Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-05-17
THE TWO JONESEs.
\ STORY OF ST. DAvID'S DAY.


CHAPTER I.
1t was the LIST of March, in the
year of grace IS. In a merchants 8
otii 9, not far from Cheapside, a little
man sat at high desk, trying hard,
apparently, to keep one eye the rows,
figures before him, and the other on
the Office clock. Failing in this his
glances travelled from the one to
the other with pendulum-like regulari-
ty. At last the clock struck the
wished-for hour of six; and the little
man shut the big ledger with a bang,
and after locking it carefully in the
office-safe, dashed into a dark cup
board, and began a hasty but careful
toilet, involving great splashlng Of
water, and much violent exercise wi b
a stumpy nail-brush. Even Jones
was nominally managing-clerk, and
really general factotum, to the firm
Of Berwick Brown, hardwood mer-
chants. He was fifty years Of age,
short, fat, and good-natured, though
Il little peppery at times. He had Il
numerous family, whom he found it
anything but easy to feed and bring
up on his modest salary of fifty shil-
lings Il week. With strict economy,
however, he managed just to make
both ends meet. Not for him were
the breezy sands of Ramsgate, or the
chestnut avenues of Hampton Court.
Not for hun were the mild havana or
the fragrant cigarette. He had no
vices and desired 40 luXuries. One
indulgence alone in the course of the
wear, did he permit himself. He was
Il Welshman to the backbone, and
herein lay his one extravaganza.
Come what might, and however de-
pressed the condition Of the domes-
tic money market, lie was always
present at the dinner of the ''ULitcd
Welshman" on st. David's Day. The
necessary guinea was to Jones Us
much as hundred to many Of the
other gu, sts who assembled at the
banquet in question: sum to be
saved and scraped together by inf
mite sacrifice and selHdnnial But
Though back and sides 90 bare,
Though hands and feet go cold"
as the old song says, scraped togeth-
er it must he, by hook or by crock.
For a week prior to the present oc-
casion, Evans dinner had consisted
of sayeloy and a penny roll and on
the day Of our story he had taken no
food whatever since his frugal break
IsTs,u, I.IS~nvrEIs- 80 S's.t.i1~--- -
for his abstinence at the
Expense Ofthe limited Welshman. "
He had. IN truth, gone so long with
out food as to feel little exhausted,
but he cOnsoled himself with the
thought of the splendid appetite he
should carry to the festive board ;and
having at last completed his toilet, he
shut up the office, and started Tor the
hostelry where the dinner was to be
keld, feeling at least six feet high, and
humming ar hyd y nos with patriotic
energy.
At almost the same moment when
Evan Jones started on his journey, a
tall handsome man, in faultless even
ing attire, stepped out of a West-end
mansion, outside of which broug-
ham was waiting. A graceful little
lady, with bright girlish face, ac-
companied him to the ball-door.
''You won't be very late. Owen,
will you?" she said, coaxingly.
Not very early, am afraid, pet.
We sWclshmen' are rare fellows for
keeping it up; and if l came away
before all the national toasts had been
duly honored, | should never hear
the last of it
Every well, dear; then | suppose |
mustn't expect you till l see you. l
hope you will have pleasant evening.
Don't take too much wine," she con-
tinued, laughingly.
Cant answer for myself on such
an OCCASION" her husband respond
ed. "The--Tavern," he said to
the coachman; and kissing his hand
to his wife, in few moments was
whirled out of sight.