The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-03-16

and ragged English garments. and OF
( barbarism in the manner and talk Of the
| inmates-would have made the place a
damaging study for the intelligent for
eigner" From Bill Knowsley. turning
out his three and four sovereigns a week
that was keeping England in the van OF
civilization and progress, and was enrich
ing Lord Dibblecum beyond the dreams
of avarice, down to the baby in the cor
ner. swaddled in a bundle Of fusty rags,
and the pig whose defiant grunt and
scent seemed TO establish his equality
with the other living things in the house
hold, this homestead of an English arti-
san was a phenomenon to make a man
rub his eyes and ask where he was
There was but one explanation Of il all
and that will presently appear Although
Bill knowsley had relations with very
curious characters, he did not belong to
the criminal class. His immense strength
tempted him to an occasional bout in the
ring. and this had brought him in con
tact with some characters who occasion.
ally called upon him, as in honor bound.
to discharge bis devoir 10 their secret
association by aiding to hide fugitiyes
from justice. Unless there had been
clear evidence and strong force, few
people would have yentured TO intrude
into Bill Knowsley's house. This, its
solitary position, and the extreme rarity
Of the calls upon his hospitality made il
a tolerably safe shelter for day or two,
If man were hard pressed.
Kicking open the door to let his wife
know emphatically that her master had
arrived, Rnowsley entered and called
upon the stranger to follow. The woman
turned from the bit of FIRE where she
was trying to warm / know not what
mess for the children who were sniveling
about Splendid as Bills wages were,
there was rUrely much more TO show for
them at the end Of the week than half a
supper for the poor woman and her little
ones. On seeing him. her face bright
ened for an instant with a pleased sur
prise; not an original comely face. but
brown and haggard and, alas bearing
marks Of Bill Knowsley's cowardly and
drunken proves.
"Whoam so soon, Bill 2
"Ay, lass, d thee; whoy not. / say2
Is fetched a gemman to the shelter.
Shet up, young Uns and five squalling
children discreetly stuffed their hands
into their hungry mouths and stopped
their wailing.
"a gemman p said the woman. sharply
What have &c done 2
Keep thy tongue still. CONAN Sit
thee down. lad-sit the down" and he
put his own great three-legged stool near
the fire.
"Oh / shall do very well, said the
stranger, looking nevertheless very un-
comfortable through his disguise. "All
| want is something to eat and place 10
shake down in"
Summit to eat. CONAN. do ee hear
Summit Of the best for the gemmen and
me. Us'll have il tidy Sir, sure enow.
candle, Lizzie"
"Candle7 I've no candles, Bill
well" said he, with an oath, buy
'em. Come along. lass, and get US feast.
Gemman has given / FIVE pun. Ill take
half a hour, ! will, at tn Iron Horse,
while you be cooking Of un."
"Bill," said the woman, her face fall
ing, you stay here, tell you. and Ill
fetch ee the things, and doan't co 60
nigh 10 tn Iron Horse tonight
"You be blowed, and leave / aloan.
will ee? I've a bout o one bottle wi
Nick Staveley-'ull be oaver in iiffy.
sure. You keep still ere lad III be
back soon as tn owd ooman's ready"
While the unlucky stranger remained
shivering in the dull light of the embers
among the squalling children, Knowsley.
having given his wife a couple OF sover-
eigns, strobe of jingling the other three
in his pocket along with three compan-
ion pieces and some silver which had
that afternoon been paid TO him for his
weeks wages.
Mrs Knowsley did not stay long away.
Her step was brisker and her heart a
oh
were reasons, known only 10 women, TO
impede and burden both IL was so un.
heard of thing for her husband 10 come
home early or sober Of Saturday night.
This frightened the evening; and again,
her children. who usually had to spend
a hungry twenty-four hours before Sun
days breakfast, would 60 to bed satisfied.
Mrs. Knowsley had bought a magnifi-
beefsteak, potatoes, bread-not forget
ing the gin and some bottled ale besides;
and after preliminary conflict with the
general confusion, and an issue Of pacify-
ing chunks from the loaf 10 the black
eyed and black faced little ones, she soon
filled the room with the fragrance Of
good meat and smoke of sputtering fry.
A semi circle Of appeased young human
ity sat in the glow and quietly enjoyed
the hopeful scene Candles lit up the
brown table-cloth she had dragged from
under the bed in the next room. Plates
well battered. Clipped. and burned
graced the front OF the fire. The stranger
began to feel some incomings Of comfort.
Meantime he seized a bottle Of ale and
drained a glass with satisfaction.
Thus a half hour passed, and Mrs
Knowsley's preparations were complete
Her checks glowed with warm exercise
and she chatted cheerfully with her
guest. Another half hour went by, and
She looked out and listened for her hus-
band. She dared not ask the stranger
to begin before Knowsley arrived. and
still less dared to go for him. lie was an
autocrat Of the purest stamp lie main
tanned his supremacy by but one princi-
ple-force. History shows that that may
succeed with women and some nations
At length it was half past eight. The
juicy steak was drying no. The potatoes
were cleaving to the pan. The stranger
could stand out no longer. Were Bill
Knowsley ever so angry. IL was beyond
all reason that a hungry man should sit
still opposite a spelling steak for which
he had already paid
Mother" he said, "Ill begin. ! am
paying for this supper. Go and fetch
your huauahAt hih - EAfN hhN g'AhA
sters something
She peered out again. A dreary night
As she opened the door the wind came
sweeping in cold and harsh, whirling up
a cloud Of smoke from the fire and put
ting out the candles. On her face the
freezing drizzlc struck like a shower Of
pins. Road. nor post. nor village light
was visiblc-only n scene Of wild, drifting
blackness. In lull Of the rushing wind
she thought she heard the faint notes OF
a chorus She had often listened 10 them
l Of a clear night.