South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-03-12
Tom Harrison's yVindfall.

NoA AAoiAiSou anu us pretty little
wife sat together disconsolately at their
evening meal in the one room which
served them for parlor, kitchen and bed
chamber combined. 1t was not by any
means paiatial residence, for the house
In which they lived was in one OF those
narrow, ill-paved and dingy streets that
form q sort of human rabbit warren a.
bout the purlieus of Gray s-inn-road.-
Nor was the banquet an epicurean one,
consisting as it did-and it was dinner,
tea and supper all together-of tea with
out either milk or sugar, stale bread,
land not much of that,) and two small
behring's, denominated by courtesy "Yar-
mouth bloaters," but which had probably
been cured in the vicinity Of Bethnal-
green or Lisson-groye.
Tom was a wine-merchant's clerk, out
OF employment, a rather nice-loolxing,
eight and twenty. His wife was per-
haps three years younger than himself, a
pleasant-faced, cheerful little body, a
type of English women very common,
thank heaven in this our vast Babylon.
She had been shop girl before her mar
riage, and now that she and her husband
had fallen on adverse times, had resum-
ed her employment, the few shillings she
earned weekly being all upon which the
luckless young couple had to live.
Lima Harrison was from 'home," such
as 1t was, from 8 a. m, during which
hours poor Tom was wearing out shoe
leather by peregrinating the streets of
London in the vain search after employ
ment. But for his CHEEKY little wife, a
veritable ''cricket on the HEARTH" the
young clerk, who was not naturally of
an impatient and Responding tempera-
ment, would have utterly given way.
Lima it was who, with bright smile
or light jest on the Inconvenience ofpov-
erty, caused the bony herring to taste as
well in the mouth IS haunch of veni-
son. and even the bitter, sugarless tea to
do duty for the toothsomeness of bur-
gundy or champagne.
Truly, the wisest OF all men never
more showed his wisdom than when he
gave the preference to dinner of herbs
with love to dinner OF roast beef
without
1t was not the young clerks fault
that he was out of work. lie had been
employed by firm who had failed for
large amount in a fraudulent fashion,
and other firms were very chary of ac-
cepting testimonials as to character from
those whose good word was in itself no
recommendation. So poor Tom, in old
slippers and much worn smoking cap,
sat morosely slipping his unpalatable tea,
out of sorts with himself and all the
world, for Mrs. Croucher, the landlady,
IL ~ l.
tribe, began to talk about her money
(as If it could be hers before it was earn
ed y and to slam doors and deal out
black looks, as if the one great duty of
the l1rger portion of mankind was to live
like the proverbial horse on one straw q
day, in order to give to landladies the
means of going about in purple and
fine linen.
"A nice fix this, Lima" said Tom. sui
kily, turning over the starveling herring
on his cracked delfplate. IL wish that
old mother Croucher had six months in
the House of Correction to take down
some of her fat. How does she get it.
except by living on her dodgers? And
that lazy brute OF husband of hers ne
yer does stroke of work.
ooh, hush, dear" replied little Mrs.
Harrison, filing up her husbands cup
with the weak decoction of sloe-leayes
that did duty for tea; after all she on
~ asked for her own"
''lier own hate that landlady's ex-
preston. How can it be hers before it
is ours? That everlasting cry, My mo-
ney, my money, want my money is
enough TO drive n fellow mad"
And Tom kicked Off one of his slippers
viciously, and stuck the fork into his her
ring as if he wished that it were Mrs.
Croucher upon whom he was pouring out
the walls Of his wrath
His wife made no answer, not well
knowing. poor little thing, how to cast
oil upon the troubled waters of her hus-
bands mind
Here's pretty dinner for q strong
man." continued the young clerk. in de-
rision, holding up the head of the her.
ring on his fork. and for you. too,
poor dear" he added, a5 he glanced ut
the pale but cheerful face
ooh. / like behring's. Tom dear" said
Lima with laugh. Zone mans meat is
another mans poison. you know but /
suppose that applies to women also
"If You like them, darling, it's more
than ] do" returned Tom, thinking with
a sigh OF the rich, golden, juicy bloaters
he usedto receive in periodical. hampers
from friend resident near Yarmouth /:
but who, now that they would be doubly
welcoao, sent them 40 more.
Alas, for the Upas tree Of poverty {!
how baneful is IL TO oil who come under
the shadow Of its branches
81 can't feel half like a man, Lima"
continued poor Tom, in half choked
voice, that had in IL strong suspicion
Of tears, "to be living Off your few shil.
lings, my poor little girl"
Lima rose up, put one arm around her
husbands neck, and laid her cheek a.
gainst his.
ooh, my own precious husband. don't
talk like that oro vvo Mt 1..