Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-15
t0riginal.l
BOOK OF TRAVEL SKETCHES.
No. XIV.
JENNY THE COBBLER.
BY AITCH.

tap, tapl Mending the soles of those
who we're only able to pay for the cheap
services of an unfortunate human being
like Jenny the cobbler.
Rap, tap, tapl The work goes on, but
the fire goes out, and the weather is bit
ter outdoors. But fire cost money, and
money and Jenny were distant as
strangers. What of it'll What need of
fire for muscles like thosel and big
bony fingersl Ay, fire be blowed A
brown, brawny Scotchman was he, and
the people all called him old Jenny the
cobbler. But bony and brawny and
rough though he was, he'd heart in his
bosom as big as a mountain; and as ten
/ der heart as the heart of woman
Rap, tap, tapl The patching and
mending continues and the dark little
garret is chilly and damp as a cave in an
iceberg. The cobbler is busily stitching,
and pegging, and thinking-ah, what is
he thinking about2 The cold, and dark
ness? Well, well, do not trouble the
man by the asking. Poor fellow! he's
trouble enough
There's stir at the door, and the
cobbler looks up from his mending
Hi, Sandy, my laddie! don't stand in
the weather Come in.
He couldn't say, come to the fire and
warm thee, my boy, nor ask where the
poor little fellow had been He knew
well enough he ID been seeking for food
say begging, an ugly expression, but
nearer the truth-and returned with not
even crust of dry bread
The cobler kept pegging away for some
moments. He glanced at the boy, where
he sat on stool in the corner, but
neither broke silence Poor Sandy"
thought Jenny, and sighed as he thought
it, how puny and wan he is growing,
with hunger and cold and neglect" lis
hard way to live, this, my bonnie
Rap, tap, tapl The two sat together
in silence Father and son. They were
dear to each other those starved ones
But what did the world care for that?
Weren't there beggars enough in the
midst, goodness knows? Ay, and wasn't
there money enough, too, for all? and
clothing and food for the needy? 'Twere
a shame to encourage more begging,
they'll tell you ''Two charity subjects
forsoothl Let them go to the poor
house and stay" Thus it goes.
Nay, my lad why looking so gloomy
and sad in the daylight" said Jenny,
as cherry as might be, to rouse the boy
spirits; though truth to tell, his needed
stirring as well, GUIDE souls What
a turn of guide fortune we're takin, my
bonniel Here's job that be worth the
bit time o the mendin', my lad, and
anither ahead that will gle Us ninepence
the morrow. You shall run with these
boots by-and-by, to the Captain, at Ships
Inn-gude mon land bring the bit siller
O. pay. And well haze us loaf and
stoup o guide ale from the Meers Heed,
and take a. the best o the day at the
endin.N
i4;..,t ;:.,t Sandy looked up with SUMMER
face. But the smile faded off from his
lips, and a shade of anxiety darkened his
face.
"Will it buy bath the loaf and the ale,
and pay a the house rate the morrow
To the rent mon ye're meanin', my
honey2"
Ay, the mon wi the big buke, and the |
staff he drives folk ava wi who Gamma |
pay.
morrow. The Guide mon will gle us a
the means for the day.
Rap, tap, tapl The mending went on,
and the boots were completed at length.
Then Sandy set out to return them,
while Jenny sat down to the next job
that waited his hand Twas a pitiful
sum that his labor returned, yet small as
it was, both he and his starving boy
awaited its possession-whenever for
tune threw employment in his hands-as
eagerly as though it had been the price
Of existence TO them 1t was like dew
on flowers in days of drouth, and quite
as uncertain. Ii stood for the time be-
tween them and starvation and naked
ness, and no more.
The day was bitter cold-desolate and
eheerless to the suffering poor The
anxious eobbler bent thoughtfully over
his weary task. The frosty air cfept in
through the gaping cracks at the door
Loose snow from the roofs Of the adjoin-
ng houses was swept down by the his
sing wind, and drifted in at the broken
Danes at the window. The worn and I
1rolsen shutters creaked dolefully upon /
heir hinges, and ratified and clattered 4:
in tune to the rap, tap, tap !
1f the cobbler' hammer
It was quite dark when Sandy reached !
Ships Inn, where the Captain lodged !
Eagerly he inquired for the owner Of the ]
nended boots, and vas told that he had '
zone to the ship-yards, In q remote part Of {
he city, and would not return for three I
lays
Chilled, faint from hunger, and weighed
ioEn with this bitter disappointment
he poor boy retraced his steps toward
he Wretched tenement where the cob