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

noon, we're two females, tho one elderly,
the other graceful and youug; both la
lbe deepest mourning IN front were
twg London Street Arabs, S. ragged as
mirthfu; before IL stood the oddo.t be-
ing imaguab.e-a little old man about
ionr feet high, with a not over clear face,
/ irou.gray hair, on which rested a worn
skin csp, shaggy brows, rather bow legs
and a dirty leather apron. In irste tones
he was addressing the boys:
/ On with you, you young aseals! If
I sou come playing your hopseotcb aud
( salIy-Come-ups before nay window again,
( ill fay YOU alive.
Before the muscular ists the boys fed,
hutling back derision. Well done, Jerry
old jerry, the miser! Yah!
The eobbier, for he hardly mcritcd the
more emphatic Title Of shoemaker-paid
no heed, but glaueing sharply up from
his beat brows at the two women, asked,
And what may you want?
/ We've see, began the younger, look.
ing imidly towards the show card in the
window, you have apartments to let.
/ No, I've rooms-roomsl don't know
nothing Of apartments; ain't up to them
nor the rooms amt neither. Do you
want to see 'eml
/ We did wish to.
All right; come along and the little
man swung on his heel.
I The two women, hesitating, looked at
one another
We bad better see them, mother, said
/ the younger, with wan smile OF eucour-
agement. His bark may be worse than
his bite, and all the other places are 10
dear,
Following the cobbler through the shop,
he led them up stairs to the rooms. There
were two, communicating by a door with
each other; they were poorly furnished,
but clean, As the women looked at
them, the cobbler stared at them silent
ly. ..#
Wen, he asked, what do YOU think Of
them?
They will do very well, answered the
widow. lts-only price,
Six shilings week-iu advance.
Six shilIings! calculated the girl.
DO you think 1t too much?
On the contrary, it is cheap.
You know a lot OF the world TO say
that. How do you know shan't clap
on another shlling2
don't; but ] should not fancy you
Z would.
About references began the widow.
Don't want any--you pay in advance;
and as, whenever you leave the house, it
must be through the shop, you can't well
take the furniture without my knowing.
Is ii settled?
fyou please; here is the first weeks
rent.
The cobbler took it, scrawed out a re-
ceipt, nodded, aud left his lodgers to
themselves, Seated again on bis bench,
meditatively, be scratched his grizzled
chin and contemplated the six coins in
his horny palm.
Two bobs a week lost today be re-
marked. Jerry, you miser, how could
you do it?
The cobbler's dodgers proved very
quiet. They did not interfere with their
landlord, and be apparently, did not in
teriere 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 though
the shop. The mother never left the
house. But Jerry, like most cobblers.
was a man of observation, AMI he made
such comments as the folowing'
She's beauty, she is but awful white
and sad. LIS my opinion It's hard times
with them mp stairs,
Then when the girl went out earlier
and came home later, even with a sadder,
more depressed expression, he said III
tell you what it is, Jerry; she's seeking
work aud doesn't got It.
One evening, a few weeks after Mrs.
Weston aud her daughter rented the
cobber's apartments, the latter entered
the shop later than usual
The yellow lamp was 14ring dismaly,
and Jerry, a boot on his knee, was hard
at work, Amer the customary salutiou,
the girl was passing on when tie cob
ber's voice arrested her
I say, your mothers III, amt she2 he
asked, nursing his knee with both arms,
Yes, Mr. Crayshaw, am sorry 10 say
she has been for some while aillng. She
|-she-aud the young voice trembIed
with tear-is very weak.
Then YOU must give her lots to eat, re-
spouded Jerry, staring out Of the win
dow. The best tbing for weak people is
a nice roast fowl and and a bottle Of wine
Wby don't you give them to her.
wish was sble, or even 10 provide
her less expensive daintjes; but-but--
sud the rears fell fast cannot.
Al, lha's the fault, you sec, Of having
30 mouey. Good evening.
IIe resumed bis work. aud the girl,
scarcely cheered by this little episode,
went, with s heavy heart, mp stairs.
Mrs Weston was 80 iIl, wss lying on
hcr bed. The candle was ia her room,
aud in The parlor CRATE burn, q few
sparks Of tire. over which was ssnce-
pau. On the table was 4 tea tray, and a
previous daY's 'oaf Il was such a de.
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