Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-07
Mlstdlang.
The Man who kept himself in Repair

semi Flicker was member OF boots and
shoes SO skillful in his line that he could
yamp. sole and heel, and turn out an old
friend as good as new. While busy mend
ing one day, the thought came into his
head. that, inasmuch as the tendency OF
everything was, like boots and shoes, TO
20 to ruin and wear out, the great point
which men should aim at Is to keep
q sharp lookout and keep everything IN
repair" Upon this principle in life Joe
determined to act; and if our readers
want to find out how he succeeded, let
them invest two pence in the purchase OF
Powers tract. Here is an extract which
NAV serve To show clearly how such
principle may be applied
Joe Flicker might have branchcd out
into a great variety of thoughts, but that
his attention was turned 10 a rapplne at
the door; and a moment after, there en-
tered a long, lanky looking man, with un-
combed hair, and dilapidated clothes;
and in his hand he held the skeleton of a
pair Of boots.
Here, Joe" said the lanky man, can
Won make ANYTHING OF these here bosts;
If any man in the parish can, YOU are the
man"
Let me see them" answered Joe.
They're very far gone.
II let them 30 too far" said the lanSy
man; they were prime boots, lis pity
didn't keep them in repair.
It's pity you don't keep yourself in
repair" said Joe Flicker, looking at him
with a glance as sharp - one OF the
points at his own avis. lis q pity,
John Thatch. that YOU don't keep YOUR
sELF in repair" and he laid strong en-
phasis on the word yourself
Jack Thatch looked hard al the cobbler
Tor a few moments, holding the hali-Skel-
eton, hali-shost like boots ut full length
from him; aud said in a half-puzzled, half
boOzy kind OF wav-"Joc Flicker, what
DO YOU mean"
Throw down these boots" said Joe;
its no use your trying to make them
stand up like respectable boots-throw
them down there, poor, ill-used creatures;
aud III tell YOU what mean
lis my belief" said the cobbler,
that every man has only lease OF him
~elf-and that repairing one; and the
like ~ his wife and children; and lis rs
plain ~ that have this shoe in my hand,
that you arnt keeping yourself in repair.
Go on" said Jack Tha,ch 1t does
a man good 10 hear you talk; he, he, he.
don't think I've been in repair for a
precious long time
Il will Coon" said the cobbler, when
ever make beginning | always like TO
90 ON until come 10 the end. Now look
at your hat-a hat is 4 mans roof; and
yours wouldn't fetch a siXpence; | won
der You ain, dead long before this. with
cold in Your head. And look at your
coat; lis hanging in ribbons on your
back; and then your boot>-bOots might
he said To- be a mans foundations; any
how, they're the lowest story: and from
your attic To your basement You're ont of
repair
60 ON. Joe" said Jack Thatch.
Yes | will 90 on, John; and how DO
yon come to be out of repair: Why by
that horrid dram shop that you're always
at; and you'I never be in decent repair
rs long aS YOU 80 there.
We'll, you're ia tidy repair anyhow,
said John Thatch, a. he looked at the
cobbler's shining face and decent clothes,
and rolled his ewes round the comfortable
little room.
so am, said Joe, I'm in what |
call tenantable repair; amt in what
the agent calls decorative repair; that
means painting, and gliding, and such
like inery: but all good and solid-at
least as good and as solid rs can make
it; waterproof you know, and not hurt by
wind or rain"
"Thatn do now" said Jack Thatch,
when will the boots be done;"
\ time is fixed for the repair of the di-
lapidated boots. and Jack goes away, Sc
riously bordering over his friends ear
nest words. He determines TO see about
getting himself repaired; and is con-
tirmed in his resolution by an adventure
at the Boar with the Shining TuskS, y
into which public house he foolishly goes
10 have glass of beer. The half pint
drawn and stood fOaming on the counter;
and Jack puts his hands in his ragged
trousers pocket, to find the wherewithal
10 pay, but he had not penny, and be
began TO apologize to the landlady as he
took the glass in his hands. But that
glass OF beer, Jack Thatch was never
destined to drink; and a very good thing
it turned out for him that he was not.
stay, stay" said the landlady; stretch
ing out her fat, rosy arm, and laying hold
of the glass; do YOU think, John Thatch,
that We can always be giving credit? Id
like TO know how we can keep the roof
over our heads, and pay house rent and
taxes, 10 say nothing OF repairs, if we so
on in this style; no, no, no more liquor
for you, Mr. Thatch, except what you pay
down for
Poor Jack looked stupidity at the land
lady, who in return looked saucilv at
him, and slowly and sorrowfully turned