The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-09-06
THE OLD MlsER.

1t was cObbler's shop, breaking the
row of small private houses in q shah.
BY suburban street. How 1t came
there nobody knew. What is more,
o5ody cared.
Near the door, on this particular af-
ternoon, were two females, the one
elderly. the other graceful aud young ;
both in the deepest mourning. In
front of it were two street Arabs. as
ragged as mirthful before it stood the
oldest being imsginable-a little old
man, about four feet high, withA not
over clean face, iron-gray hair, on
which rested worn skin cap. shaggy
brows, rather bow legs, and dirty
leather apron. In irate tones, he was
addr, ssiDg the boys.
'Of' with You, you young rascals
If you come playing your hopsco,ch
and Sally.coms.ups before my window
again, I'll flsy you aliye.'
Before the muscular fist the boys fed,
hurting back derision. well done,
Phil-old Phil the miser! Yah?'
The cobbter-for he hardly merited
the more emphatic title of shoemaker
paid no heed, but glancing sharply
up from under his bent brows at the
two women, asked, And what may
you want?
We've see,' began the younger,
looking timidly toward the square
card in the window, you have apart
ments to let.'
NO, I've rooms-r0Oms. don't
know nothing of apartments ain't
up to them-nor the rooms amt neith-
err. Do you want to see emp
we did wish
.All right; come along !'-and the
little man swung round on his heel.
The two women, hesitating, looked
at one another.
we had better see them, mother,
said the younger, with a wan emile OF
encouragement. tHis bark may be
worse than his bite, and all the other
places are SO dear
Following the cobbler through the
shop, he led them up stairs to the
rooms. There two, communicating by
door with each other; they were
poorly furnished, but clean. As the
women looked at them, the cobbier
stared at them silently.
sWell,' he asked, 'what do you think
of them p
'They will do very WELL answered
the widow. Its only-the priceP
six dollars month"; advance
six dollars month 7 ejaculated the
girl.
DO you think it too much?'
sOn the contrary, it is cheap
you know q lot of the world to cay
that. How do you know shan't clap
on another dollar?'
Il don't but l should not fancy you
would
About References began the
widow.
Don't want any-you pay in ad'
vance and as, whenever you leave the
house, it must be through the shop
YOU can't we'll take the furniture with
out my knowing. Is it settled2'
III you please; here is the frs
months rent
The cobbler took it, scrawled out {
receipt, and nodded, and left his lodg
ers to themselves. Seated again OF
his bench, meditatively, he scratche.
his grizzled chin, and contemplated tn
six dollars in his horny palm.
-Four dollars a month lost to-day
he remarked. phil, you miser no,
could you do it?'
The cobblers lodgers proved YER
Quiet. They did not interfere wit
their landlord, and he apparently, di
not Interfere with them. His rel
I was paid to the day.
They rarely spoke, save exchangin
S the ordinary morning and evening an
n utations when tho daughter wei
! through the shop. The mother new
left the house, But Phil, like mo-
cObblers, was man of Observable
and he made such comments as Il
following:
She's a beauty, she is; but awf
white and sad. It's my opinion il
$ hard times with them upstairs
Is Then, whom the girl went out earli
,S "i and came home later, even with a ga
n; n; der, moro depressed expression,
" said, 'I'll tell you what it is, Phil; a
- is seeking work, and doesn't get it !
One avenfn1 q feW weeks afterM