Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-08-10
q Miscellaneous.
From AppleIon's Journal.
JACK STEBBINS' STORY.
TOLD ny HIM sKLt.

Ii Is the way of the world to blame a wo-
man-some woman or other-for most
things that 90 wrong with men. Not 10
be out of the fashion, might as well begin
by saying that Molly was AZ the bottom oi
my trouble. There wasn't a sweeier girl.
nor preitler, In New York city than Mol
ly used 10 be; and there isn't better little
wife in the world Of do say il, that
shoulent) than she is now. As TO all she
knew about, no baby could have been more
innocent; but all the same. Il was for her
sake got myself into the toughest scrape
/ was in, before or since.
IL was nigh upon Christmas, you see, and
| wanted Molly for my Christmas gin. |
wasn't doubtful about getting her, for we
had kept company long enough TO know
each others mind, and didn't expect her
to say No when | asked her to be my
wife. But didn't want to ask her till
had the engagement ring all ready 10 slip
on her finger as soon as she said the word.
And Id set my heart on giving her the
sort of ring that would please her. She
had nice taste about such lhings, and
never wore any OF those flashy French gilt
gewgaws some women dangle about 'em.
The little brooch and eardrops that she al
ways wore (and wears EN- .till) were pure
gold, and the stones in 'cm were small. 10
be sure. but they we're real amethysts. -
They had been her mothers before her,
was sure nothing else would please her SO
well as an amethyst ring TO match.
| had had my eye on one for don't know
how long. In Broadway window. II was
a lovely purple color and clear as water,
the stone itself; and the gold setting was
fine and delicate, just what she liked,
knew. The price was twenty 1--WE dollars,
and that was where the hitch came, for
hadn't the money, and couldn't beg nor
borrow Il from the best friend had in the
world.
They were hard times, you see. for men
that dept nded on the city for living.
was Il Government official in q small way,
and there'd been grand row among the
big wigs. that made things shake for all Of
us. hadn't anything TO DO with the plum
out of my place that wasn't honestly en-
titled to. But suspicion was the order of
the day, aud reform was the outcry; and
all sorts OF charges were made right and
left. Some of 'em were for the better,
maybe; there were plenty more that serv
ed no honest purpose, and brought good
men into cruel trouble. had the luck 70
keep my place, while a lot OF the fellows
all round me were discharged; and mighty
good luck thought it.
I wasn't so jolly after a while when two
or three months went by. and had plenty
OF hard work but no salary to show for II.
Under the old rule they were very regular
about the pay rolls, and every employee of
the city got his warrant for his months
salary Oh the last day of the month. All
that was changed By the reform party, and
nobody was to be paid anything at all, IL
There W mnrh rnrruntlOn.
Hordes Of men drawing salaries they had
never earned! The city treasury emptied
to swell the pockets Of thieves. Down
with the frauds! Put stop to the plum
der.
There was a deal of fine talking and no
end of Investigations; and meanwhile,
hardworking men, about whose honesty no
question could be raised, were kept out Of
their just dues month after month. The
straits they were put to sometimes we're
cruel enough. I've seen man get white
and faint at his desk from sheer hunger; !;
had four months salary due him and not
ceit in his pocket TO buy penny ROLL
Most OF them had families, and were half
distracted at seeing them suffer. But 1t
was all in the name Of reform, and fine
name covers a multitude OF sins.
l felt pretty bitter as the time went on,
and there was no sign Of any pay, only
more work put upon us all the while. and
q lot of petty rules to mind that made
fellow feel like niger under an overseer
| was in debt to my landlady, and my
washerwoman, and the cobbler that mend
ed my boots. / couldn't even take Molly
a paper u sugar plums or bunch OF
flowers when went to see her; and l hard
ly got the chance 10 go to see her once
week. for the night work was piled upon
US without any law to show for IL.
The fellows grumbled and swOre, but
that didn't mend matters; and things were
looking blue enough for me, when one day
came rumor that salaries were to be paid
at last. II turned out to be true, at least,
that something was to be paid on account !;
and when the day came you can bet l was
OH hand all alive. There was crowd Of
hungry men outside the paymaster's coun-
ter. Nobody knew for certain whose name
would be called. or how much anybody
would get OF what was really due him.
We all waited for our chance, and the
chances went dead against me-.
When the pay roll OF our of1ce was call
ed, there were about two out OF five men
on the list, and / wasn't one of the lucky
ones. l had waited two hours for my
turn, and waited for nothing; and the
devil came into me as stood there. hum
cry and tired. with uy hands In my empty
pockets, and thought OF the money that
belonged to me and l cOuldu't get. A
name was called from another pay roll -
the name Of man knew, and l knew he
wasn't there to answer It.
George Meriweather! ! sung out the pay
master. Step up here, sir, and. be quick
about it,
The devil vas in me, as said. and be
took me to the counter quicker than q
flash. There was something said all in .
jumbie, then an order to hold up my hand,
and bible pushed in front Of he for my
anidavit. 4. l4
George iweather-sOlemnly swear
and vow--persOn herein descrised-iaith-