The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-05-30
A LUCKY TUMBLE.

"knowing my usual kindness" whether
would watch the baby in the cradle.
'just for half an hour" felt that
crisis had come. l mus. leave Mrs.
Snatcham's.
l say Mrs. Snatcham's for Mr.. Snatch.
am was not unduly prominent in his
own house. He was q meek man, with
fearful eyes. Mrs. Snatcham was-well,
woman with q will, and she had eyes
which made you feel uncomfortable. l
had been private tutor in the abode for
twelve months. Ny charge consisted
Of four young gentlemen, OF strong
bodies and perverse dispositions. They
quarreled necessarily on all points
save one. Against their lawless tutor
they combined heartily. Their cry was
ever "War to the Knife" had borne
it all, but no, could not take charge of
the baby, even for half an hour. I must
bid the Snatchams, adieu.
was gloomily cogitating my next
movement when letter arrived for me
from tho only near relative possessed
An only uncle, to whom 1 had written
detailing my troubles.
"Look here, Harry" it ran, eff you've
a mind to live in peace and die worth
money, you forget all about your Latin
and Greek and such things. Fine things
they are, dare say, but l never saw
that they turned into much beef or NUT
ton. You put your books in the fire
and your pride in your pocket, and new
er take it out again. You know what
was in early life, nephew. l kept shop
"a general shop-in country town,
and 1 didn't do SO badly. Well, I've
Just heard the good will and stock in
trade OF shop of this kind in little
town fifty miles from London is for sale,
and say the word and iii buy it for you.
And, as your education has been so neg
leeted that you'd know nothing Of such
business, I'll come and steer You Alright
for a time, until fortune is before you.
There, noww
"Humph! l gave q gasp or two at
this grand proposition of my worthy
relative. Private tutorship ut the
Snatchams' was poor enough, but tho
keeping ola "shOp of all sorts" in a
country town, under the guidance Of my
good uncle! Well, it was the old story,
awe never know what we may come
to-"
And so left tho Snatchams' and the
EGO 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 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 LETT the whole Of
his property to tho "Sausage-makers
Benevolent Institution" of which he
had been vice-presldent, in company TO
his great delight with half dozen no.
bles of the land.
However, all the money needful on
my account had been paid, and rather
than return to the horrors Of private tu-
torship secured the services of an ex.
perienced shopman, and determined to
try my fortune in the new direction so
lauded by my deceased relative.
do not want to lengthen my story,
and therefore will comprise great
deal in ono short sentence-I tried and
failed.
soon began to perceive, not SO very
far of, not the fortune my uncle had for
told, but bankruptcy and the work
house. And when these pleasant pros
poets came very distinctly to my men.
tai vision, then it was engaged to
marry.
Thus it happened. l became attached
to the only daughter of a widow, living
some ten miles from my abode. 1t was
q speedy acquaintance aud q quick &C.
ceptance by the young lady, but some
how the mother, without actually OBJ
jecting, would not agree, and l pressed
Miss Lucy for the reason.
al have told You, you are going to
starvation" said. "My place is fail
urc, and in month we shall be in the
work-house; the prospects are clear
and charming, and you are quite salts |
fed. What is it then, that troubles your
mammal"
"Well," answered Lucy, sit is very
foolish of mamma to conceal from you |
which you evidently don't
know, though 1 wonder at your igno-
rance. 1t is your-your establish
ment."
"Sbop, We generally call it, Lucy but
how do"
"Don't you know it's haunted?"
"Cannot say do; and don't care il
it is"
"But if am to live with you there, l
care very much. They say that for sew
eral nights after his death, old jerks,
the former owner, was seen in his shop
in great nightcap and with large
knife"
ga most formidable and disagreeable
sort of ghost, must say; but how have
you heard this? ?"
"Ah. there's the secret, although l
cannot imagine why the story of man.
mas former connection With old Mr..
Ienks has not como to your sas. Now,
listen to me. But FIRST solemnly prom.
Sc you will not repeat what am about ,
o tell you. There, hold your tongue,
md don't interrupt me. You are so
ond of hearing yourself talk. Men are ,
70 much given that way. I've told you ,
lalf the truth, and that is more than you ,
Ieserve. Well, the other half, which :
'ou might SO easily have known if you !,
'ad not been so stupid, runs thus: My
mamma and Mr.. jerks were formerly i.
ear neighbors, and Mr.. jerks fell vio-
entity in love with mamma. and offered /,