The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-23
WHAT HAPPENED no THE CAB.
PEWTER.

: WHAT HAPPENED 10 THE CAB.
PEWTER.
A thick carpet had lately been put
down in the dining room at the squire's
residence, which was found to prevent
the door from opening and. shutting
easily, SO Wedge, the village carpenter,
was sent for to ease it. At six o'clock,
whilst he was still at work, carriage
wheels we're distinctly heard and the
squire's lady with her children came
down into the hall, ready TO welcome
home Mr.. Cary, who had been that day
to town. Wedge, who was working
inside the dining-room, listened with
astonishment as he heard the shout the
children gave when their father stepped
out Of the carriage. He saw, also,
through the door r-crack, that the two
eldest had caught hold of his hands,
whilst the younger ones were clinging
like little barnacles to his coat-tails all
dragging him along, as if, once having
got him into their net, they meant,
spider-like, to bind him hand and foot,
and devour him, as that interesting
insect would great blue.bottle, at their
leisure.
That the squire's return should cause
such delight was a puzzler for our
worthy friend for had be not, with his
owu eyes, seen this gentleman go of at
half.past nine in the morning, no one
could have persuaded him otherwise
than that he must have been away a
month, to put it at the lowest figure
He saw, moreover, that the squire was
holding tightly in his hand little
parcel, which, shaking of the children
by number of little lodges, of which
loving fathers only know the secret, he
quickly united, for all the world as if he
were boy of FIVE years old (and not q
man of fourteen stone weight,) who
could not wait moment for anything.
In ashorter time than we take to write
it, ne pulled out the contents and gave
! them to his wife, With three distinct
kisses Wedge could swear there were
three, for he counted them, and
wondered how many more there were to
come
= Soon the merry party went up stairs,
the echo of their voices died away, and
Wedge was left to finish his work on the
door, whilst his heart and conscience
began their work on him. He, too, had
home, wife and children; he, too,
had been away all day but the thought
struck him uncomfortably that his we:-I
come home, if, indeed, be got one at all,
would seem poor and cold after that
which be had just witnessed. This rel
Aection was net so sweet as to make his
work go smoothly; his saw seemed a
blunt as a double bladed six penny
peuknife, aud the weod Of the chaii
whose legs he was cutting down, as hard
as bog oak. 10 fact, he was feeling
jealous of the squire, aud discontented
with his own wife and children. Why
were they not eager to rush out and
welcome him, after the fashion Of the
squire's family? He irowned as he
thought how badly he was used, aud his
saw grated sway as though very dull.
But conscience bad word to say to
him, and said it loud enough too for
him to hear although he vas making
noise enough to prevent any one from
trying to gain his attention. It told
MIN the fault was chiefly in himself,
for if his wife and children were not
like the squires, neither was his likeness
to that worthy gentleman particularly
| striking. He couldn't blame his wife
for not making enough Of his presencej
for he we'll knew he never gave her,
any nor did he greet her with those
kind words which would not have failed
to draw the same from her.
Wedge was good husband without
beirg kind one, spending his money
for the most part on his family in .
hard, business like kind of way, but
showing no affection towards his chill
dreu, who consequently did not love
him.
As Wedge walked home, his tools on
his back, he came across an old friend,
carrying carefully a dainty bunch Of
drops in his big, rough hand.
"He.e, WILL" he said, walking along
by the carpenters side, ave just
given a triae for these Aowers-pretsy
bits of things, ain't they 3-for my wife
makes SO much Of any little present I
take her home she never minds wha. |
bring her, SO long as give it to her
myself, for, to be sure, I always tack on
little something, in the shape Of .
few kind words, which makes the thing
seem valuable in her eyes. Idou't
know how l would get on, sometimes,
if it weren't for having flowers pretty
handy you can get them for q little or
nothing at any time, and yet they are
more beautiful than anything We could
make"
Wedges road now lay in q different
direction from his friends, so they
parted company, Joe Sparks putting q
couple of snow DROPS into Wills hand,
supposing he would know we'll enough
ahat TO do With them.
Wedge turned the snowdrops over
iu his hand, and looked after Joe, Who
had nearly turned the corner; what
could the man mean by giving hin the
snowdrops and never saying word =