how your story is going to end,
Ar. Pocock" interposed; "this fellow
vas common swindler, dressed up in
inform, who thereby got an elegant pair
# boots for nothing"
Mr.. Pocock regarded me with quiet
corn.
81 What, sir |" he replied, ado you fancy
here is Q swindlsr, or any other man in
he Unieed States, whom these boots would
Il. Not one, sir. No-no, you are alto
,ether wide Of the mark, Mr.. Orsnbrook
Be kind enough to hear me patiently 10
he end.
Il took up the ready made shoes, a pair
4 the sorriest products of that guilty town
(guilty, IS being the cause CT
bunions ~ took the ready
made shoes, and placed them carefully, out
# regard TO their late owner, on the same
helf as that from which the lieutenant had
aiken his dress boots. The next morning
could not help conAding to Pete (for Pete,
hough niger, has s far more symps-
hizing soul than most of the white work.
ne6) that Lieutenant Van Rensselaer, had
,slled for his boots. expected hum to an
wer "Golly, mas'r Use glad to hear dat"
instead of which he rolled his eyes horri-
by, and nearly let shutter fall.
'"When did um call, mas'r 2"
"Lsst evening"
sand took um away y
SAY, on his feet"
"Why, mas'r, dey'S on the shelf noUp
al came to the shop. Pete was perfect
u right There, on the top shelf of the
,hoW case, stood Lieutenant Van Renssel-
ss-'s dress.b boots, on the exact spot that
hey had occupied for days previously
while the shop made EorthsmPtons were
nowhere 70 be seen What was to be
done2 Nothing. 1 was fairly skeared, ss
people say IN this country, and told |
Pete to hold his tongue on psin of dismissal,
When Mrs. Pocock returned, 1 con tined |
the STAIR to her ear but though she will |
wallow any nonsense about spirit mediums |
she was quite increorlous, laughed at me, !
and said she must take away the keys Of
the grog.chest next time she went