Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-03-11

~ thlnG ne uiu, sir, repIleu tue oOy-
every we'll. Hurry round to his store, and
catch him before be goes to dinner"
The lad started off with his usual alscrity,
and Barker sat down again to work and wait,
mo money!" The shoemaker read disap-
poiutment in the boys face.
No, sir"
"Why?'
"Mr. Mnyberry said he had just deposited
everything for the day, and that lie couldn't
draw check for so small an amount. Would
pay on Monday.
a thin, pale, ,weary>looking woman opened
the shop door at this moment, tnd came in.
She carried basket on her arm, from which
she took bundle of ''uppers" that she had
tskento close and bind.
''Hcre i. the work, Mr.. Barker" she said,
in dejectcd voice. 81 hope you will find
it all right. They would have been rssdy
two days ago, but my husband is very sick,
aud I've had to be up with him all night for
three long nights.
The shoemaker did not see the quality of
the work as he took the ''uppers" from the
woDans basket and made = show of cxamin>
ing them He was only thinking OF the
woman's need aud her expectations. Shs had
performed her part, but not single dollar
had he in the house, and how was he to per-
form his part?
"How is your husband to>dsy?" he asked
kindly, showing moro than usual interest, for
he fsIt that he had little moro than sympa<
thy to give.
"Not SO we'll, replied the woman. I hsve
run down for few minutes, and left him
alone, quite as much to get the money as to
bring it homa. The doctor has ordered
little wine aud must get it for him if it
takes all | have earned this week.
Glow much does your work come toy"
1.-TWO dollars" answered the woman.
The shoemaker went to his desk. aud
opening it, took out his little cssh>box and
made a pretense of dissppointmont as he
turned it toward the woman. l. did not con~
tain single copper. Then he drew forth an
old pocket-book and examined every COM
partment, but with no better success.
"You ere little bit too early. Mrs.
Blythe" he said, smiling, yet regretiuily,
"a little too early. 1 havn't received my
collections for the day. Shall l send you up
the money
The woman sighed, and looked very much
disappointed.
i'm very sorry, Mrs BIy,hc''-the shoe.
maker did not manifest the slightest imps>
tiCuce, for no understood tho case perfectly
-"but we Gud it very hard, sometimes, TO
around all the morning, and he hasn't col
lected single dollar so far. 1t is strange
how little rich men think of their obligations,
to us poor mechanics, who live nearly all the
while, from hand to mouth If could
always get in my small bills, would be very
comfortable. AS it is, l am always in trouble
about money"
Mrs. Blythe stood very still, and answered.
not word. 1t wss hardly possible for her 10
leave her husband again, and moreover, she
had promised to bring him home the wine.
Il am very sorry, Mrs. Blythe" repeated
the Shoemaker ''bu. what is SO can't be
helped"
True, true. I learned thst long ago."
said the woman, with half despsiriug sigh.
The lessons Of poverty sink deep enough
into the memory"
Il will send you up the money in the
course of sd hour or two. I will not trouble
you to csll down again, as your husband is so
i'll"
Still Mrs Blythe fingered. How could
she return to her sick, exhausted husband
without the wine that was to send through
all the courses of his blood a quickened spir-
it She had felt as if this wine was to be to
him the very elixir of life md, since it had
been mentioned by the doctor, she had seen
that her husbands thought was resting upon
it, TO the exclusion of everything else. To
20 home without it, therefore, was . serious
thing, and might involve evil consequences;
for his condition, and the lightest cause
might destroy tbe even balance of life just
attained, and throw a prepouderance upon
the wrong side.
Slowly, at lOngth, she moved toward ths
door
"You will send up the money, Mr.. Barker,
right son" she said, turning partly around,
and looking back at the troubled shoemaker.
'The moment receive it. Andrew is
going ont with come bills Immediately"
The door opened noiselessly with noise
less steps dropping figure went ou. and
noislessly the door was shut again. The
only sense that took record of the circum-
stances WAS that Of sight.
Mr. Redwood, the merchant, who thought
his shoemaker's bill Of go lit:Ie consequences
that he would not take the trouble to write
a cheek in order to cancel it, left his store
some two hours after the visit of Andrew,
and started home to his late dinner. On his
way he passed a wine store, and dropped in
to order case of choice Amontilado, tho fla
yor Of which he had tried and approved.
"Send it homo with an hour. l wish a
bottle for my dinner" said Mr.. Redwood, as
he took out his pocketbook to pay for the
wine.
Il, shall be done," was the ready answer.
As the merchant replaced his pocketbook,
and was buttoning his coat over his breast. q
poorly>dressed, worn, and feeble looking wo-
man came into the store, and walked back,
with air Of timid irresolution, to whore
the two men-the wine dealer and his custo
mer-were stauding.
"Well, what's wanted ?" said the wine
dealer, in short, imperative voice.
"My husband is very low. and the doctor
has ordered him some wine" The woman's
sad, pleading tone made il very appar.n. to