The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-07-10
A HEAVY BURDEN,

Robert Hodgkins had lived in the
village, next door to Samuel Hullins, at
least dozen years, and no doubt the
two nelghbors would have been on good
terms together but, unluckily for the
peace of Robert Hodgkins, Samuel HUI
Inns had pension on account of a bad
wound which he had received when
lighting as seaman under Admiral
Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar.
Every week when Hodgkins went to pay
Sls rent up at the tanhOuse, he muttered
and grumbled all the way there and
back, because his neighbor could afford
to pay his rent so much better than him
self. An envious, discontented spirit is
one OF the worst qualities q man can
foster In his bosom it makes him mis-
cradle at home and abroad it sours his
sweetest enjoyments, and plants sting
ing nettles III all his paths along the
journey of life.
For a time Hodgkins growled and
grumbled to himself, but afterwards his
Siscontent grew louder, till, at last, if
became his favorite topic to lament his
own i'll luck, and to rail against those
whose money came in whether they
would or not, and who had nothing else
to do but to sit i'll an easy chair from
morning till night, while he worked his
heart out to get enough to support him.
self and his family.
1t was on a Monday morning that
Hodgkins, who was sadly behind in his
rent, walked up to the tanhouse to Mr..
Starkey's, to make some excuse for not
paying what was due.
Hodgkins entered the tanhouse, and
was soon reproved for not paying his
rent by his landlord, Mr.. Starkey, who
told him that his next door neighbor,
Samuel Hullins, regularly paid up every
farthing. Yes, yes" replied Hodg-
kins, "some folks are born with silver
spoons in their mouths ; Hullins is
lucky fellow, no wonder that he can pay
his rent with such pension as he has
got"
Hullins has pension, it is true"
said Mr.. Starkey, "but he carries a
pretty heavy cross for it. If you had
lost your leg, as he has done, perhaps
you would fret more than you do now,
Notwithstanding you might in that case
have pension.
"Not l." replied Hodgkins, eff I
had been lucky enough to lose leg
twenty years ago, it would have been a
good days work for me, if 1 could have
got as much by it as Hullins has con-
trived to get. You call his a heavy
cross, but 1 fancy that his pension
makes it light enough to him the
heaviest cross that 1 know of is being
obliged to work like negro to pay my
rent"
Now, Mr.. Starkey was shrewd man,
and possessed q great deal of humor,
and well knowing Hodgkins' disposi-
tion to repine, he felt disposed to con-
vince him, if possible, that the lightest
cross soon became heavy to a discon-
tented spirit.
81 tell you what, Hodgkins," said
he, 81 am afraid that you are hardly
disposed to make the best of things;
however, as you think that your neigh
Dor Hullins' cross is SO very light, if
you will undertake to carry one much
lighter, you shall live rent free as long
as you abide by the bargain"
"But what sort of q cross is it that
you mean to put upon nv shoulders"
inquired Hodgkins, fearing that it
might be something to which he could
not agree.
"Why," replied Mr.. Starkey, fetch
ing large lump of chalk and making a
broad cross on Hodgkins' back, " that
is the cross, and so long as you like to
wear it, 1 will not ask you for farthing
of your rent"
Hodgkins at first thought that his
landlord was only joking, but being as
sured that he was quite serious, he told
Mr.. Starkey that he must look for no
more rent from him, for that he was
willing to wear such cross as THAT all
the days Of his life.
Away went Hodgkins, chuckling with
in himself at his good luck, and think
ing what fool of a landlord he had got
to let him off so easily from paying his
rent. Never was he in q better humor
than when he entered his cottage.
Hodgkins having seated himself with
his back to the cupboard, his wife had
not seen the cross on his coat but no
sooner did he turn round to pull up the
weights of the cuckoo clock, than she
cried out with a shrill voice: "Why,
Hodgkins, where have you been ?
There is a cross on your back a foot
long you have been to the public, and
some of your drunken companions have
played you this trick, to make you lock
like regular rimpleton come, stand