Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-13
MRS. HAYCOCK'S KEYS.

time had resolved to sort that bunch OF Keys,
most Of which were waits and strays. There
were two or three latch-keys, one, | verify
believe, of q house IN London at which lived
fifteen years ago; one of house in Brighton
long ago given up dis mGnibus. Memory
refuses to afiix titles to the rest At last, how
ever, a happy fate has relieved nse of the in
cubus of this useless bunch of metal. A change
Of residence has deprived me OF the two last
working keys, and left me unencumoere1. OF
what use are keys to me? 1 have never
more money than ! can conveniently carry in
my pocket. The few letters that receive all
the world is welcome to read; they are read ex-
tensively in the household, 1 know. l have
long since thrown open my skeleton cupboard,
and finding the grizzly spectre dreaded mere
harmless joist OF some decayed old building,
with a few laths nailed across it, stimulating
ribs and vertebrR, have burnt IL upon the
domestic hearth and scattered its ashes to the
four winds. Thus bare as my cupboards may
be, they are at least clean and whitewashed.
And my soul Is emancipated from locks and
keys.
In this state of happy freedom was one day
sitting by the open window, smoking the fra
grant matutinal pipe, and coming over the
Times, placidly conscious of the pleasant morn
ing sounds and sights bells janglng softly from
the town hard by, the clank of scythe in
field below; the cry of the man with the vege-
table cart; dog barking fowls clucking, chill
dren at play-accOrding to one of the Welsh
triads, the three signs of an inhabited country.
1t was ~ leisure time with everybody at home.
My wife seemed for once to be in an idle mood.
Sailors, you know, when there comes an idle
time-when the wind blows fair and steady, and
the sails draw as evenly as II they were InOlld-
ed in paper mache; when all the sheets are be-
layed, and they have finished coiing little
ropes round big ones; when even the tirst-lieu-
tenant wears an unrutlled brow, and the boat
swain has ceased from piping, and there Is
nothing whatever to do-.Jack or Tom proceed
forthwith to overhaul their chests. So with
women, | think-something, in idle moments,
they will overhaul; in this case the work
turned over and mentally appraised, half-tin-
ished undertakings are sighed over; the eldest
daughter looking gravely on, with view to the
welfare of her eldest daughter Dolly. At the
bottom of the basket is debris of unconsdered
trifes.
Ned, here's something of yours" the wife
says; "heTe's bunch of keys"
Don't, for goodness sake, give them to me;
don't want them, shouldn't know where to
put Them
g Then what shall do with them? can't
leave them in my work basket"
Throw them away"
bunch of keys, however, are not things of
which one can dispose at moments notice. II
you threw them away YOU would see them adj
vertlsed in the next days paper they would be
traced to you, money would be demanded
there would be bother of some sort. No, it
wouldn't do to throw them away
" Look here, we're going on the river to night;
we drop the keys overheard and make an end
of Ihem.n
Before this doom, however, had been carried
into effect, claimant appeared for the bunch
Of keys. They we're not mine, it seemed, but
nurse 's-Nurse MaycOck's
Nurse came in with her youngest charge
quite breathless at the danger she had escaped.
Lori whatever should have done if master
had thrown my KEYS away?
She is comedy old lady, of dignified presence,
with brown face and a handsome double chin,
aquiline nose, which approaches her chm more
closely than of old, owing to her lack of teeth;
very dramatic woman, mind yOu, full of ac-
ton and gesture; with it all, very comfortable
mOtherly body.
You're quite sure they are your keys,
nurse?" said my wife
Bless you, yes, MAN. said nurse, sinking
down into a chair. She is not strong on her
pins, and We don't exact rigid ceremony from
whole 4 EN-"
Mrs Maycock, like other story-tellers know.
requires very delicate handling. III you let her
see that you expect story from her, she either
shuts up altogether or spOils her tale by over
efOrt. She must be left to herself, and gently
inclined to discourse other experiences. To be
heard in full perfection, her narrative must flow
from surrounding circumstances.
With the late lamented MaycOck | had no
personal acquaintance; but l formed a vivid
mental picture of him from his widows occa-
sional descriptions. He was thin and small.
rather lame, reserved, tiery-tempered man,
who had a vivid sense OF his own dignity and a
rather contemptuOus opinion of the female sex.
He was an upper workman of some sort, earn
ing good wages and laying by little money!
valuable man in his own way, and well thought
Of by his employers.
To return to nurse. Her attention is divert
ed for moment by the youngster on her lap,
and almost succeeds IN demolishing that elab
crate fabric.
" Bless his little art" cried nurse; "ain't he
playful sir? He do take after you 50, Master
Ralf.'
&c don't see it at all, - says the wife; IL don't
see the least resemblance"
"But look at his eyes, ma am, and then his
little ways; oh, he do take after master, surely
Then he Is 20 fond OF books
"Fond OF books, is he, said /, with dawn
ng interest in the little chap.
Gle inst il fond of hooks - continued
With pride. "He's tored all the leaves out Of
nine.'
His father shultered, and thought he had
better be taken away.
"But about the keys, sir, as vas telling you
The way knows 'em. This here one with the
ole in it is the key Of my chest of drawers, and
.heSe two just alike-ah, you sees them two to-
getheT, siI?'
Eyes, | see them"
"Well, one OF them was poor Maycock's key
The key Of his box, where he KEEP all his treas
lres; and, sir, he just were careful of this here
key, and this One," went on nurse, with a twin
kle in her eye, 81 had made a purpose exactly
box whenever pleased"
Mrs. Maycock laughed a jolly laugh, in which
| Joined. Perhaps ii had owned a bunch OF
keys OF my own l should not have laughed SO
freely. The wife looked dOubtfuly at the ED.
est daughter. Was there any fear Of such loose
principles being infectious?
"Maycock was very STRIFE, you see, ma m ;"
went on nurse, 'fand very stingy about his mo
ney. So much week dOled out regular every
and no more If you dies for it, ant
often enough it wouldn't run TO it. Every week
a pound; and whether / was brought to bed, or
whatever happened, there was no more. SO |
this here key as would open his box,
and when | really couldn't manage any other
way I'd used to unlock Maycock's box and take
out suyrin'; never no more than that, assure
you, nam. And j don't think he missed it
ever He took out his money every now and
then, when it growed to be a great lump, and
Invested 1t somewhere and then he'd frown and
shake his head over his box s1metimes, as il he
couldn't make IL come right; but he never said
anything to me, no more did to him; no. and
never breathed syllable to any living soul
how managed it,"
Here Mrs. Maycock took breath, and then
went on:
"But one day wanted something very bad
for my second little grl--a cloak, or hood, or
l went TO his box and took out
suvrin. His store was got very low then, for
there was only three pounds, and when | took
nine there was only two, don't You see, sir?
Well, after I'd done 1t grew frightened, for
thinks /, perhaps he'll go TO his box, and he's
sure to recollect as he'd left three there before,
and then there'd be desperate to-do. So what
does | do but get hold OF a new farien, and |
slips it into the box along with the two suvrins;
aud glad WAS done It, Ior presently in CONES
NIaycOck lOokinV : HACK --Ou DleaSe