The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-12-10

AiiR hANNAihN hlodBDCuIb Wltu Lnttus anu
never see that again. Many one, too, that
has disappeared like that, / do see again
perhaps have it brought here by some one TO
be repaired or exchanged for bigger or for
one by a different maker for il you look
round here you'll see I've got all kinds -
new and old little domestics and big trades
there, you name any maker, and see if
don't bring out one OF his works.
Well, whenever | ask these people where
they.ssgot the machine-for l always know
them ~ the number-it turns out that
they've bought it through an advertisement
or at a lesroom, or maybe out of spawn
brokers' shop.
But I've had plenty of honest people to
deal with, too-them as 'have.come straight
forward and asked me to take their machine
back, when I'd allow them as much as !
thought fair, and 'twould be. IN end of a
pleasant transaction. 81
The way | have been bitten, thtngh by
some folks had made me that case-hArdened
that sometimes I've wondered whether I'd
got any heart, and the wife had to interfere,
telling me I've been spoiled with prosperity
and grown unfeeling,
1t was she that made me give way about
Ruth for one day, after having had my
bristles all set up by finding cut that three
good sound machines, by best makers, had
gone, nobody knew where, who should come
into the shop but ladylike-looking woman
in very shabby widows weeds. She wanted
machine for herself and daughter 10 learn,
and said she had heard | would take the
money by installment. Now just half an
hour before, by our shop. clock, had made
VOW that Id give up all that part of the
trade, and | was very rough with her-just
as | am when I'm cross-and said Mo-
" But you will if the lady gives security2"
said my wife, hastily.
The poor woman gave such woe Legone
look at us that it made me more out Of
temper than ever, for | could feel that if !
stopped ! should have to let her have one
at her own terms. And so it was; for there,
II didn't let her have t-class machine,
as good as new, she only paying seven and
one-hali down, and undertaking to pay half
a crown week, and no more security than
nothing
To make it worse, too, if i didn't send
the thing home without charge! Luke
went with it, for he was back at home now
keeping my books, being grown into fine
young fellow OF twenty ;
and | sat and growled the
the whole of the rest OF the dav, calling
myself all the weak minded idiots under
the sun, and telling the wife that business
was going to the dogs, and / should he
rHined.
Luke came back soon after looking very
strange, and | was at him directly.
grily.
He didn't answer, but put three half
crowns down on the desk, took out his book,
made his entries-date of delivery, first
payment, when the others due and all the
rest of it--and was then going into the
house.
"Mind," said sharply, those payments
are to be kept up to the day and to-mor-
row you go down to the Rollys, who live
nearly opposite TO 'em, and tell 'em to keep
AN eye on the widow, or we shall lose
another machine"
"You needt be afraid father" he said
coldly; they're honest enough, only poor" )"
was just in that humor that l wanted
to quarrel with somebody, and that did it.
"When | ask you for your opinion,
young man, you give it me; and when
tell you to do thing, you do it, II says, in
as savage way as ever | spoke to the lad.
"You go over tomorrow and tell the Rollys
to keep strict lookout on those people; do
you hear?
Father" he says, looking me full in the
face, 81 couldn't insult them by doing such
thing" when, without another woId, he
walked quietly ont Of the shop, leaving me
worse than ever.
For that boy had never spoken to me like
that before, and should have gone after
him feeling like mad, only some people
came in, and didn't see him again until
evening, and a good thing, too, for Pm sure
should have said all sorts of things to the
boy that / should have been sorry for after.
And there / was, fuming and fretting
about, savage with everybody, giving short
answers, swapping at the wife, and feeling
as a man does feel when he knows that he
has been in the wrong and hasn't the heart
to go and own it.
1t was about o'clock that | was sitting
by the parlor fire, with the wife working
and very quiet, when Luke came in from
the workshop with a book under his arm,
for he had been trotting up the mems piece
work, and what was due to them, and the
sight of him made me feel as ii | wanted to
quarrel.
He saw it, too, bur he said nothing, only
put the accounts away and began to read.
The wife saw the storm brewing, and she
4
my pipe, nor yet had my evening nap,
which | always had after tea She did
what she so well knew how to do-flled my
pipe, forced it in my hand and Just as
was going to dash il to pieces in the ashes
she gave me one Of her old looks, kissed me
on the forehead, as with one hand she
pressed me back into the chair and then
with the other she lit a splint and held it to
my tobacco.
! was done. She always gets over me
like that; and after smoking in silence fol
half an hour. | was lying back, with nos
eyes closed, dropping off to sleep, when The
wife said (what had gone before hadn'
heard):
Yes, he's asleep now."
That woke me up of course, and if
didn't lie there shamming and heard al
they said in a whisper!
How came you TO make him more vexeC
than he was, Luke| said the wife; and h,
told her
al couldn't do it, mother" he said ex