Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-09-02

for a job of navvying on the line. These
poor folk had a gruesome life of it, hard
hand-to- mouth struggle for bare exis-
tence against perpetual privation, ac-
companied by unremitting toll.
A new parson-Harold Treffry-had
come lately to Kirklington. He was an
earnest, energetic young man, who had
won his spurs in the East End parish,
and had now accepted this country liv-
ing because it seemed to open up new
field Of usefulness. He had plunged
bravely into the midst 4oflhis WORK; he
was forever going up and down among
his parishioners, solacing and comfort
ing, preaching manful endurance and
trustfulness to all. IS = AfA ~
He is now paying round of parochial
visits. accompanied by an old college
chum, who is spending some days with
him. r,3aF.. y s;
Yonder,n said Treffry, pointing to a
thin thread of smoke which rose from
some gaunt trees into the sullen wintry
air, "yonder is the house--if, indeed, it
deserves so grand q Iame-the hOvel,
rather, of one whose case is the hardest
of all the hard ones in my unhappy cure.
This man is mere hedger and ditcher,
one who works for any master, most
often for the railway, but who Is never
certain Of a job all the year round. He
has swarm of young children, and he
has just lost his wife. He is absolutely
prostrated; aghast, probably, at the
future before him, and his utter inca
pacity to do his duty by his motherless
little ones. Jacki'' said the parson.
stopping short suddenly, and looking
straight into his companions face, II
wonder whether you could rouse himp
Ifyou could only get him to make sign
TO cry or laugh or take the smallest In
terest in common affairs. Jack, I be-
lieve you're the very man. You might
get at him through the children?-that
marvellous hanky-panky of yours, those
surprising tricks; child takes to you
naturally at once. Try and make friends
with these. Perhaps, when the father
sees them interested and amused, he may
warm little, speak, perhaps, approve,
perhaps smile, and in the end give in.
Jack, will you tryP"
Jack Newbiggin was by profession a
conveyancer, but nature had intended
him for new Houdin, or Wizard of
the North. He was more than half a
professional by the time he was full
grown. In addition to the quick eye and
the facile wrist, he had the rarer gifts of
suave manner and the face of brass.
They entered the miserable dwelling
together. The children-eight of them
were skirmishing all over the floor.
They were quite unmanageable, and be-
yond the control of the eldest sister. who
was busted in setting out the table for the
midday meal; one other child, of six or
seven, a bright-eyed, exceedingly beauti-
full boy, the least-were not natures va
garies well known-likely to be born
among and belong to such surroundings,
stood between the legs of the man him
self, who had his back to the visitors
and was crouching low over the scanty
fire.
The man turned his head for mo-
ment, gave blank stare, than an imper-
ceptible nod, and once more he glowered
down upon the fire.
Here, little ones, do you see this gen.
tie nanP he's conjuror Know what
conjuror is, Tommy" cried the parson.
catching up mite of four OF FIVE fiom
the floor. mo, not you; nor you, Sarah;
nor you, Jacky and he ran through all
their names.
They had now ceased their gambols.
and were staring hard at their visitors
the moment was propitious; Jack New
biggin began. He had fortunately filled
his pockets with nuts. oranges, and cakes
before leaving the parsonage, so he had
half his apparatus ready to hand.
The pretty boy had very soon left the
father at the fire, and had come over to
join in the fun, going back, however, to
exhibit his share of the spoil and describe
voluminously what had occurred. This
and the repeated shouts of laughter
seemed to produce some impression on
him. Presently he looked over his
shoulder, and said-but without anima-
ton
''It be very good of you, sir, surely;
very good for to take so kindly to the
little chicks. 1t does them good to laugh
a bit, and it amt much as they've had to
make 'em lately"
''It is good for all of us, now and
again, | take it." said Jack, desisting,
and going toward him-the children
gradually collecting in far-off corner
and comparing notes.
"You can't laugh, sir, if your hearts
heavy; if you do, it can be only a
sham"
While he was speaking he had taken
the Bible from the Shelf and resuming
his seat, began to turn the leaves slowly
over.
I'm an untaught, rough countryman,
sir, but | have heard tell that these
strange things you do are only tricks;
amt it SOP"
Here was, indeed, hopeful symptom !
He was reused, then, to take some in
terest in what had occurred.
III tricks, of course; it all comes of
long practice, said Jack, as he procet ded
to explain some of the simple processes,
hoping to enchain the mans attention.
"That's what / thought, sir. or I'd
have given you job to do I've been
in want of real conjuror many long
day, and nothing less'll do. See here,
sir" he. said, as he took a small, care;
fully-paper from between the leaves of
the Bible: 9 do you see this?"
1t was half Bank of England note for
el00.
Now, sir, could any conjuror help
me 10 the other half?n
How did you come by it?" Jack
asked at once.
I'll tell you, sir, short as / can make
it. Conjuror or no c,,njuror, you've got
a kindly heart, and I'm main sure that
you'll help me if you can" sN Y =
Dan then described how he had picked
up the basket from the l0.45 Liverpool
express
"There was the linen; I've kept it.
See here; all marked quite pretty and
Ian i