Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-20
Jareb Crops Temptation.


enough to be free of care. He owned
the rooted box in which he worked,
and also owned the small matched
cot joining it. In the cot he lived
with his wife and seven children, and
in the shop he worked cheerfully all
the day long. He was not afraid of
robbers, for he had nothing worth car
rying off, and he feared no man for he
never did any one a wrong.
A merry fellow was Jareb Gropp.
He sang as he pegged, and his joyous
notes only lacked musical sound to
make them attractive. He was built
after the same pattern as were his cot
and shop. He was short and dumpy,
with a round, shiny, good natured
face, and with bald place, though he
was only five and forty years old.
"Troll de rol de loll lardo!" sang
Mr.. Jareb.
Fol de lol de riddle de Iol rinc-
tum!' sounded a voice from the inner
door.
Jareb looked up and saw his wife.
"D'ye see the nice shoes?"
Yes, my love"
"'Tis the last work in the castle.
Not another place to put peg have I
got by me. Well shut the CRATE and
lower the draw bridge, put the warder
on guard, and call up our coach, eh?'
You mean we'll 60 and walk ?"
Il do"
Shall I put on my silk satin, or
my new velvet?'
Put on ali of them nv dear
Well make an appearance. Hi tol de
rol de ri do! there, there (tap) that's
the last peg. and old Smiths shoes arc
done. Smith-Smith, didn'tYou ever
feel thankful your name warn't Smith,
Heppy, eh? There was a Smith put
in jail last week for Robin somebody.
But We never heard of Crops being
put in iail-never. Now, ny dear,
we'll be off. Bring up the little
Groppses."
Hardly had Heppy departed when
a man made his appearance at the
shop door. He was an old man, very
well dressed in black throughout, car
rying a gold headed cane, ard wear
ing watch of the same precious ma.
teriaI.
Are you a cobbler?" he asked, as
he entered.
i was two minutes ago, sir, but
I'm an old feudal 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 boots and shoes
asked the visitor, moving back pace
as though he thought the strange fel
low before him was crazy.
Yes, sir" answered Jareb. Z" In
the man; but you see my wife hasn'
walked out for more than a month
/ l just tossed off the last bit of work
l had in the shop. | had hurried i
amazingly, and was just agoing tt
take a run down by the river with hel
and the little ones"
" Aha see,' said the old gentle
man, smiling Now just run ant
tell your lady to wait for you half al
hour, and I'll satisfy her for it, l an
in a hurry; the stage leaves in al
, hour, and my boot has given out
Come, you on'trefuse me under sucl
circumstances ?"
= Hi dun do fol 10; well, s'pos
| must stick to my business"
| Thus speaking Jareb left the shop
aud when he returned he put on hi
apron again and settled into his loy
seat. The old man took off his coat
and sat down, and the cobbler pulle
off the fractured boot; it was rippe
> badly. Jareb made him a stout way
= ed end, singing merrily the while.
You seem to be a happy fellow,
J i remarked the visitor, after he ha
watched Jareb's good natured fac
awhile.
j. "Why shouldn't I be? owe n
man anything, have my health, an
love to do my work"
"You have laid by something, SUI
y pose, for rainy day ?" pursued tt
stranger.
Gay, thousands upon thousands o
+; dollars, slrr cried Jareb, giving h
d awl furious punch.
e d" What, so much as that ?"
i "Ha! I'd like to show 'em to Y
t. sir, They might have dirty faces
If seven of the best natured children J
Is ever saw, sir, and stout and rugge
1t too."
e "Ah! l meant to ask you if you ha
not managed to lay by little none
1t my good man; you seem steady al
luuuSIfIOuS euOuSu.
% Money! repeated Jareb with
II comical leer. "Does a man lay
ID money when he's building himself ho
ses and gardens? :? No, sir. Nor do
s. a man make money when he makes
al half crown a day, and rears sew,
IN children. Them leetle 'ums will tai
J, care of me when | am old, never fear
IL "Then you live contented on yo
IN scanty fare ?" said the old man, I
nV garding the cobbler rather enviousl
IT, 'Just as contented as the day
1t long, sir. And why shouldn't 1.
ne won't starve while there's crust
bread in the house, or ripped sh
eS in the village. | should like mon
I; if could have it, but | would 4
ne pass one day or night of disconte
u for all the money in the world"
In "And if you have money WI
'r- would you do with it ?"
For the first time Jareb looked
We Der. When he spoke all his lightnt
X of manner was gone, and his vo.
en- was tremulous.
sh "Well I'll TELL" he said, while t
ms twitching of his neither lip show
,r- that he felt deeply.
ne "l can't help thinking that my
at tie ones aren't comm up as so
ey folks little ones are. They are 60
,es honest and happy; but if they co,
'tn have a chance to get a leetle m,
cir larning than their poor old fathe
got, | would be glad. can't b
thinkin' as how there might be
snt bright mind amongst them, to ms