The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-21
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deal with. Most of 'em are poor. and cant
buy machine right off, but are ready and
willing to pay so much week. That suits
them, and it suits me. if they only keep The
PAYNE nts up to the end.
You won't believe, perhaps, but some of
them don't do that. Some of them leave
their lodgings. and never see them again;
and The most curious part is that the
sewing machine disappears with them, and
never see that again. Many one, too,
that has disappeared like that, do see
again-perhaps have brought it here bv
some one to be repaired, or exchanged for
bigger, or one by different maker; for
If you look round here you'll see I've got
all kinds-new and old, little domestics and
big trades-there, you name any maker and
see If don't bring you out one of his
works.
Well, when | ask these people where
they get the machne-for | always know
them by the number-it turns out that
they've bought 1t through an advertise
ment, or at a sale-room, or maybe out of a
pawnbroker's shop.
But I've had plenty of honest people to
deal with, too-them as have come straight.
forward and told me they couldn't keen 10
their payments, and asked me to take their
machine back, when I'd allow them as
much as thought fair, and 'twould be an
end of pleasant transaction.
The way have been bitten though by
some folks has made me that case-hardened
tina sometimes I've wondered whether I'd
got any heart left, and the wifes had to in
terfere, telling me I've been spoiled with
prosperity, and grown unfeelng.
1t was che made me give way about
Ruth for one day, after having my bristles
nt,t hat 4
sound machines, by best makers, had gone,
nobody knew where, who should come into
the shop but lady-like looking woman in
very shabby widows weeds. She wanted
to buy sewing machine for herself a d
daughter to learn, and said she had heard
that would take the money by insta'-
ments. Now just half an hour before, by
our shop clock, had made vow that I'd
give up all that part of the trade, and /
was very rough with her-iu as | am
when rm cross-and said. "No"
but you will if the lady give security"
said my wife, hastily.
The poor woman gave such woe-begone
look at us that it made me more out of
temper than ever, for could feel that if |
stopped l should have to let her have one
at her own terms. And so it was for
there, if didn't let her have a first-class
machine, as good as new, she only paying
seven-and-a-half down, and undertaking to
pay half a crown week, and no more Sc
curlty than nothing.
To make it worse, too, If | didn't send
the thing home without charge! Luke
going with it, tor he was back at home
now, keeping my books, being grown into
l sat and .growled the whole rest of the
day calling myself all the weak minded
idiots under the sun, and telling the wife
that business was going to the dogs. and |
should be ruined.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself,
Tom" she said.
$50 l am" says l. 81 didn't think
could b9 such fool"
"Such fool as to do good, kind action
to one woo was evidently lady born, and
come down in the world"
Eyes," l says, "to living in Bennet'r
place, where I've sunk no less than ten
machines in five years."
Eyes" says the wife, land cleared hun
dreds of pounds. Tom, I'm ashamed of
you-you a man with twenty workmen
busy upstairs, a couple of thousand pounds
worth of stock, and in the bank -
"Hold your tongue, will you." l said,
and went out into the shop to try
and work 1t all off.
Luke came back soon after, looking very
strange, and l was at him directly.
"Where's the seven an'-six ?" / said, an
grily.
He didn't answer, but put three half
crowns down on the desk, took out the
book, made his entries-date of delivery,
first payment, when the others due, and
the rest of it-and was then going into the
house.
''Mind," I says, sharply, "those. pay
ments are to be kept up to the day; and to-
morrow you go to Rolly's, who live nearly
opposite to EN-, and tell EN- to keep an eye
on the widow, or we shall lose another
machine"
"You needn't be afraid, father" he says,
coldly; "theyre honest enough, only poor"
was just In that humor that wanted
to quarrel with somebody, and that did it.
"When I ask you for your opinion.
young man, you give it to me; and when |
tell you to do thing, you do it." said, in
as savage way as ever l spoke to lad
"You go over tomorrow and tell Rolly
to keep strict lookout on those people
do you hear ?"
Father" he says, looking me full In
the face, 81 couldn't insult them by doing
such thing" when, without another
word, he walked quietly out of the shop,
leaving me worse than ever.
For that boy had never spoken to me
like that before, and | should have gone
after him feeling mad like, only some
people came in, and didn't see him again
till evening; and good thing, too, for I'm
sure should have said all sorts of things
to the boy, that should have been sorry
for after. And there was Tuning and
fretting about, savage with everybody, CIV
ing short answers, swapping at the wife.
and feeling as a man does feel when he
knows that he has been in the wrong and
hasn't the heart to go and own il.
1t was about eight o'clock that | was sit
ting by the parlor fire, with the wife work
ing, and very quiet, when Luke came IN
from the workshop With book under his
arm, for he had been footing up the mems
piecework and what was due TO them; and
the sight of him made me feel as if | must
quarrel.
He saw it, too, but he said nothing, only
put the accounts away and began TO read.
The wife saw the storm brewing, and she
knew how put out l was, for had not lit
my pipe, nor yet had my evening nap,
which always have after tea. So she did
what she knew so well how to do-filled
my pipe, forced it into my hand, and Just
us 4 was SuipS W uueh l. w PieSoo III thc
ashes she gave me one of her old looks,
kissed me on the forehead, as with one
hand she pressed me back into my chair,
and then with the other she lit splint anu
held 1t to my tobacco.
was done. She always gets over me
like that; and after smoking in silence for
half an hour was lying on my back, with
my eyes closed, dropping off to sleep. when
the wife said-(what had gone bt fore |
hadn't heard)-
Eyes, he's asleep now"
That woke me up, of course, and if
didn't lie there shammng, and heard all
they said in a whisper!
"Hsw came you to make him more vexed
than he was, Luke p says the wife; aud he
told her.
~ couldn't do it, mother" he said, exct-