The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-09
RuTN'S STEPFATHER.

A curious trade to take to, but then it
luIs grown to bo profitable. Things
were ut low cbb with mo when took
it up. | was Mt my wits end for some
thing to do, and sat nibbling my nails
one day, aud grumbling horribly.
"D0n't go on like that, Tom," says
my wife "thngs might be worse"
"Howi" Iisnl. IH .ris'E.gs
"Why, we might have Luke ut home,
and he is doing we'll"
Luke's our boy, You know, and We
had got him into merchants office,
where he seemed likely to stay. .s =
"Things can't be worse" I said, an
grily when there was knock at the
door. tu IL 81
"Comc in,' said, and n fellow lodger
put in his head.
"Are you good at works, Mr.. Smith,
he said.
NIiddling," I said, for 1 was fond Of
pulling clocks to pieces, and trying to
invent.
az wish you'd come and look ut this
sewing machine Of mine, for I can't get
it to &C"
I got up to look at it, and after about
MI hours tiddling about, l began to see
bit the reason why. l had my bit Of
dinner and ten with those people, and
they forced half crown upon mo MS
well, and l went back feeling like new
man, 80 refreshing had been that bit Of
work. The very next day the folks from
the next house wanted me to look at
theirs, and then the news spreading, rs
news will spread, TINT there was some
body who could cobble and tinker ma.
chinery, without putting people to the
expense, that makers would, the Jobs
came in fnst, no that I was obliged to get
files and drills and a vice-regulAr set Of
tools by degrees; md at Inst [ was rs
busy rs boo from morning to night,
and whistling over my work as happy rs
king. ~ ..r0.
Next We got to supplying shuttlcs and
needles md machine cotton. Soon after
| bought n machine OF man who was
tired Of it. Next week sold it at good
profit ; bought another and another, and
sold them; then got to taking them and
money in exchange for new ones, and
ono way and the other became n regular
big dealer, as you zee I've got at least
three hundred on the premises, while il
anybody had told mo fifteen years ago
that | should be doing this, should
have laughed at him. h. 6.aN
That pretty girl showing and explain
ing the machine to II customer That's
Ruth, that is. No, not my daughter
yet, but she soon will be. Poor girl, 1
always think Of her md of bread thrown
npon the waters Mt the same time.
"Curious idea, that" you will say, but
I'll tell You why. In our trade We have
strange people to deal with. Most of
EN- aro poor, aud can't buy machine
right of, but are ready and willing to
pny 50 much II week. That suits them,
and it suits me, il they'll only keep the
payments mp to tho end.
The way I've been bitten by some
folks has made mo that case hardened
TINT sometimes I've wondered whether
I'd got any heart left, and the wife's
Ind to interfere, telling me I've been
spoiled with prosperity, and grown I'M.
feeling. 1t was she made mo give way
about Ruth, for one day, after having
lind my bristlcs all set up by finding out
that three sound machines, by best
makers, had gone nobody knew where,
: who should come into tho shop but q
+! ladylike-looking woman in very shabby
widows weeds. Sho wanted machine
for herself and daughter to learn, anil
said she had heard would tlke tho
money by inStallments. Now Just half
an hour before, by our old shop clock,
had made II vow TINT I'd give up all that
part Of the trade, and I was rough with
her-just rs nm when I'm cross-and
said, "No."- ..H q orr
"But you will if tho Indy gives SO.
curity," says my wife, hastily.
The poor woman gave such woe.
bcgone look ut us that it made me- moro
out Of temper than ever, for I could feel
that il stopped should have 70 lot her
have one Mt her own terms. And 80 it
was; for I let her have tirst.class mn.
chine, MS good NJ new, sho only paying
seven aud six down, mud undertaking to
pay hnlf-a.crown II week, and no moro
security than nothing