Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-04-22
/" Buy Your ova Cherries. y
A TALE OF A BnIr1sH FoRKISo MAN.

and putting his hand in hispocket drew out a
few coppers, "Just the price, pint" as he
said to himself, and resolved thereupon to step
across to the Golden Eagle" and have some
ale to allay his thirst. Just as he opened the
door which led to the "bar!' what should he
see on the polished counter, bIta plate of beau
tiful ripe cherries, the sight q which made bis
mouth water so freely that e'e he knew exact
ly what he was doing, his band was stretched
out to take few, when the shrill voice of the
landlady from behind called out,
"You touch them if yoa dare, sirp
John was startled, but btdore he could reply
the landlady added
"The idea Of your taking such liberty.
should like to know whatyou &c thinking about!
"Well, missus, was Only going to take enc
or two to wet my whistle"
"You had better not try I on, she said with
warmth.
"Why you won't mind my having few
will you? am so thirsty and they look quite
tempting" said John, thinking she was joking
"No, sir, not one, have just bought them
as a treat for my children; they are peculiar
sort and very expensive"
"Well, Just let me try one?"
"No," she answered, with determination il
every look, " not one, if you want any, buy
,,our o,,y cbarrias rn
"Well," replied John, al was going to have
pint Of your best (?l but think I'll take adj
vice and go and buy some cherries instead,
aud turning round, he walked out of the shop
The landlady saw in a moment that she com
mitted mistake, and called loudly for John tC
come back, but this only made him quicken hi'
steps and get away as fast as possible.
"Well, I've done it," she said, as taking NJ
her plate of cherries she passed into the bal
parlor; what stupid | was not to let hin
have one or two, he is too good customer tc
lose. / must look out, however, when HI
comes to pay his score and coax him he mus
be won over again ifpossble." And with sucl
reflections she tried to calm down her disturb
Ell feelings.
Meantime John fastened down the street
looking out for the shop where fruit was dis
played, and as soon as he caught sight Of th'
things he wanted he called out
"Ilerc, master, let me have three-p 'ortl
of those cherries, will you?
"Ycs, sir" said the man, and quickly PLACED
in lis hands small bag containing the cher
RES, which, when John received, he returned
again to the workshop. All this had takel
place in few minutes, and the events la,
crowded so quickly one upon the other, tha
when he laid the bag of cherries on the bencl
and put one to his mouth, its sweetness aroused
vivdly within him the treatment Of the land
lady even with additional force, and her word
seemed so to "stick in his throat" that as b.
swallowed the juicy fruit, each seemed to Civ
birth to tie landlady'S words, "Buy your Owl
cherries"
Yes" said John, "and this is the way yol
scrvea fellow, is it, after spending many pounc
with you? and now to begrudge even paltr.
cherry :" and striking his hammer on the mai
as he muttered the words, its echo seemed t.
answer him back again, "Buy your own cher
ries."
All the rest Of that afternoon the words haunt
cd him, and do what he would even the saw
and the plane echoed the same advice, and a
times he appeared to grow desperate, and iron
his lips would rush the word, Buy your owl
Cherries" "Ah, yes" said he, his woundet
conscience CALLING him, q" have bought then
too long for her and her Children will tax
care of number one for the future, and sool
can have not only cherries, but many othe
sweet things beside"
At length the bell rang for leaving work
aud John walked TO the counting-house AM
received his wages, which amounted general,
to about thirty shillings; for though he was il
the habit Of paying frequent visits to the pub
lie house, yet he was not by any means wha
the people would call drunkard; indeed, b.
would have felt insulted if any one had dare
to apply such term to him, and no doub
would have prepared in his ray to prove tba
he only took what he considered did him good
and if he did on Saturday night sometimes &c
over the score, while the friendly glass wen
round more freely than usual, and the cheerful
song caused the time to fly fast so that he wen
home later than on other nights, it was simpl,
because he was good fellow who must do n
others do; and if at such times the wife com
planned that the money left was barely sufi
cent to purchase the needful things for tn
coming week, he was apt to tell her to "minC
her own business" and few sharp words be
tween them would be the result. But alas
such scenes are too well known to need de
scriptioD, and Mary, like many others, haC
grown weary with complaining, but neverthe
less, she determined to do her best TO keep th,
house as comfortable as her limited mean
would allow, and by kind words and looks t.
make the home as attractive as possible, feel
ing assured that by such means she was NOR
likely to draw him from the public-house, th
opposite course would most likely drire an'
keep him there.
However, our friend John is standing a
yonder gate, with his wages in hand, evident
ly hesitating what he shall do. Let US draw
near, and by doing so we shall hear what h