The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-01-07

| lou WONT DeHeVeHne, pefnupS, Out som
of them don't do that. Some of them leav,
their lodgings, and never see them again
and the most curious part is, that the sew
ing machine disappears with them, and
never see that again. Many II one that
do see again-perhaps have it brough
here by some one to be repaired, or eX
changed for bigger, or for one of differ
ent make for ifyou look round here you'll
seel I've got all kinds-new and old, littl,
domestic and big trades-there you nam,
any maker, and see ifI don't bring yol
out one of his works.
Well, when / ask these people where
they got the machine-for / always know
them by the number-it turns out tina
they've bought it through an advertisement
or salesroom, or may be out Off pawn
brokers' shop.
But I've mad plenty of honest people tc
zeal with, too-them as have come straight
forward and told me they couldn't keep VI
their payments, and ask me to take theil
machines back, when I'd allow them as
much as l thought fair, and 'twould be an
end OF pleasant transaction.
The way I've been bitten, though, by
some folks has made me that easel harden.
ed that sometimes I've wondered whether
ia got any heart left, and then the wife
had to interfere, telling me I've been spoil
ed with prosperity and growing unfeeling
1t was she made me give way about
Ruth, for one day, after having my bristles
all set up by finding out that three good
sound machines, my best makers, had gone
nobody knew where, who should come in
the store but very lady-like looking wo-
man in very shabby widows weeds. She
wanted a machine for herself and daugh-
ter to learn, and said she had heard that
| would take the money by installments.
Now, just half an hour before, by our shop
clock, had made VOW that I'd give up
that part of the trade, and l was very
rough with her-just as l am when Pm
cross and said mo"
"But you will if the lady gives security
said my wife, hastily.
The poor woman gave such Il woe-be-
gone look at us that made me more out of
temper than ever, for | could feel that if |
stopped / should have to let her have one
on her own terms. And so it was; for
there if l didn't let her have tirst-cass
machine rs good as new, she only paying
seven and six down, and undertaking to
pay half a crown week, and not any more
security than nothing.
TO make it worse, too, ifI didn't send
the thing home without charge, Luke go
ing with it, for he was back at home now
keeping my books, being grown into fine
young fellow of five and twenty and l sat
and growled the rest of the day, calling
myself all of the weak minded idiots under
the sun, and telling my wife that business
was going to the dogs and | should be
ruined.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself,
Tom" she said.
$50 l am" says l. 81 didn't think l
could be such fool"
"Such fool as to do good action to
one who was evidently lady born, and
comes down in the world !"
Yes" says, "to living in Benefits
place, where I've sunk no less than ten ma
chimes in five years"
Yes" says my wife, "and cleared hun
drcds of pounds. Tom, I'm ashamed of
you-you n man with twenty workmen
busy up stairs, Il couple of thousand pounds
worth of stock, and in the bank a
Hold your tongue, will you!" l said
roughly, and went out into the shop to
try and work it off
Luke came back pretty soon looking
very strange, and | was at him directly.
where's the seven and six7" ] says,
angrily.
He didn't answer, but put three half
crowns down on the desk, took out the
book, made his entries-date of delivery,
first payment, when the others due, and
all the rest of it-and was then going into
the house.
Mind" | says, sharply, "those payments
are to be kept up to the day and to-mor-
row you 60 to Roliy's, who lives nearly
opposite to 'cm, and tell 'cm to keep an
eye on the window, or We'll lose another
machine"
"You needn't be afraid father" he says,
coldly; "they're honest enough only poor"
l was just in that humor that wanted
to quarrel with somebody, and that did it.
when ask you for your opinion,
young man, you give it to me; and when
tell you to do a thing, you do it." / says in
as savage way as ever spoke to the lad.
you go over tomorrow and tell Rolly' s
to keep strict lookout on those people
do you hear?"
Father" he says, looking me full in the
face, 81 couldn't insult them by doing such
Il thing, when, without another word he
walked quietly out of the shop leaving ne
worse than ever.
The boy had never spoken to me like
that before and l should have gone after
him feeling mad like, only some people
came in, and didn't see him again till
evening, and good thing, too, for Pm sure
I'd have said all sorts of things to the boy,
for was tuning and fretting about, saw
age with everybody, giving short answers,
swapping at my wife and feeling as a man
does feel when he knows that he has been
in the wrong and hasn't the heart to go
and own it,
1t was about eight o'clock that | was
sitting by the parlor fire, with my wife
working and very quiet, when Luke came
in from the work shop with book under
his arm, for he had been totting up the
mems piece work, and what was due To
them and the sight of him made me feel
as if must quarrel.
He saw it too, but said nothing, only put
the accounts away and began to read.
My wife saw the storm brewing, and she
knew how put out was, for l had not lit
my pipe, nor yet had my evening nap,
which always have after tea. So she did
what she knew so well how to do-filled
my. pipe, forced it into my hand, and Just
as was going to dash it to pieces, in the
ashes, she gave me one of her old looks,
kissed me on the forehead, as with one
hand she pressed me back into my chair,
and then with her other she lit splint
and held it to my tobacco.
| was done, she always gets over me like
that; and after smoking in silence for hall
an hour, was lying back, with my eyes
closed, dropping off to sleep, when my wife
said (what had gone before hadn't
heard)-
YES, he's asleep now"
That woke me up, Of course, and if l
didn't lie there shamming and heard all