Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-09-13
IN HARD STRAITS

"Nine o'clock, sor, an the hot wather,
an is it the rest of the bacon ye'd be
afther havin' for breakfast p
"Will it not be too much, Bridget p"
Sorra bit, sor."
every WELL"
And, with a half groan, I, Basil Hath
away, sprang out of bed, and proceeded
to array myself in unexceptionable Co.'S
tume-trousers, vest, frock-coat. Ny
only ones, alas An accommodating rel
ative some twenty doors Oft had taken
charge of shabbicr garments one by one,
kindly advancing sundry money thereon.
Three of us were in the same plight
old school-fe)!ows, and old chums now
thrown together i'll manhood by the cap.
rice of Dame Fortune, and fighting
shoulder to shoulder the battle of life in
the great city.
AS [ dressed, one of the trio, Hal Tre-
vor came bounding by three at time
up the worm-e eaten stairs. He was fresh
from morning lecture at the hospital,
and hungry as hunter. thought,
with q shudder. 1 heard his cheerful
greeting of Jack Hornsey, hard at work
since daylight on "Coke upon Little
ton"
"Well, old book worm, ready for
breakfast? =? Where is the captain P''
"The captain |" How the old title,
bestowed still in honor of my three years
seniority, set me dreaming. I was
aroused by the dull thuds of poker
hammering violently at the intervening
wall.
GAN right |" I shouted. "Ring for
the bacon"
In another minute there were three of
us gazing with rueful looks at the break
fast arrangement. A loaf of stale bread,
piece of butter the size of walnut,
and three tiny rashers, that either could
have put out of sight with ease.
is that all, Bridget?"
Every line of the girls honest fresh
face was eloquent with sympathy.
"Not bit more, sor."
Hal laughed.
"Turn out your pockets, lads. There's
my last coin."
And he produced an exceedingly shiny
sixpence.
Jack, after much rummaging, showed
quantity OF fluff and brace button.
I had threepence halfpenny in coppers.
"Odd man out for the bacon" quoth
Hal.
"No; divide it between you," said I.
/" A man has been rash enough to ask
me to dinner. Hand over the loaf"
Jack gave me one keen glance. ]
think he suspected the pious falsehood.
Hal, bless the boyl was quite uncon
rvh 1oI AL
care. The frugal meal was just dis
posed of when we heard great putting
and blowing below on the third floor
That had but one possible meaning-s
creditor.
"Whose turn3" asked Jack, laconi
cally.
It was an ancient arrangement nov
that on the advent OF dun only one O
us should receive him, the others bein,
in the city-that is, the adjacent bed
room.
"Your own," cried Hal, as we de
camped, leaving the door ajar to watcl
the course of events. 'I wish you JOY
Jack; it is old Blunderson, snorting lik
grampus, as usual"
Old Blunderson was a general pro
Nlb1Oh WIZ llhu lou
be beguiled into supplying miscellane
GUS goods until his bills really frightenet
me. A modern Falstaff, minus the wit
he always ascended slowly. resting o.
each stair.
We were safe for about five minutes
Jack employed them in preparing 70
his reception, and we watched proceed
ings with amused curiosity.
The first was to produce q huge tc
bacco pouch, taking from it about ha
an ounce of tobacco. From this b
filed long clay pipe-Jack's meel
schaum had preceded our clothes to th
pawnbroker's-depositing the remaindt
carefully upon the table.
"An alarming sacri6cei' murmure
Jack, shaking his head over it with n
gretful sigh.
The next step was to grasp the fir,
shovel and tongs.
"Weapons of offense," whispere
Harry. " He meditates assault an
bat
Hal stopped abruptly in sheer amaz
ment. Jack was deliberately removir
live Goals from the ere 10 the shovel, M
ppen these hs swept his cherished