Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-07
From Hearth and Home.1
Ie!hro Throep's Night Thoughts.
By JOHN THOMAS


No. 1.
TScENE.-The upper chamber of farmhouse in
Northern New York-A bed in which JethrO
ThroOp is lying = Heavy clay stained boots,
pa,ched trousers. and linsey-woolsey round
about on the floor Time, . p NJ.
JErHEo coMNuNEs WITH HIMSELF.
Uchl how my back aches! Plough
ing as hard work., All day in the field
behind a yoke of the bastedest cattle
at night too tired to do anything but
sleep, aud almost too tired for that.
What dogs life is This! Work work
work! All b b! bow my bones ache !
And what do | get for il! Eating and
clothes. And such eating! Pork, beans,
bread. And such clothes! A patch on
both knees, and so cIumsily put on. But
mother hadn't limo to do it better.
! wish i could leave all this. | wish
could get out of it and make ny bread
at something something higher
something that would bring me in
contact with other scenes, and particular
" with other people than those | meet
here, when | meet anyone. I'm tired OF
this--tired.
Jack Armsby was here to day. Jack
left MilbaDk four years ago, as much like
me as two peas. He went away in cow
hide boots, satinet pants, aud coat of the
same. Heavens! what a change! Broad
cloth, silk and cashmere! What coat
1t fits like his skin-no, it don't, for the
kin does wrinkle, but his coat, never
And such hat-wiih-a weed on it
aud such boots and necktie! l could
almost die to be permitted to wear such
clothes week. And he smokes cigars.
!, sometimes, steal away with a clay pipe,
but father would hall kill me if he knew
of that even. But Jack Armsby not
only smokes openly, but he carries a
cigar case, and has cigars 10 give away
And he has cards-printed cards"
Armsby, with Smith, Sellum d. Co.,
New York." on some of them, and others
printed thus: -. Henry Armsby."
And Jack-or j. Henry, rather
drives about the village and among his
old acquaintance on the farms hereabouts
in Spavin's best rigs, which cost him |
don't know how much day, and he says
that they ant fit for gentleman
You should see the turn-outs | have in
New York" said he to me in the tavern
yesterday. as ne jumped out of the bug
gy. He treated all the boys who were
standing around, threw on the bar a FIVE
dollar note. and told Muddler to put the
balance to his credit! Five dollars
Why it's more money than l ever saw.
I've got three dollars and seventy one
cents ~ purse in the bottom of my
chest which have been saving, cent
at time. for going on four years! And
Jack Armsby, with silk hat, gorgeous
necktie, striped pants. patent leather
boois-for whom Spavin's best buggy is
not good enough, and who spends five
dollars all once-was as poor and as yer.
dant four years ago rs | am to day!
! know rs much as Jack Armsby. All
that Jack Armsby eau do | can do. l
was alwas ahead of him in school, and
when the superintendent OF our Sunday
! school offered prize of aWebster's Die
tioDary, for learning the most verses ia
the New Testament, | beat him more
than hundred, and won it. What a
delightful life he must life thought
Boarding at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and
paying five dollars day, with nothing
in the world to do but TO make the ac-
quaintance of country merchants. and
sell them goodsl Wages-he always
says salary-$35o0 a year, with an
interest in the 'stoie-or house. as be
calls il! A partner! And such society
as he mingles in, Old Sellum's daugh-
ter il love with him, and she an only
child, and be worth millions. And what
annoys him, he says. is the fact that the
old man wants him to marry her. so that
as soon as the ceremony is oyer, he can
buy Smith out of the St--House, give
that interest to Arlpsby-make the firm