The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-04-19
A LUCKY TUMBLE.

When Mrs. Snatcham asked me,
knowing my usual kindness" whether
would watch the baby in the cradle
''just for half an hour" felt that a
crisis had come. I must leave Mrs.
Snatcham's.
say Mrs. Snatcham's, for Mr.. Snatch
am was not unduly prominent in his own
house. He was meek man, with tear
ful eyes. Mrs. Snatcham was-well, a
woman with will, and she had eyes
which made you feel uncomfortable. l
had been private tutor in this abode for
twelve months. My charge consisted of
four young gentlemen, of strong bodies
and perverse dispositions They quar-
relied necessarily on all points save one.
Against their lawless tutor they COM
bined heartily. Their cry was ever
" War to the knife !" / had borne it
all | might have continued to bear it
all, but no, could net take charge of
the baby, even for half an hour. 1 must
bid the Snatchams adieu.
1 was gloomily cogitating my next
movement when a letter arrived for me
from the only near relative 1 possessed
an old uncle, to whom I had written
detailing my troubles
" Look here, Harry" it ran, d" if
you've mind to live in peace ard die
worth money, you forget all about your
Latin and Greek and such things. Fine
things they are, I dare say, but 1 never
saw that they turned into much beef or
mutton. You put your books in the
fire and your pride in your pocket, and
never take it out again. You know
what 1 was in early life, nephew. 1 kept
shop-a general shop-in q country
town, and hadn't done 80 badly. Well,
I've Just heard the good will and stock
in trade of shop ef this kind in little
town fifty miles from London is for sale,
and say the word and I'll buy it for you
And, as your education has been so
neglected that you'd know nothing of
such a business, I'll come and steer you
Alright for a time, until fortune is before
you. There now !"
Humph 1 gave a grasp or two at
this grand proposition of my worthy
relative. Private tutorship at the
Snatchams was poor enough, but the
keeping of ga shop of all sorts" in a
country town, under the guidance of
my good uncle Well, it was the old
story, " We never know what we may
come to"
And so I left the Snatchams and the
go year they gave me (by-the~by,
believe my successor received only IS
guineas, and did not object to mind the
baby, and wrote to my uncle that 1 was
ready to accompany him to the-the
shop. Alas, for the vanity OF human
designs News came back that my
relative had died suddenly, and had left
the whole of his property to the " Sau-
sage-makers' Benevolent Institution" of
which he had been a vice-president, in
company Ito his great delight) with half
a dozen mobiles of the land.
However, all the money needful on
my account had been paid, and rather
than return to the horrors OF private
tutOrship / secured the services of an
experienced shOpman, and determined
to try my fortune in tthe new direction
so lauded by my deceased relative.
/ do not want to lengthen my story,
and therefore I will comprise a great
deal in one short sentence-I tried and
failed.
soon began to perceive, not so very
far off, not the fortune my uncle had
foretold, but bankruptcy and the work
house. And when these pleasant pros
poets came very distinctly to my mental
vision, then it was 1 engaged to marry
Thus it happened. / became attached
to the only daughter of a widow, living
some ten miles from my abode. 1t was
a speedy acquaintance and a quick ac-
ceptance by the young lady, but some
how the mother, without actually OBJ
jecting, would not agree, and pressed
Miss Lucy for the reason.
"I have told you, you are going to
starvation" said. My place is fail
ure, and in a month we shall be in the
workhouse the prospects are clear and
charming, and you are quite satisfied.
What is it then that troubles your
mamma?
4" WE'LL" answered Lucy, cit is very
foolish of mamma to conceal from you
something which you evidently don't
know, though wonder at your ignorance.
It is your-your establishment"
"Shop, we generally call it. Lucy
but how do"
Don't you know it's haunted ?"
"Can not say do, and l don't care il
it is"
But if am to live with you there,
/ care very much. They say that for
several nights after his death, old jerks,
the former owner, was seen in his ,shoI
in great nightcap and with large
carving knife.
"A most formidable and disagreeable
sort of ghost, / must say but how have
YOU heard this ?"
"Ahl there's the secret, although ]
can not imagine how the story o.
mammals former connection with old
Mr.. jerks has not come to your ears
Now, listen to me. But first solemnly
promise you will not repeat what 1 an