National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-07
JERRY CRUECHER.
WHAT JERRY THOUGHT OF 4 PRAYING
CRUSADE.


Mr.. Dickens wrote something which at this
time Is exceedingly amusing and suggestive in
connection with the great temperance crusade.
Once upon q time ,as Mr.. Dickens relates in his
Tale Of Two Cities" there lived In England
"resurrsctionist, !" that Is to say body
snatcher, by the name of Jerry Cruncher, in
whose house the scene Of our tale opens, just as
the hero aWakens after a light spent at his IA
vorite occupation.
Mr.. Cruncher reposed under q patchwork
eounterpane, like a harlequin at 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 it
must tear the sheets to ribbons. At which
juncturs he exclaimed In voice Of exaspera-
ton: Il.
"Bust me, ifshe amt at IL sginp'
A woman of orderly and industrious appear
ance rose from her knees in q corner with sufi-
cient haste and trepidation to show that she
was the person referred to.
"Whstp' said Mr.. Cruncher. looking out Of
bed for boot. You're at It sgin, are your
After hailingsshe morn with this second salu-
tation, he threw q boot at the woman 90
third.
"What" said Mr.. Cruncher, varying his
apostrophe after missing his mark. tWhat are
you up to, AggerawayterF'
81 was only saying my prayers" "
"Saying your prayers1 You are nice vo-
man! What do you mean by Topping yourself
down and praying agin met" -
81 was not praying against you; was pray
ing for you" a
7sYou wern't. And if you were won't be
foOlr fha Will
nice woman, Jerry, going praying again your
fathers prosperity. You've got a dutiful
mother, you have, my boy; going and Topping
herself down, and praying that the bread and
butter may be snatched out of the mouth Of her
only childp'
Master Cruncher, who was In his shirt, took
this very III, and turning to his mother, strongly
deprecated any praying away his personal
board.
"And what do you suppose, you conceited
female" said Mr.. .Cruncher, with unconscious
Inconsistency, "that the worth of your prayers
may bel Name the price that you pu: your
prayers at"
They are worth no more than that"
"Worth no more than thatP' repeated Mr..
Cruncher. 'They amt worth much, then.
Whether or no, won't be prayed agin, tell
you. I can't afford it. Pm not agoing to be
made unlucky by your sneaking. If you must
go Hopping yourself down, nop In favor of your
husband and child, and not I'm opposition to
'em. If had any but an unnatural wife, and
this poor boy had any but an unnatural mother,
I might have made some money last week, m
stead of being counterprayed and counrered
and being reigiously circumwented into the
worst of luck. Bu-u-ust," said Mr.. Cruncher,
who had been all this time putting on his
clothes, eff amt, what with piety and one
blowed thing and another, been choused this
last week into as bad luck as ever poor devil
of an honest tradesman met with. Young
Jerry, dress yourself, my boy, and while clean
my boots, keep an eye on your mother now aud
then, and If you see any more signs Of Topping,
give me call. For / tell you," here he ad-
dressed his wife once more 81 wont be gone
agin In this mannerp