The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-09-28

Collectine a Bad Debt.
Ii vas dingy, iIl-vert tillstsd little esli Ia
the topmost stratum of one of those immenss
human bee-hives that people cali " tenement
houses"--a room where washtubs and child.
ren, kettles and kittens, potato parings and
clothes pins, were scattered about IN reck.
less disregard of the divine principles OF
order. DR.. Maynard stood still IN the chaos
afraid to move lest he should step Ia the
starch bowl, or on one Of the children who
swarmed about the floor. F'A
DR.. Ma. nard had recently come into pos
ession Of this property by the death Of q
relative, nor was be particularly pleased
with his new acquisition. The few weekly
visits be had made were not accompanied BY
any particularly agreeable "reminiscences
in fact, be dreaded them As q civilized colo.
mist might dread an irruption into the savage
jrngles OF African wilderness. DR.. Maynard
had always made human nature study /;
but this nature seemed scarcely human in
its old Celtic developments.
Of all people i ever .umbled across, !"
said Or. Maynard, " the Irish are the most
improvident What is the reason can
never get my rent on this floor The Ger.
man people down stairs are always ready -.
md my American tenants are q model OF
punetnality. It's really very unaccoantA-
BILE thing to mel"
Sure. sir, 'usn't my fault" said Mrs.
fooley, lifting the cCrne. of her coarse
checked apron to hes-sy partly 70 check
The tears that always rose readily 10 bssl
nu'dy blue ey s, and partly 10 hide shs
flush Of modification that suffused her freck.
led cheek while Terry and Mike, AID litsls
Sorah. clung TO her mothers ~voluminos,s
skirts in sort Of vague apprehension that
was wrong, although their tiny
minds could hardly takes in the full mean.
ng Of the catastrophe that was disturbing
thsir domestic peace.
"Not your FAULT, Mrs. Tooley ?" repeated
D.. Aayrmrd, in sharp accents. Bnff
nessF'ls your fault. according to roar own
story"
sky man is sick, sir, wid the rheumati !
in the knee joints" apologizei the Isish-
woman, ard it's hard wo.k we have 70 ge.
along, and provide the bit and the sup for
the CROWN childer; meself knows the rim,
ought to be paid, and if you'll have little
patience, sir -"
Patience, patience, patience - ejacalated
the doctor, each word uttered in . key some.
ghat higher than the last "One ought "a
have the patience Of Job to get aiong with
such pack Of tenants as have Why don't
you work p
Mrs. Tonlev glanced little reproachfuliy
- the was shtUb in the corner-a sort of altar,
ahrsn 0A IN hn ~
suds.
"Indade, sir, try my best; and had hoped
to have the money ready for you to-day,
but Mrs. Napier put me of. as she's done
many 9 time, bad luck till her It's the
giri,snsy dresses cost so much, says she,
You're GOO iupudent altogether, Bridget
says she, ana ~pe starvin' for the money
hats mse own, and noe hers at all, all"
"Do you mean Mrs. John Napier - asked
DR.. Maynard.
"Sure do, sir, and it's nine dollars and
sixty cents she's owen me for the sweat of
me brow and the wear and tear Of me hard
worked hands," said Bridget Tooley. looking
down at the red and parboiled members
"And won't she pay You ?" ~
Nver red cint, sir, though | told her
now Patrick had the rheumatic, and the
childer hadn't bread and salt TO be comfort
able. She's niver paid me since began 10
wash for her five weeks ago the very last
Tuesday that ever was"
"It's shame !" said DIR. Maynard, lacon-
ically.
"Sure an it IS, sir" ssscnted Bridget,
meekly but what can q poor body do ~
DR.. Maynard murmured something under
his breath. Mrs Tooley could just catch
here and there disjointsd word OF the Bible
sentence having regard to grinding the
face OF the poor !"
sWell, Bridget, you are not 50 much to
blame as I thought you were," said he, in ,
miIder tone, As he turned ABRUPTLY on bis
heel "Pn csll again, next week; IFS more
than likely you'll have the money BY that
time"
.Ths blessin' Of all the saints Be about
yer and over yez," whined the relieved
Bridget
But The uDceremonious closing Of the door
cut sbor. Mrs. Tooley's shower Of blessings
and Unnecessary details DR.. Maynard
went slowly down the echoing uncarpeted
stanrs, with h,s hands in his pockets, and
his brows contracted, in . bFown study.
As he entered his Office, several blocks be
low. the first thing that met hb eye was {
note, written on perfumed pink paper, m
scaled With . gorgeous her.ldic Ndsvics \
rose-colored wax.
Hum-n r. muttered The doctor, betwsss
his closed lips. Mrs. Nspier's complins snts
pleasure Of DE-. MaInard's company t. ktin