The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-11-05
"a FRIEND UP TOWN."

Nurse Maycock was sitting in a dis
,consolate attitude, her cap ribbons
hanging Imply about, her under lin
almost in contact with her nose. NV
youngest-born, sprawling idly on her
lap, found hardly holding room there.
and was sliding down the inclined
plane of her knees all unheeded,
Nurse, like her master, has occasional
fits Of gloom and depression, and her
sadness, as his, generally proceeds
from, the same cause, that is, lack of
money.
"Well, Maycock," I said, glancing
round the nursery, show are you get
ting on here? Children all right ?''
'Yes, sir; there amt nothing the
matter with them," with a sigh. ST
don't feel just right myself"
"Spasms again ?"
"a vi'lent pain in the small of the
Dack-lust there, you know, sir" said
Mrs. Maycock, giving herself sharp
blow with the fist on the part affected,
oliver, no doubt" I said. "Take
"a pill"
"I've took 'em till I'm tired of 'em.
sir. Not but what 1 should feel better,
dare say, il was more comfortable
in my mind"
whats your secret grief, Mrs. May.
cock ?"
Money, sir-money. don't know
where it really goes TO, really; and
children, sir, they're always dunning OF
you. Here's my daughter Mary going
out to service, and money wanted to
get her things, and where it's coming
from don't know p
wish I knew where money would
come from when it's wanted"
"Ah," said Mrs. Maycock, resigned
ly, "you can't get blood out Of stone.
Well, thank goodness, I've got friend
up there" she said, with backward
jerk of the head.
A happy frame of mind, nurse"
said. " [ wish I had such confidence
in the powers above"
"Bless you, sir, he's the same to
one as another, as long as you've got
anything for him."
Your meaning, Maycock I don't
exactly understand your doctrine"
"My friend up town, sir-Mr. Gedge,
the pawnbroker."
Mrs, Maycock knew that I should
not be shocked at this allusion; nor
Was l. Still I felt bound to offer up a
moral maxim or two. cts wasteful
way OF getting money" I said. "You
pay about thirty per cent"
"Ah, but it's better than borrowing,
after all, sir. There's no remarks made.
and he don't ask you for your money
back again. Not but what there's some
people sets their faces against it, and
my sister.in law was one as 'ad never
go nigh such places, till at last she was
drove to it, and made her fortune by
it the very first time she went"
"Made her fortune" 1 cried, my
curiosity excited, "out of @ visit to q
pawnbroker ?"
Yes, sir, her fortune. He's a mas
ter builder, sir, now, her husband, and
they live in height-roomed house as
he built hisself, and was having parish
relief no longer ago than that"
"Tell me the story, nurse. should
like to know how it's DONE"
Mrs. Maycock vigorously stirred the
nursery fire, hitched her young charge
into more easy position, adjusted her
cap. and began:
my sister-in-law Emma, as was for
merly Maycock, was in service for
many years with Admiral Brown, living
at Witherield Lodge, Kingston, till she
met with Rogers, being a carpenter,
journeyman. but very good hand, as
kept company with her for good while,
and then married. The admirals family
was very kind to them. They give her
her wedding clothes and breakfast the
day they were married, and the young
ladies presented her with beautiful
silver teapot. And as they were going
off-a fly and pair of 'orses and every
thing grand-the admiral comes down
the steps, and says he, Good luck to
you, Mrs. Rogers, says he. my
daughters have found you a teapot and
I've found the tea, and hope it'll do
you good |
"Well, sir, Emma was crying good
deal, through having been in her place
ever since she was little bit of girl,
fifteen years in one place and, Thank
you kindly, sir, she says, 'for all your
goodness TO me-you and the young
ladies and nothing did she think
about the tea except that the admiral
meant as it was the breakfast, where
they'd had tea, for to be sure, and
everything first-rate.
Emma had saved bit of money,
and with that her husband went into