Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-30
/. He's 1 Asker, na,.n.-wn.s \ III,

A writer in CasseEs Magazine tells this
odd story of life in London: A lady re-
siding in the West End, not Tar from
Portland place, had a servant in whom she
took considerable interest, partly because
Of her sympathetic nature, and partly be-
cause she had received faithful service
from her. This domestic, as the manner
of domestics now is generally by s6pu-
lation and contiact), had a follower, named
John Armstrong. To all appearance he
was respectable man, and perfectly un-
objectionable in every particular. So con-
from his appearance, that the girls mis-
tress allowed his visits without the slight
est hesitation, and took an interest in the
girls welfare-being anxious, as she ex-
pressed il, to see her comfortably settled
Judging from the exterior, he was clerk
in some bank, or cashier to private firm.
In due time the marriage came of, and the
couple left town for their humble honey
moon of week, towards the expenses of
which the brides ex- mistress contributed
q generous amount, besides exering her
self to see that the little home in IslingtOn
was neatly furnished, and ready to receive
the happy pair" when they returned to
town. Some few days after this latter
event the lady called upon her late domes-
tic, and found her comfortably settled and
apparently as happy as queen. The fol-
lowing curious collOquy took place be-
tween them on the occasion:
Mistress-Mary, have often wondered
what your husband isiin business; what is
he? afi,e 4 IL s.f.ff.ts, eui,
Maid-He's asker, ma'am, ...st
Mistrcss-A what M8ryP 81
Maid--Oh, he asks, ma'am. 8Hua t
Mistress-Yes, | suppose he does, II
he's an "asker," but what does it meant
The young bride colored, and for some
time declined to answer the question but,
on being pressed, she confessed that her
husband was a professional beggar! HE
asked" The lady was perfectly thunder
struck, as may be imagined. and with an
exclamation on the deceit of man in gen
eral, left the house with the determination
never to return. She was grievously en-
ragged with herself that her good-nature
had been imposed upon at the expense of
her judgment.
This was the ntodus operandi Of the
"asker," as learned from his wife, who
had grown so accustomed to the pecu,
liar profession Of her husband, that she
failed evidently to see its shortcomings
the fact of its placing them in q state of
independent comfort, rounding Oft many
Of the corners it otherwise might have
possessed Early in the morning he left
his charming little residence in Islington
and wendell his way TO the classic pre-
cincts of Shoreditch A certain house in
one of the crowded streets Of that locality
| was his rendezvous, and that of his singu-
lar tribe. Here they changed their cloth.
ing and sailed forth on their begging and
beggarly calling. Late at night they re-
turned, changed their clothing again, and
repaired to their homes, where they lived
and, in fact, do live now in comparative
luxury Mr.. Armstrong, I understand,
clears one hundred andfifty pounds year
at his trade, which, as his wife says, is in
dubitably respectable" Besides" she
adds, :" SO long as he gets his living hon.
estly, what does it matter TO anybody"
The house of this excellent couple is
scrupulously neat and clean; and, proba-
bly,, because John debars himself Of Ger
tain comforts in the day, ii is stored with
blessings for him at night. He has solved
the problem, how to live without working,
and indiscriminate charity is enabling him
day by day TO live almost, If not quite, at
his ease. as IA. 4...-.a .s..sf