The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-10-26

| Nob buJ % i'EbN thf bhA diN
ready and willing to pay 10 much week
That suits them. aud it suits rue, if they II
only keep the payments up to the end.
You won't believe me, perhaps, but
some Of them don't do that Some OIL
them leave their lodgings, and | never see
them again and the most curious part il
that the sewing machine disappears with
them, and | never see them again. Many
one, too that has disappeared like that
do see again, perhaps have it brought
here by some one to be repaired, or ex
changed for bigger one by a different
maker; for if you look round here. you'll
zee I've got all kiuds-new and old, little
domestics aud big trades there. you
name any maker, aud ste if | don't bring
you out one Of his works.
Well, when | ask these people where
they got the muchine-for l always know
them by the number-it turns out tba,
they've bought it through an advertise
ment, or at a sole-foom, or maybe out oi
u paw nbroker's shop.
But I've had plenty OF honest people tc
deal with, tco-them as have come
straight. forward, and told me they
couldn't keep up their payments, and
asked me to take their machine back
when I'd allow them as much as |
thought fair, and it would be an end of a
pleasant transaction.
The way have been bitten. though. by
some folks, has made me that case hard
ened that sometimes I've wondered
whether I'd got any heart left, and the
wife's had to interfere, telling me I've
been spoiled with prosperity and grown
unfeeling.
1t was she made me give way about
Ruth, for one day, after having had my
brustes oil set up by finding out that
three good sound machines, by best max.
ers, had gone mol ody knew where. who
should come into the shop but lady like.
looking woman in very shabby widows
weeds She wanted machine for her.
self and daughter to learn, and said she
had heard that l would take the money
bS instruments. Now just half an hour
before. by our shop clock. | had made a
vow that I'D give up all that part Of the
trade, and was very rough with her
just as am when LIN cross-and said,
"No'
But you will if the lady gives secur-
ty." SAYS my wife hastily.
That poor woman gave such q woe. be-
Lab hot ,n,I, .
of temper than ever, for could feel that
ii siorJ ed | should have to let her have
one at b,r own terms, Aud so it was (;
for, there. if didn't let her have first.
class machine, as good as new, she only
paying seven and Fix down. and under.
taking to pay halfa crown a week, and no
more security than nothing.
To make it worse. too, if | didn't send
the thing home without charge Luke
se:-. --:.L :. r. L. 1t L--.o
now keeping my hooks, grown into fpe
young fellow of five and twenty and |
sat and growled the whole Of the rest OF
the day, calling myself all the weak.
minded idiots VI der 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
so | am." said l. II didn't think |
could be such fool"
such fool as to do a good kind &C.
tion to one who was evidently a lady
born. and come down in the world !"
Yes" / save; "to living in Bennett's
place. where I've sunk no less than ten
machines in five years."
Yes" says toe wife; "and cleared
hundreds of pounds. Tom, I'm ashamed
Of you-you a man with twenty workmen
busy up stairs, couple of thousand
pounds worth Of stock, and in the bank
a."
Hold your tongue, will you /" l said
and work it all of
Luke came back soon after, looking
very strange. and was at him directly
where's the seven an six ?" | said
anRriy.
lie didn't answer. hut put three half
crowns down on the desk. took out the
book, made his entres-dates of delivery,
first payment. when the Others due, and
the rest of it-and was then going into
the house.
Mind" | said sharply, "those pay,
ments are to be kept mp to the day and
tomorrow you go to Rolly's, who lives
nearly opposite to 'em and tell 'em TO
keep an eye on the widow, or we shall
lose another machine"
"You needn't be afraid, father" be
says codly; they're honest enough, only
poor"
was just in that humor that wanted
to quarrel with somebody, and that did it
"Whcn ask you for your opinion
Young man, yoa give it me (; and when
tell you to do thing you do it," says
in as savage way as ever spoke 70 the
lad "You 90 over tomorrow and tel
Rolly's TO keep a strict lookout on thos,
people-do YOU hear ?"
Father" he says. looking me full il
the face. II couldn't insult them by doing
-uch a thing" when without another
word he walked quietly out OF the shop
leaving me worse than ever.
For that hoy had never spoken to nj
like that before. and | should have eon,
after him feeling mad like. only some peo
pie came in. and didn't see him agail
until evening and good thing too, 70
I'm ture | should have said all sorts o
things to the boy. that should have beel
sorry for after. And there | was fuwinI
and fretting about, savage With every
body, giving short answers, swapping a
my vile, and feeling as a man does fee
when be knows that lie has heen in tn
wrong and hasn't the heart to 60 and owl
il.
It was about eight O'Clock that wa
sitting by the parlor FIRE with the wifi
: working very quiet, When Luke came i
, from the WORKSHOP with a book under h
arm for he hal heen totting nm the man