Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1880-10-23
go and see him." suggested his

0O anu SEE llIIi, suggested DIS
wife
" ] intend to do So Here, give me
our Toms boots they want a patch
on the side, and it will be an excuse for
my dropping in upon him.
That isn't much OF a job for him,
seeing that you give George Stevens
the best of the work" said Mrs. Rev
lit.
" Stevens works better than Jerry,'
replied the husband; you can always
trust him to do his work when it is
promised, but Jerry keeps the things
for weeks together
of boots that l want new fronts, and
| can wait week or two. Take
them"
"Ill take both,' said Richard Rev
lit; nothing like batting your hook
while you are about it,
Armed for the reconquest of Jerry
the landlord set forth in the morning
that being the slack time when he
could be easily spared from home.
Outside were couple of loafers, with
no money and no credit, who touched
their hats to | i'm. Mr.. Rewitt fa-
vOred them with nod of lofty indif-
ference.
Jerry's cottage was in the middle of
the, little village, standing back about
fifty feet from the road and although
its inside poverty had been well
known, the outside, thanks to his wife,
looked quite as we'll as it's neighbors
Therefore Mr.. Rewitt was not in the
least surprised to see that it looked
bright and gay on that beautiful au-
tumn morning.
AS he approached the door, he heard
the sound of Jerry's hammer upon the
lapstone, and, to hi, utter amazement,
the voice of Jerry carolling a cheerful
ditty, as unlike the cracked efforts be
used occasionally to come out with in
the taproom as the song of the raven.
Raising the latch, the landlord of
"Th Dram Arms" peeped in.
"Good morning, Jerry" he said
All. is that you, Mr.. Rewitt?" re-
piled Jerry looking up. "Come in"
Jerry looked wondrous clean, and
had even been shaved that very morn.
ing His blue shirt looked clean, too
and he actually had collar on.
Mr.. Rewitt was SO overcome by the
change that he stood still with the
boots under his arm, forgetting that
they formed part of his mission.
You look very well, Jerry" hs
said at last
Never felt better in my life,n re
piled Jerry. " I wish, sir, l could say
II e same of you. You look whitish.
1--WE got bit Of cold," replie,
the other, land I've been shut up
good deal with business lately. Trade
been brisk; but how is it we've no
seen you?'
Well-the fact is, sir,' said Jerry
rubbing his chin, "I've been bus,
working off your score.'
lit, cheerfully; 1.-The door is quit
clean, as far as you are concerned'
am glad of that
Others have got their share" sait
the landlord, facetiously but | thinl
we could make room for you, if yo
look us up"
" No, thanky, SIR" returned Jerry
"Fve had enough Of chalking OF
other peoples doors, and no W l chal
on my own
. Yes, sir; have the goodnt IS t
turn around and look behind you
There's my door half full
; . It's wise thing to keep accoun
, yourself, said the landlord, who hare
r ly knew what to make Of it for mi.
| takes will happen; but
: !" No mistake can happen sir; inte
rupted Jerry, for am the only part
: as keeps that account"
r But who trusts you to do that"
Nobody-I trusts myself" replie
g Jerry. The marks that were on yo,
g door showed what | did drink, an
: them marks on mine show What
don't drink
t A little light had got into the Ian.
: lords brain, and he had pretty 60,
: idea of what was coming, but he sal
: nothing.
That night when you spoke to n
), about the chalks on the door being
i standing disgrace to me. was the nigl
t Of my waking continued Jerr
d No man could have lectured me be
e ter than you did. and THANK YOU for
d from the bottom of my heart. As
: left your house | vowed 10 touch
Z drink no more. and | came home al
e told my wife so, and we both Joined
s earnest prayer that | might ha'
e strength 10 keep my VOW. The ne
morning | went over to George Ste
y ems and asked him how | could
e about signing the pledge. He help,
, me like q man-and it was done"
r With his eyes wandering too and {
e between Jerry and the chalks upe