Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-22
JERRY, THE MISER.

JERRY, THE MISER.
1t was cobbler's shop, breaking the
row of small private houses in shabby
suburban street. How it came there no.
body knew. What is more, nobody cared
Near the door on this particular after
noon were two females, the one elderly,
the other graceful and young; both in the
deepest mourning. In front of it were
two London street Arabs, as ragged as
mirthful; before it stood the oldest being
imaginable-a little old man, about four
feet high, with a not over-clean face,
iron-gray hair, on which rested worn
skin cap, shaggy brows, rather bow legs,
and a dirty leathern apron. In irate
tones he was addressing the boys:
"On with you, you young rascal! II
you come playing your hop-scotch and
Sally-come-ups before my window again
I'll fay you alive"
Before the muscular fists the boys fed,
hurting back derision. "Well done,
Jerry-old Jerry, the miser! Yahl"
The cobbler-for he hardly merited the
more emphatic title of shoemaker--paid
no heed, but, glancing sharply up from
his bent brows at the two women, asked,
Sand what may y0u want?"
eve we see," began the younger,
looking timidly toward the square card
in the window, "you have apartments to
let"
"No, I've rooms-rooms don't know
nothing of apartments; l amt up to
them-nor the rooms amt neither. DO
you want to see 'em?"
ave did wish"
"An right; come along!"- and the lit
tie man swung round on his heel
The two women, hesitating, looked at
one another.
ave had better see them, mother"
said the younger, with wan smile of
encouragement. ellis bark may be
worse than his bite, and all the other
places are so dear"
Following the cobbler through the
shop, he led them upstairs to the rooms.
There were two, communicating by a
door with each other; they were poorly
looked at them the cobbler stared at them
silently.
"Well, he asked, "what do you think
Of themG"
"They will do very WELL" answered
the widow. It's-only--the price~
"Six shillings O week-in advance"
"Six shillings" CALCULATED the girl.
"Do you think it too much~
"On the contrary, 1t is cheap"
You know lot of the world to say
that. How do you know / sha'n't clap
on the other shilling?"
Il don't; butt should not fancy you
would"
SAbout the references" began the
widow. .......
"Don't want any-you pay in advance
and as, whenever you leave the house, II
must be through the shop, you can't well
take the furniture without my knowing
Is it settled?"
IF you please; here is the first weeks
The cobbler took it, scrawled out a
receipt, nodded and left his dodgers to
themselves. Seated again on his bench,
meditatively, he scratched his grizzled
chin and contemplated the six coins In
his horny palm.
1.-TWO bobs week lost to-day" he
remarked. Jerry, you miser. how could
you do itY"
The cobbler's dodgers proved very
quiet. They did not interfere with their
landlord, and he, apparently, did not in
terfere with them. His rent was paid to
the day.
They rarely spoke, save exchanging
the ordinary morning and evening salu.
tations when the daughter went through
the shop. The mother never LETT the
house. But Jerry, like most cobblers,
was a man of observation, and he made
such comments as the following:
"Shes beauty, she Is; but awful
white and sad. It's my opinion it's hard
times with them upstairs"
Then, when the girl went out earlier
and came home later, even with sadder
more depressed expression, he said: III
tell you what it Is, Jerry; she's seeking
work and doesn't get it" -
One evening, few weeks after MIS-
Weston and her daughter rented the COD
bler's apartments, the latter entered the
shop later than usual . -,
The yellow lamp was faring dismally
and Jerry, q boot on his knee, was haro
at work. After the customary saluta'
ton the giri was passing on, when tne
cobbler's voice arrested her. :.
az saw, your mothers Ill, amt she!'
he asked, nursing his knee with both
arms.
"Yes, Mr.. Crayshaw, am sorry &c
say she has been for some while ailing
Sh.--she--" and the young voice uem
bled with tears-"is very weak"
"Then you must give her lots to eat
responded Jerry, staring out OF the WIN
dow. 1.-THE best thing for weak people
is a nice roast fowl and bottle OF wine
Why don't you give them herr"
II wish was able, or even to provid.
her less expensive dainties; but.out-'
and the tears fell fast" 1 cannot"
"Ah, that's the fault, you see, OF nav
ing no money. Good evening".
He resumed his work, ana the gl,i
scarcely chcered by this little episode
went, with heavy heart, upstairs.
Mrs Weston was 80 i'll she was ly,nt
ON her bed. The candle was in tn
room, and in the parior crate burnt