American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-05-11


die contract was SO nearly done, the
money was so sure to be paid, and the
sadder was too full of hope to be very
/ full of anger.
So father and daughter found the time
go very pleasantly, Folly thinking of
the "Patrician's Daughter" and adj
mring her Ben when he recited Romeo
and Juliet" while the father stuck
closely to work with his men, paying
| them literally too, until the whole seven
hundred and fifty demi-pique saddles
were delivered to Mr.. Moses, who looked
somewhat coldly at them before Mr.. Pill
kerton, but was loud in his praises of the
work to Lord Sangpur.
! Had the saddler heard the words uttered
| by the jew to the nobleman, he would
have been full of praise if not of pud
ding. However, the work merited all
that was said by Moses, Macbeth Il Co. ::
| better saddles were never delivered, and
my lord drew a cheque tor the balance
due on the spot.
Messrs Moses, Macbeth & Co, did not
go and do likewise. They well knew the
value of money, and sent poor Pilkerton
YEARLY back with hardly sovereign IN
his pocket. He had exhausted all his
own money, and the bill as well; and sat
down, miserably enough, to wait. His
contract had taken up his whole time; he
had even offended some of his best Gus
TONERS; and he sat in his almost empty
shop. lately so full of hustle with his
strong, muscular hands spread idly before
him.
You're dull, father, today" said
Polly, apparently as gay as lark.
idle men generally are dull
Claw. you're not idle: why. you are
always at work. All work and no play,
you know; why don't you go and smoke a
pipe with old Mr.. Mansell?"
or b,t in1-i IF hot Ia
due next week." sighed Pilkerton.
Never mind: I've got all our accounts
out and # they would only pay up
''Ahl but my customers are all out of
town: and that man, Moses; l never saw
a Macbeth about him."
what funny name-that's the same
that Ben talks about so beautifully" said
father" she said aloud. 1T was a ready
money lob, and at a ready-monev price"
"Ah"' said Pilkerton, II do wish they
would think so. You see, gentlemen of
their persuasion have not got to do as they
would be done by"
'No: Ben says, they do, or else they
would be DONE" whispered Polly. 81
don't much like them. But there are good
amongst them. Halo! here's the postman,
father-with cheque."
Pilkerton hurried forward, and trem-
stammered, hardly knowing what he
said: Il can't have made a mistake with
that fresh bill of mine; it hasn't come
due; and this isn't a writ, is it, Polly?"
Poor old fellow, he was too innocent of
those useful bits of paper.
Heavens, father! what is its''
He had torn open the letter, and one
glance at it was enough for him.
Messrs. Moses, Macbeth & Co. could
not pay him the money, but they did the
next best thing they could: they put his
debt in a schedule.
90 Polly! Polly" said the poor man,
big drops gathering on his bald head
"bankruptI'
You, father"
"Worse: the something Jews! l shall be
sold up, stock, lock and barrel, frame and
flap, headstall and cruppern Then he
sank on his stool, and, taking up his
leather cutting-knife, threw it on the
floor with such force that it shivered like
glass, the blade flying out of the door
and nearly cutting dogs tail off. Then
the good man-and he was good-swore |
a great oath that he would never work |
more.
''Be man, father" said Polly, trem-
bling at his great rage, and yet somehow |
admiring him.
''Be a mani" said he; eyes, and work
for those desperate cheats-these fellows |
who take contracts, screw you down to !
the last penny, and then, aided by the |
law, cheat you out of that. These men |
who live in great houses, upon the fat of |
the land and the lives of the poor. BE a
man, be a slave, by heavens, the fellows
who SLOUGH about and won't work are
right, after all. How many IN honest
tradesman and his family have been
brought to misery and starvation by such
as these, Many Il tender gal, and many
an honest, Woodworking mother, Polly
thank God! my wife's gone"
''Oh father, father! 1 never heard yoE
say SO before. What wicked men they
are! May God forgive them! But,
father, are you sure this isn't their misfor-
tune?"
''Surer said the father; 'when it's the
third time. My mates warned me to look
sharp. Old Mansell did; and he knows a
thing or two"
"Will you get any thing, father?"
''What, when the lawyers have done
their worst, and had their pickings? No;
do you suppose, Polly, as those gentlemen
work for their own families, or for their
creditors? Why, they are as glad when
there's a bankruptcy as an undertaken is
when there's a funeral coming Off"
GLOW bad the world must be, father?"
''Well, it is not good one-just now.
About half crown in the pound is all
that will come to me-"
Gust the eighth partI''
Little better than the 1.-THE of mint
and cummin," said the saddler bitterly.
'And will that aid you? When does
the bill come due?''
''In a week: the bankruptcy may be set
tied in six months"
'Why don't you go through the court,
too, father." said Polly, with sudden in
spiration.
'What, L." said the old man, a CLEAN of
humor sparkling in his eye-''what, !,
Polly? No: I'd rather go and rot in
prison, and be a iourneyman again, and
make saddles. My right hand hasn't for
got its cunning; let the worst come to the
worst, I'll earn a crust for my gal"
so father! dear old fatherr cried Polly
come into the back shop and let me kiss
you: you re all man, father, and you al
WAYS were"
These good people, although so shaken
dued, and spoke almost in a whisper, were
not without a secret sustenance of hope.
Polly counted up all the silver spoons,
added up the bills again to try and make
them pound or so more, in case she had
made mistake against themselves
Sought Mr.. Reach Stoker, and asked what
was to be done when bill became due:
upon which he said, meet it like IA Brit
ish trade sman."
But what if you can't Mr. Keach?"
well, then, you may, perhaps he
was going to explain about renewal; but
Mr.. Reach had IA small opinion of woman's
rI.,.I,f - Il E., !