The Portland daily press., 1870-07-09
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man, in the same complaining way, a very
bad cold. l think there's nothing like little
gin for a cold"
"a little gimp said the bar-keeper, "do
you call whole glassful little? ?" knew by
this that the old man was greedy old man,
who would be likely to take care of all the ten
cent scrips he got, and longed to get into his
wallet
"Gin is very expensive" he said sadly, be-
ginning to tumble for his money He was a
long time in getting it out, and all the time the
bar-keeper kept tapping impatiently on the
counter with his knuckles. At last the money
was produced and the bar-keeper SwOre -
at won't do, old Brown" he said, you've
been here five times before with that same
quarter-it's no CO."
"Dear me-" moaned the old man, pitifully.
81 shall never get rid of it."
"Not here" said the bar-keeper, $50 fork
over" .r
With something between grunt and
grOan the old man handed out another note,
and, to my great Joy, was returned as change.
The old man took me UP tenderly, looked at
me admiringly and put me carefully in his
pocket. L knew then the pleasure OF being
loved above all other things.
1t was some minutes before the old man
got to his room, and all the way there he kept
muttering to himself about his failure to pass
the bad quarter. GA poor old man like me
to meet with such loss. It's too bad-too
bad, / can't stand itE He sat down ON chair
and covered his face with his hands. "Pve
always had bad luck--but nothing like this
I've lost fifty cents in trying to pass i'll won't
stand it," He drew me from his pocket, I'M
locked great trunk, laid me carefully among
a lot of my fellows, and locked me in. For
some time l heard him dismally bemoaning
his loss, and then he rose and seemed to go to
the old fashioned bureau 1 had noticed in the
room. Then a gurgling sound, then groan,
then silence Ny speculations, which must
have lasted some time, were interrupted by
loud knocking at the door Of the rOom-a
boisterous shouting, and finally breaking in
of the door.
"Dead," heard voice exclaim. GAS a
hammer" added another. Next came the
words "Suicidew "Cut his throatw "Old
miSer" There was no expression OF pity, no
sigh of regret, no great establishment in any
of these voices. The next 1 heard was,
where's his money?'-a question which
seemed to excite a most lively interest, and
some of them came to the trunk where l was
and tried to wrench it open, when an author
itative voice cried, "Stop that; send for the
coroner, and let's get the old carcass boxed
up" 1t was terrible TO hear man with so
much money spoken of so disrespectfully.
The heirs were sent for. They came, and
after the usual legal formalities, they took
possession of me and my companions. There
were a lot of lis. The heirs-two nephews-
counted us with eager satisfaction. listened
to hear word OF sorrow or compassion from
them, at least for the old man. 1 was disap
pointed; the only remarks l heard were
these:
every kind of him TO oblige us, just at this
time"
eyes, he showed himself gentleman"
"We could have bled him without being SO
very literal about it,"
Eyes, but suppose he thought it cost too
much to live"
And lighting their cigars, they walked out.
l could not feel very much at ease in the pos
session of these young men. l felt that they
had not that veneratiOn for ten cent scripS
that their uncle had, and ,trembled for the
future.
found myself again in vest pocket, in
company with toothpick, few cloves, a
vulgar cent and about an inch of lead pencil.
My LEV Lwner sauntered down the streets
He .eemed 10 have many friends, who all
congratulated him upon his "luek," and
think he treated them. At all events, his gait
by about 0 O'Clock, became very cratic and
at last he put his hand in the pocket where
l was, and think should have been again
consigned to bar-room, if little voice just
then had not attracted my owners attention.
Itsaid: "Please buy paper-Evening Blink
er, only two cents"
"a paper" said my owner, looking at the
boy-a very small one-"What do you do
with papers this time OF nght?"
Without word the boy turned dishearten
ened away.
"Here," said my owner, pulling me out of
his pocket, "who are your parents"
my fathers dead" said the boy, "Fve only
got one-wont you buy paper?-All the
particulars about old Browns property?
"A I said the hOv WAC n vnrv Su all Opa-
not more than bite for an alligator-and my
owner felt particularly generous, as many peo-
pie do under similar circumstances.
"Take this, and run home to your mother
just as fast as you can" putting me with more
like me, into the boys hand. thought the
little fellow would go crazy with delight. He
jumped, and skipped, and amazed my owner
vastly.
damn it," exclaimed the latter, "the old
skinfnt's money shall do some ,od," and
putting his hand in another pocket, he pulled
out handful OF scrip.
Throw away your BIinkers," he said.
The boy obeyed.
"Take off your hat" he said again, and the |
bop again obeyed, and the scrip was deposited |
therein. |
:Now," said the young man, "let me see
how fast you can rum"
"Thank you," cried the boy, and his little |
icSo tIotJcu uOWIl Tile street. never /
Travelled SO fast or got so jolted before in my |
life. The nearer the boy got home the faster |
he went. l felt that was becoming useful /
at last Up flight of rickety stairs the boy |
went, opened door, and exclaimed, ''Mother, |
look here; we're rich" and then, all painting |
with his rapid journey, he told his little story,
his eyes shining like bran new nickel cents. |
She took the money, kissed the little fellow,
cried little, and put him to bed with two
smaller urchins, and very soon he was
in the land of dreams-hs days work done.
Hers was not. She had only been at work
twelve hours, and as to support these three
children il was necessary to work sixteen, she
resumed her task at the sewing machine,
whose monotonous clicking, with the silent,
patient misery of her worn face, bending over
it far into the night, made me almost melan-
choy.
L felt relieved, therefore, when the next
morning she carried me into store down
town, and bought, know not what, for my
connection with her was severed when l was
placed in the till, by a pale, cOnsumptive-
looking young woman, who sat down ON
settee as soon as the trade was concluded,
with sad and weary air.
"Miss jones'" said woman's sharp voice,
Immediately after, "you are aware that it is
against the rules Of the establishment to sit
down."
81 know it," said tho girl, "but am not
we'll"
IF you are not able to ill your place."
said the voice, eve have numerous other APP
plications."
heard the girl rise with deep sigh, but
without word of further complaint.
"Ah," L thought to myself "these
must be well paid for services SO hard IN
remtting" WI
had an opportunity of satisfying mys -,
this on that same evening, for it was elf OF
day, and happened to be paid to that very
girl. The same sharp voice called her up, az
ter the store was closed, late at night.
"Mss Brown" said the voice, "your book
shows your sales to be very light-very light
indeed. l think we shall have to try some
one else. We cannot tolerate ladies in our
establishment who feel obliged to sit down."
"My side"
eve cannot possibly take your side into
consideration" interrupted the woman. "Here
is your money"
had watched the amount closely. 1t was
four dollars and a half-four dollars and a
half Tor twelve hours day-6 twelves are "
-seventy-two hours. felt flattered when l
thought so little M h,,v 90 ,nuob Of