The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-07-17

AtstellaMenus.
MINNOWS WITH SILVER TAILS.
BY JEAN INGELOW.

THERE was cuckoo clock hanging
in Tom Turner's cottage. When ii
struck one, Toms wife laid the baby in
the cradle and took the sauce pan off the
fire, from which came II very savory
smell.
Her two little children, who had been
playing in the open doorway, ran to
the table and began softly to drum up
on it with their pewter spoons, looking
eagerly at their mother, as she turned
II nice little piece Of pork into IA dish
and set greens and potatoes around it.
They brought the salt, then set chair
for their father, brought their own
stools, and pulled their mothers rock
ing chair close to the table.
"Run to the door, Billy said the
mother, "and see if father is coming"
Billy ran TO the door, andafter the fash
ion Of little children, looked first the
right way and then the wrong way, but
no father was seen.
! Presently his mother followed him,
and shaded her eyes with her hand, fol
the sun was hot. "If father doesn't
come soOn,' she observed. "thc apple
dumpling5 will be too much done by Il
| deal"
"rhcrc he is" cried the little boy,
che is coming round by the wood; and
now he is going over the bridge. Oh
father, make haste, and have some ap.
pie dumplings."
"Tom," said his wife as he came near
"art thou tired today"
"uncommGn tired" said Tom, ant
he threw himself on the bench in The
shadow of the thatch,
elias anything gone wrong" sal,
his wife. "What's the natter"
"Matter?" said Tom. sis anythin,
the matter? The matter is this, moth.
er; that Pm miserable, hard workct
slave !" and he clasped his hands upol
his knees, and muttcred, in Il decl
voice which frightened the childrcn-"i
miserable slave"
"Bless us !" said his wife who coul,
not make out what he meant.
"a miserable, ill-used slave" contin
ucd Tom, "and always have bocn."
"Always have been ?" said his wife
"why, fa thcr, thought thou used t.
say, at the election time, thYk vast
lrec-born Briton."
"Womcn have no business with pc
litics," said Tom, getting up rathc
sulkily. And whether it was the fore
of habit, or the smell of the dinner, thQ
made him do 50, has not been ascertain
! ed; but ii is certain that he walked int
thchouse, ate plenty Of porkandgrccns
and then took Il tolcrablc share in dc
molishing the apple dumplings."
When the children were gone out
play, his wife said TO him:
. Tom, hope thou and master havc'l
had words to day."
"Mastcr" said Tom; "ycs, prott
master he has been; and n pretty slav
have been. Don't talk TO me of ma
tcrs !"
"Oh, Tom, Tom," cried his wife
"but he's been good master TO yo
fourteen shillings week, regular wag
n that's not thing TO make Il sneer Il
and think how warm the children a
n Tapped upo'winter nights, and you wi
rs good shoes to your feet MS ever Ike
one out of the mud"
"What Of that?" said Tom; "isn't II
labor worth the money? Pm not !
holden TO my employer. lie gets
good from me rs he gives"
- "Nery like, Tom. There's not mi
for miles round that can match you I
or 4 graft; and rs TO early pcas-but
al master can't do without you, Pm su
" you can't do without him. Oh dear,
- think you and he should have ha
words !"
"We've had mo words" said 10
to impationtly; "but Pm sick of being
RI another's beck and call. It's "TOm,
IN this and 'Tom, do that and nothi
y. but work work from Monday morni
nd tin Saturday night; and ! was Think
as walked over TO Squire Morton's
uah iol tilt 'uiHiP 7''' "i hh'7''
was thinking, Sally, that am nothl
r. but poor working man after all.
short, Pan slave, and my spirit Wa
stand it,"
So saying, Tom flung himself out
the cottage door, and his wife thou
he was going back TO his work as usl
But she was mlstaken; he walked
~, the wood, and there, when he came
-, the border ofa little tlnkling stres
he sat down and began to brood o
his grievances. 1t was very hot 4
snow, III tell you what" said I
ine i,r to himself" it's a great deal rleasal
zen sitting here in the shade than broi
over celery trenches; and then thin
IT, Iof wall fruit, with n baking sun at o