The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-10
"Hard Times"

Don't tell me that the ''hard times" have
not proved socially beneficial In many re-
spects, for know better and am prepared
to prove 1t.
For instance, the young man who used
to send tablespoonful or 80 of froth in 9
small glass, flying down bcery slide on
highly polished counter, In rcspone to nv
meek request for lager, and who grabbed
at my five cents and rushed it into the till
as IL the very contract of 80 tritling on
amount might take the shine out of bis
California diamonds, now weekly whisks
an atom of dust from the bar aud thanks
me for my small Investment, humbly iii.
recting my attention TO dish which con-
tains apparently minute portions of Egyp.
tian mummy, which, my ofactorics suggest,
may have been once in the fish business.
Again, at tho barbcr's, am permitted to
forcgo bay rum without any fear of subsc-
qucnt rough handling, or (when my hair
has boon cuD of having small particles vic
iously blown down between the shoulder
blades.
The waiter who was wont to hurl two
square inches Of boiled alligator, accom-
panied by disease with circle of potato
pairing around it, in rcponse to my request
for sirloin, now places the aforesaid be-
fore me IN III apologetic manner, as if he
regretted that real turtle had not been
thrown in as all extra. All this is pleas.
ing; ls ii notI
dcspise boasting, but really know an
alderman. lie used to nod to me, or, ut
the most, allow Inc to take a finger. OF
late he would deposit his entire hand in my
palm, were ii physically possible; and since
he lost "that contract" on account Of ssre-
trcnchment," am solicitous for my collar
bone, so cncrSetically does lie slap me on
the back.
Then, there's my rich cousin. Il brief
call wns the most that ever passed between
our families, and there was that formality
between us which usually exists between
men of $4,000 and $1,000 per ann,lm re-
spcctively. Since his property has been
mortgagcd, almost up to the handle, am
"dear boy" and ''old fellow" wnllc his
wifc, who scarcely knew that was Il father,
now almost wecps fora sight Of those sweet
children, and declares that ii is ''rcally too
bad We do not ca Ground" The way in
which she asked my wife = second time to
early peas, when we d;lcd with them lust
Sunday. was enough 20 draw tears.
When we motcd, time before last, a
family portrait '"as rcmorscly piled OH the
carpet broom. ana the pnrlOr stove was
landed III basket Of crockcry. This year,
how mildly did the eXprcssnsn climb two
pairs of slars with the furr iturc, and apollo
gizc for having scratched the clothes bas-
kct!
The cXTuiste at the dry goods "cmpor-
ium, who thought 1t condcsccnsion to drop
twenty pounds of shceting on the counter,
bringing it within an acc of your nose, or
who snccrcd at the parsimony which re-
fused to pay mere than 81 per yard for
Nlaria's new dress, now follows TO the door,
and looks hurt if. he be not permitted to
send two cents worth of pins home for
you.
''Thank you!" is becoming "ramilar in
mouth" Even Biddy is beginning to feel
that II would be wise to spend IN hour or
SO daily on household duties in return for
$40 per month and her bourd.
The ''corncr grocer" is beginning to
charge less than two hundred per cent for
some of his supplies, and there is really no
knowing but what the fashionably altired
may i'll the near future look upon the honest
toller in last years garb rs one who may
possibly be worthy OF salvation.