The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-11-16
#isfeIlauenas.
COLLECTING A BAD DEBT.

ID wss dingy, ill.ventilated lissls cell In
The topmost stratum Of one Of thoss i'm
msuss human beehivss that people call
{" Tenement houses"-s room where wash.
tubs and children, kettles and kittens, pots.
to.par,ngs and olothes-pins, were scattered
about in reckless disrsgard Of the divine
principles Of order. Dr.. Maynard stood still
In the middle Of tho chaos, afraid to move
lest he should step in the starch bowl. or on
one Of the children who swarmed about the
door.
DR.. Maynard had recently como into pos
session Of this property BY the death Of .
relative. nor wss be particularly pleased
Whit Nh nsu scquisi.iou. The few weekly
visits be had made were not accompanied BY
any particularly agreeable "reminiscences; In
fact, he dreaded them, as Q civilized colonist
might dread an irruption unto the savage
junsles Of African Wilderness. Dr.. May.
nard had always made human nature .
study; but this seemed hardly human In its
odd, Celtic developments.
"Of oil people I ever stumbled across"
said DR.. Maynard. Z" the Irish are the most
improvidsnt. What 10 the reason ! can
never set my rent on this aoOr1 Tho Ger.
man people down stairs are always ready,
and my American tenants arc . model Of
punc.ualisy. II 10 really very unsceount-
able thing to me-"
"Surs. sir, tisu't my FAULT" said Mn
Tooley, lifting the corner Of her coarse
checked apron 10 her eyes, partly to check
the tears that always rose readily to her
muddy blue eyes, and partly to hide that
Hush Of modification that sutIused her freck.
led check: while Terry and Mike and little
Norsh clung 70 their mothers voluminous
skiru 10 . sort Of vague apprehension that
something was wrong, although their tiny
minds could hardly take In the full meaning
Of the catastrophe that was disturbing their
domestic psses.
"Not your fault, Mrs. Toolsyf" repeat.
cd DR.. Maynard, IN sharp accents. "But
Il never is your fault, according to your own
story" ..-
my man 10 sick, sir, wid the rheumatiz
in his knee ,joint." apologired tho Irishwo-
man, . and It's hard work We have to get
along. and provide the bit and the Sup for
the CROWN childher; meself knows the rint
ought to be paid, and II you'll have little
patience, sir"
"Patience, patience, patience!" ejscu.
lated the doctor. each word uttered In key
somewhat higher than the last. "One
osghs - hsvs he patience Of Job 70 "a
along with such . pack Of tenants - I
hsvs Why don't you work."
Mrs. Tooley glanced little reproschfully
ut the wash tub in the coruer-s sort Of
altar, enshrined In tho incense Of steaming
sospsuds.
@Indsds. cir, I try my best; and ! had
hoped to have the money ready for you to-
day. but Mrs. Napier put me od - shes
done many time before, bad luck to her.
It's the girls new dresses cost % much, says
she. You're too impudeus altogether,
Bridget says she-and me ssarvin' for the
money that's mo own, and not hers at all,
at all"
"Do you mean Mrs. John Nspieri" asksd
DR.. Maynard.
"Surs do, sir, and its nina dollars and
sixty cents she's OWN me for the sweat Of
me brow and the wear and tear Of me hard.
working hands," said Bridget Tooley, look.
ing down at the red and psrbOilsd members
Aforesaid. "
"And won't she pay you!"
"Niver red cent. cir, though told her
how Patrick had the rheumatis. and the
children hadn't bread and salt to b com.
Portable. She's niver paid me since l began
TO wash for her Eve weeks sgo the very last
Tuesday that ever wss!"
"lts . shame" said DR.. Maynard, lacon.
ically.
"Sure an Il 10, SIR" assentsd Bridget
meetly "b but what can poor body do"
DR.. Maynard muttered something under
his breath. Mrs. Tooley could just catch
hero and there disjoiuted word Of the old
Bible sentence having regard to"grindins
the faces Of the poor"
"wsll Bridsss, you arc not % much to
blame - I thought you wsre," said he, In .
mildsr tone, - he turned abruptly ou his
hesL "I'll call again next week; lee moro
than likely you'll have the money BY that
time"
The blcssin' Of all the saints b about
yes and over ye.," whined the relieved
Bridget.
But the unceremonious closing Of the door
cut short Mrs. Tooley's shower Of blessings
and unnecessary dstails Dr.. Maynard went
slowly down the echoing. uncarpcted ssair,
With his hands In HE pockets, and his brows
contracted, in brown study.
A he entered his oiice, several blocks bc-
low, the 6rst thing that met his eye was q
note, written on psrfuued pink paper, and
sssled with . gorgeous heraldic device in
rosa eolorsd wax.
"Huu-n 7" muttered Che doctor, between
HE closed lips. "Mr. Nspisrs oompli.
uents; pleasure Of DR.. Mayuards company
70 dluper on Thursdsy evening next. at Q
O'Clock" Another Of their champagne and
turbos celebrations, sh! Well well
weli-thess things arc not much to my fan
ey, but believe Ill 20 this time. I bc-
repeated the doctor, thought.
fully ssrotins hh chin, habit he often bad
49, 49,, -nsk