Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-04-19
THE ATTIC LODGER.

THE ATTIC LODGER.
The tailor lived on the second floor
and did his best to make his living for
his wife and four children.
Down stairs the small tobacconist
lived in a state of perpetual anxiety
about the tailor's rent, which he gener-
ally gave up piecemeal and with groans,
as people give up their teeth, not
because he did not wish to pay all his
bills but because of shortness of funds,
common to many people.
Up in the attic lived a single lodger,
of whom no one knew anything. His
name was Smith, but what did that tell
when it was so common. He was lean
and had hollow cheeks and anxious
eyes. What his business was or if he
had any no one knew Perhaps he wore
stockings. The poor apothecary of
"Romeo and Juliet" put him in mind
of his attic lodger, when being present
ed with tickets by theatrical lodger,
he went to spend an evening with
Shakespeare.
"He amt like it in the face, though, "
thought Mrs. TobaccOnist "his clothes
III 700 SOOu lOI MI. blltIU all
1t was an acute remark. Mr.. Smith S
clothes did fit him too good, inasmuch
as they were few sizes too small for
him. As for business he seemed to
have none. At noon, he went out for a
loaf of bread and pitcher Of beer. AT
twelve o'clock he disappeared till mid
night, when he let himself in with q
latch-key and went to bed without q
candle.
"And for all he told anybody about
himself" said the tobacconist's wife,
"he might have been a ghost"
"But he's civil spoken, said the tail
ors's wife, to whom he always said
"Excuse me, ma'am," when he found
her afoat on the staircase, in a puddle
of soap and water, which always made
the black boards blacker than before
and was obliged to wade through the
food with bread and beer And the
tailors wife, who had lived at service il
her youth, even ventured to hint to he
husband that she thought Mr.. Smith {
gentleman. However, this fancy thC
tailor crushed with a curse. "Gentle
men don't wear any such coat as that
Sally"
Poor little tailor, he sat cross-legget
on his board and stitched, and measured
men by their coats. If he had measur
ed or even mended more coats it woulC
have been better for him and his brood
Times seemed to grow worse, custom
less, the money harder to get. Whel
the little man read in his morning pape
of men who shot themselves or tool
laudanum he wondered whether the,
had four children with hearty appetite
and prospect of having nothing to ca
for several days. No thought of killing
himself besides he had been told by
clergyman that suicide was wicked
but he couldn't help thinking. And tn
civil lodger in th e attic, how did he fare
One night when Sally, who had beer
mending and ironing and patching tn
family rags all day, was economical,
using up the fire by cooking a loaf o
bread in the stove oven, she heard tn
lodger coming in. He went up stair
and paced the floor; he came out on tn,
entry and creaked the stairs. He seem
behaved so for three nights, instead o
retiring at once, as the tailors famil,
knew he generally did by the creakine
and swapping of his bedstead.
"What can all him ?" said Sally, al
she took her bread out of the oven an(
pricked it with a straw, finding it done
"What can all him? hope he ain
sick or nothing-he is so civil, poor
dear"
Then Sally listened again.
"I declared he's coming down." she
said. He must be sick, and there he il
knocking-lawp'
Then she opened the door.
The lid of the stove was off, and the
red light flashed on hungry face, with
hollow cheeks and sunken eyes.
The gaunt hand stretched itself out
and voice said family
Madame, know you have kline
heart. am so hungry. Its three days
since 1 ate anything, and I-don't wan
to die"
CLAW! should think not" said the
woman. "Why, lawme, I'm so sorry
And L suppose you can't get job
Law, why, do take it. amt got moth
ing else. You see we are pretty poo
ourselVes-and there, oh laW!' Sht
was trembling, she did not know why
She was thinking to herself -" It's like
play. 1t makes me want to cry"
Then he took the warm bread she hat
given him in his hands, tearing bits from
it and eating it.
'Ididn't thank you" +" he said. "Thanl
you'll Thank you'll" and wentaway.
Sally sat down, trembling still.
To be out of job and to be hungry
were no rare things and no tragic thing
in her experience but this man haC
stirred her soul, somehow frightened
her, and she said, Il hadn't any bust
ness to give away loaf of bread bu
there, now, couldn't help it,"
Then Sally went to bed and slept ant
dreamed of the hollow checked, famish
ed lodger of the attic.
There was more bread to make mex
day, and | am not sure but that sh
made an extra loaf, in expectation O
another call from her neighbor; but h