Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-11-20
The Attic Lodger.

New York. The tailor llVed Oh lue
second floor, and did mis- best to make
a living for his wife and four children.
Down stars. the small tobacconlst
lived in a state Of perpetual anxiety
about the tailor's rent, which the said
tailor generally gave up piecemeal and
with groaus, as people give up their
teeth, not because he did not wish to pay
all his bills, but because OF a shortness
of funds common to many people.
Up in the attic lived the single lodger'
of whom 10 one knew anything. His
name was Smith; but what did that tell
when it was so common a name? lie
was lean. and had hollow cheeks and
anxious eyes. What his business was
Or if he had any, no enc knew. Per-
haps he wore linen, only no sign oil 1t
was percepiible. We may also hope
he wore stockings. The poor apetheca-
r, of Romeo and Juliet put the tobacco
mist in mind Of his attic lodger, when.
having been presented with tickets by
the theatrical lodger Of the first floor he
went, to spend an evening with Shake
spearc.
As for business, or occupation, nc
seemed to have none. At noon he went
out for a loaf of bread aud pitcher OF
beer. After twelve O'Clock he dl'ap'
peared until midnight, when he let him
self in with a latch-key, and went to bed
without a candle.
And for all he told any one about
himself, said the tobacconisIs wile' "he
might have been a ghost"
.Buthc's civil spoken said the tall
or. wife, 10 whom he always said En-
cuse me. ma'am,' when he found her
alton on the staircase, in a puddle oi
soon and water, and was obliged TO
wade through the food with his bread
and becr. And the tailor's wife who
had lived at service in her youth, even
ventured to hint to her husband that
she thought Mr.. Smith was a gentleman.
However. tins fancy the tailor crushed
q, once with terse Gentleman don't
wear no such coats as that, Sally
Poor little tailor he sat crossed-leg-
ued on his board and stitched, and meas
urod tnen BY their coats. If he had
measued. or even mended, mere coats
If would have been better for him and his
brood. Times seemed to grow worse
custom less. the mcney harder to get
When the little man read N his morn
ipps paper Of men who had shot them
selves. or taken laudanum, he wondered
whether they had four children with
hearty appetites, and a prospect ei nav
inc nothing for them to eat some day.
Not tnat he had any idea Of killing him
self. beside. he lad been told by his
clercyman that suicide was wicked; but
he couldn't help thinking. And lha'
civil lodgcr in the attic, how did he fare;
One night when Sally who had been
meuding and washing aud ironing the
family rags and patches all day, Ts'
economically using up the fire by bak-
ING a Loaf of bread III the stove oven,sht
heard the lodser come in. He wcn'
up.stairs, paced the floor. lie came
ont into the entry, aud creaked on the
stairs. lie seemed IS restless as Gag
ed tiger; and he had behaved jast so io
three nights, instead ofretiring at once
rs the tailor's family knew that he gen
erally did by the creaking and swapping
of his bedstead.
what can all him p said Sally, as sh
took her bread out Of the oven, ant
poked it with staw, finding it done
what can all him? l hope he ain
sick. nor nothing; he's so civil, poo
dear
Then Sally listened again.
4 declare, he's coming down. sll
y said. lie must be i'll; and there he
!, a-knocking-law!'
l. Then she opened the door.
,; The lid of the stove was of, and tn
red lish. flashed upon hungry face wit
hollow cheeks and hungry eyes. 1t al
most frightened the tailor's wife.
D. The gaunt hand stretched itself GU
and voice said, family. Madam
know YOU have kind heart. III
horrible hungry. us three days since
ate anything; and-1 don't want
die ,
Law l should think not SAID Il
woman. Why. law me, Pm so sorry
lit And | suppose you can't get a job? Law
II why, do take it. l ain't got nothln
else. You see, we are pretty poor ou
selves -There-oh, law!
She was trembling; she did not kne
why. She was thinking TO herself,' 1T
like a play. 1t makes me want to cry
. There he stood, the warm bread 81
had given him in his hands. tearing bi
from it and eating it. He back'
away,slill eating. He came back stretc
u ed his hands toward her.
L didn't say thank yeu,' he SAID.
Thank you-thank you;' and we
away. go, -
re- Sally sat down, trembling still. To
- out of a JOB, to be hungry, were no ra
thinks, and no tragic things in her e.
.rx perience; but this man had stirred h
soul. somchow-frightencd her, s
said.
| hadn't any business TO give away
loaf of bread said Sally; L ought
~, - ....,o. Int ih,vo pokv | roil