Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-03-12
ATale for the Liouor-DeaIers,

Once upon time, as that interesting
historian, Mr.. Charles Dickens, relates
in his "Tale of Two Cities" there lived
in England ''resurrectionist," that i:
tosay, body-snatcher, by the name o.
Jerry Crucher, in whose house the
seene of our tale opens, just as the hero
awakens after night spent at his fa
vorite occupation.
Nh. Cruncher reposed under a patch.
work counterpane, like harlequin al
home. At first he slept heavily, but
by degrees began to roll and surge in
bed, until he rose above the surface
with his spiky hair looking as if il
must tear the sheet to ribbons. Al
which juncture he exclaimed, in voice
of dire evaporation:
Bust me, if she amt at it again.
a woman of forderly and industrious
appearances rose from her knees in 9
corner with sufficient haste and trepid
atien to show that she was the person
referred TO.
'What!i said Mr.. Cruncher, looking
out of bed for boot. You're at il
agin, are you?
After mailing the morn, with this sec
ond salrtation, he threw a boot at the
woman as third.
What said Mr.. Cruncher, varying
apo-trophe after missing his mark
'What are you up to, Aggerawayter !?
Il was only saying my prayers
Saying your prayers! You are nlct
woman! What do you mean by flop
ping yourself down and praying agin
me?'
Il was not praying against you; Twas
praying for YOU
nsYou wer'n't. And if you were,
won't be took the liberty with. Here
Your mothers nice woman, Jerry
going praying agin your fathers pros
perity. You've got a dutiful mother
you have, my son. You've got re-
ligious mother, you have, my boy
going and fiqpping herself down, and
praying that the bread-and-butter may
be snatched out of the mouth of hel
only childp
Master Cruncher (who- was in his
shirt took this very i'll, and, turning
to his mother, strongly deprecated any
praying away of his personal board.
And what do you suppose, you con
ceited female said Mr.. Cruncher, with
unconscious Inconsistency, that the
worth of your prayers may be? Name
the price that you put your prayers at.
They only come from the heart
Jerry. They are worth no more than
that 3~
'sWorth no more than that ?'repeated
Mr.. Cruneher. .Ihey amt worth much
then. Whether or ne, L won't. be
prayed agin, tel you. 1 can't afford
it. Pm not ageing to be made unlncly
by yonr sneaking. If you must &C
Hopping yourself down, flop in favor ol
your husband and child, and not in op.
position to 'em. If l had any but un-
nat'ral wife, and this poor boy had any
but unnat,r raj mother, might have
made some money last week, instead
OF being fcounterprayed and counter
mined and being religiously circum,
: vented into the worst of luck. Bu-u-ust
me- said Mr.. CruRcher, who had beer
all this time putting on his clothes, Il
{ i amt, what with piety and one blow
ed thing and another. been choused
: this last week into as bad luck as evel
a poor devil of an honest tradesmar
! met with. Young Jerry, dress your
self, my boy, and while 1 clean my
boots keep an eye on your mother now
sand then, and if you see any signs OF
more Topping, give me call. For
tell you,' here he addressed his wife
once more, Il won't be gone agin in
this manner