The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-05-13

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The girl dropped to chair, aud bury
lng her face on the oeverlet, burst into 3
paroxysm Of weeping.
Ne, mother, she sobbed, hysierioally. .-
lts the ssme old story ] can get moth
ing. Whist shall We DO? ieel heart.
broken.
Clara, Clara, my child, calculated the
mother, loudly embracing her, do not
you give away What, indeed will be-
come ofus theuf My brave, brave girl,
do not weep thus,
Pray let me mother; ! shall be better
afler il.
She, apparently, was right, for at the
end Of a few moments she looked up
calmer; her tears ceased,
There, she smiled; / am better now
lts good to give way attimes, You know.
At least, one can't help ii, and our lot is
so hard but we shall get used to It..
Hard 1t breaks my heart to eontem-
plate IT, when | think Of you, Clara
What a different future did and your
father intend YOU, Lowell But who could
Imagine such a villain as John Burge
ever existed?
All, me-ah, me! TO look ronnd, al
this place, and remember the pleasant
home which once was ours! Now, we
are alone, with not a single friend in the
world.
Not onel Oh, yes, mother, believe
me, onel cried the girl, quickly. lie,
Gilbert will be true--trust me, he will .
do not know cannot tell, erclaim-
ed the daughter, piteously; but, oh, pray
mother do not take that hope from me I!
Let me believe in Gilbert. 1t is my only
support in this bitter misery.
The widow, touched with her pleading
countenance, was about to reply, when
interruppting herself, she said, Clara, !
hear some one in the parlor. See who it
il, dear.
The girl obeyed, and started at the
weird scene she behed.
Seated before the CRATE, on a three
legged stool, was the cobbler, yet in the
leather apron aud cap. On his knees
was bellows, which he was working
with consummate skill evidently master
of the art, sending the Goals into bright
bazes that threw flashes Of lurid color
over the quaint figure and the room,
Upon hearing Clara, he turned, almost
with a snarl.
How do you expect to boil a saucepan
with such fire as this? be Crowded
Never was a halter as mad as you, Pm
certain. Now look at this; amt it a
picture2
Clara did look, and saw that not only
were the Goals increased, but that tboy
were not from their own store.
1t is quite cheering, she managed to
say, butt fear, Mr.. Crayshaw, you have
been robbing yourself.
Robbing myself?-me?-not bit. Pm
miser. Didn't you hear the boys call
me so-Jerry, the miser? he snapped. -
I'd rob anybody sooner than myself. |
am a miser, and Pm proud Of it. Some
men are called painter and poet. Well,
Pm called cobbler and miser.
Really, said Clara, little amused, a
little frightened, looking at the glowing
Goals; should have scarcely thought so
That shows your ignorance, responded
Jerry, Can't you see by calculation, it's
cheaper to keep up one good fire than
two small ones? So I'm going to sit by
you're. Also, clubbing two persons tea
together is cheaper than taking it alone.
1t makes only one for the pot necessary.
You perceive, now, am miser. !
want to take my tea here.
Clara looked at the table; upon it was
new loaf, fresh bntter, eggs and neat
package Of tea.
Oh, Mr.. Crayshaw-she began.
Are you going to refuseI he snapped.
Mayn't have tcat
low could refuse-shc began when
he interrupted.
Then don't lose time. see to the ket-
tie. II! boil the eggs.
Similar behavior from some people
might have given offence, but there was
such a quaint, odd way about Jerry that
robbed it of that power. lie was 80 old,
aud snapped aud snarled as if really his
suggestion was the result Of deep-leated
msanness instead of the contrary. Mrs,
Weston did make some demur, but Jer-
ry shut her up at once.
| see. She's frightened at your taking
tea with such a fascinating young fellow
as am, he said. Leave the door aiar,
then the old lady can take a squlnt at us
now and then join the talk. I'm wild
Young sprig confess.
Clara could not refrain from bursting
into a merry peal Of laughter. Jerry's
gray eyes twinkled with delight under
his shaggy brows as he looked mp at her
Well, the two bnstled about, the cob.
bier certainly the briskest, until finally
they were seated st 3 very comfortable
tea. During the meal, Mrs. Weston
deemed II right to inform their new
friend something Of their history.
10 their husbands lifetime, they had
been we'll to do. At bic death, they yet
could have lived comfortably, bad not 8
Mr. John Burge suddenly brought heavy
claims on the dead mans property.
never quite understood what II was
I only know be must have been paid,
said the widow, doIorOusly. But we
hala I some papers we ought to have "a