Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-01
The Sturp Teller.
THE C0BBLER'S TEMPTATION.

THE CoBBLER'S TEMPTATION.
CHAPTER I.
Jareb Gropp sat in hislttle shopupon hisbench
and he pegged and tapped away merrily upon hi
wen-worn knees He was Jolly fellow, this Jareb
Poor, tbs true, but just poor enough to be fret
from care He owned the rooted box in which h
worked, and so he owned the little thatched col
adjoining it. In the cot he lived with his wife ane
seven children, and in the shop he worked cheer
fully all day long. He was not afraid of robbers
for he had nothing worth carrying off; and ht
feared no man, for he never did man wrong.
A merry jolly fellow was Jareb Gropp. He
sang as he pegged, and his joyous notes Lacked
only musical sound to make them attractive. He
was built after the same pattern as were his col
and shop. He was short and dumpy, witha roune
. shiny, good-natured face, and with bald pate
though he was five and forty years old.
'Troll-de-rol-de-loll-lardo |" sang Jareb.
ssFolde-rolde-riddle-de -de-rolrine-tu sounded
o voice from the inner door.
Jareb looked up and saw his wife.
Just match for Jareb, for all the world. Short
fat, clean, good-natured as queen. She ws'
dressed neatly for all her poverty, and the flush o.
health glowed upon her plump cheeks.
"Duck," said Jareb, ''the likes never happened
afore"
''What isit, my own sugar PLUMP" asked Heps
bath.
Hepsbath was her name, though she hadn't
heard it pronounced in full for years.
"D'ye see this shoe, dehght?"
Eyes, my love.
'"Tis the last work in the castle. Not another
place to put peg have L got by me. Well shut
the gates, lower the draw-bridge, put the wardel
on guard, and call up our coach, eh2'
s'You mean we'll 60 and walk, peppermint? Z
'sI do, my treasure"
"Shal I put on my silk. or satin? or my new
velvet"
'sPut on all of them, my dear. Well make an
appearance. Hi-fol-de-rol-de-ri-do! there (tap)
that's the last peg, and old Smith shoes are DONE
Smith-Smith-did you ever feel thankful your
name warn't Smith, Heppy, eh? There was a
Smith put in Jail only last week, for robbin some
body. But ye never heard tell Of a Gropp's being
put in Jail, never. Now, my maple sugar, well
be of. Bring up the little Gropses."
Hardly had Heppy departed when man made
his appearance at the shop door. He was an old
man, very well dressed in black throughout, carry,
inga gold-headed cane, and wearing watch chain
of the same precious material.
care you cobber?" he asked, as he entered.
II was two minutes ago, sir, but I'm an old feu'
dal baron now, sir Lady Gropp is going to ride
out, sir, and I'm to attend her."
'Eh-are you the man that does mending
mending of boots and shoes?' asked the visitor,
moving back apace, as though he thought the
strange fellow before him was crazy.
'Yes, sir" answered Jareb, I'm the man. But
YOU see my wife has not walked out for more'n a
month. I just tossed off the last bit of work !
had in the shop. Ihad hurried it amazingly, and
was going to take run down by the river with hel
and the little ones"
''Aha-I see," said the gentleman, smilingly.
''Now you must just run and tell your old lady to
wait for you for half an hour, and I'll satisfy her
for it. am in q hurry. The stage leaves in an
hour and my boot has given out. Come, you
won't refuse to assist me under such circums.an.
ces?"
"Hi-dum-de-follol WE'LL s'pose must stick
to my business"
Thus speaking Jareb left the shop, and when he
returned he put on his apron again, and settled in
his low seat The old man took off his cloak and
sat down. and the cobbler pulled off the fractured
Boot. It was ripped badly. Jareb made him q
stout wax-end, singing merriy the while, and when
it was ready he took up the boot
"You seem to be happy fellow" remarked
the visitor after he had watched Jareb's good-na'
tured face awhile.
''Why shouldn't be? owe no man anything
have my health-and love to do my work. FoLde'
rol-lol-de-lardo.'
''You've laid by something for a rainy day,
suppose?' pursued the stranger.
GAY, thousands upon thousands Of dollars, sir!
said Jareb, giving his awl a furious punch.
''What, 50 much as that?'
"Ha! I'd ike to show them to ye, sir. They
might have dirty faces. Seven of 'em, sir ! Sever
of the best natured children ye ever saw, sir, anc
rugged too."
'Ah! meant to ask you if you had not man
aged to lay by little money, my good man. Yor
seem steady and industrious"
Money" repeated Jareb, with comical leer
'Does man lay by money when he's building
himself houses and gardens? No, sir. Nor doe
man lay by money when he makes half crown
q day. and rears seven children Them little uni
will take care of NE when sm old, never fear
No, no
"Money or gold in boarded store
/ have none Of Ill have none;
I live and breathe-I do
To-day it's curse, Tomorrow 4 bore,
Folde- rolo de-iido,
And Pm the happiest man alive
Fode-ro-lo-de-lldo"
'sThen you live contented on your scanty store?
said the old man, regarding the cobbler enviously
"Just as contented as the day is long, sir. Anc
why shouldn'tI II won't starve while there is {
crust of bread in the house, or ripped shoe il
the village. I should like money if I could have
it; but wouldn't pass one day or night OF dis
contentment for all the money in the world.
"And if you had money, what would you d
with it?''
For the first time Jareb looked sober. His aw
was stopped in the puncture it had made-his ey
rested vacantly on the floor. When he spoke a
his Gghtpess of manner was gone, and his vole
was tremuous
swell, I'll tell ye," he said, while the twitchnl
of his neither lip showed that he felt deeply. :"
can't help thinking that my little ones aren't com
ing up like other folks little ones are. They ar
good, honest and happy; but if they could hav
chance to get little more larnin than their poo
old fathers GOT. shouldn't mind. I cannot hell