The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-10-13

up.
"Then he will 60 to The Green
Goose and get his drink there" said
Mrs. Rewitt.
"They won't trust him a penny
returned her husband with a grin
he's tried it on and failed, and so I've
got him. If he does not pay up I'll
make him."
"There's nothing to be got out of
that house." said Mrs. Rewitt, shaking
her head; 1--WE heard that there's not
a chair for them to sit down upon and
Jerry's wife-clean and tidy manages
to keep herself-looks more likes skel-
eton than a woman !; and as for the
children they look as ravenous as
wolves at the dinner coming from the
bake-house."
"That's Jerry's lookout" replied
MI. Rewitt, cody. eff he can't afford
it, he shouldn't drink"
The subject was dismissed, and Jer-
ry forgotten in the noise and hustle of
the usual evening business. About
nine o'clock Jerry's wife, to the aston
ishment of both Mr.. Rewitt and his
wife, appeared in the bar; but not, as
they supposed, for drink.
MY husband tells me-" she said,
THAT he has a heavy score here. How
much is it?"
Ppm almost too busy to tell you,"
replied the landlord, "butif it is press
ing 1 will reckon it up"
1T is pressing, and I shall be very
thankful if you will let me know at
once what it is" returned the poor
woman, who was indeed wan and pale.
and almost justified the title of "skel-
ton" which Mrs. Rewitt had given
her.
The landlord went through the
chalks twice, and finally announced
that Jerry was indebted to him to the
amount of two pounds, seventeen shil-
lings and four-pence, halfpenny. Jer-
ry's wife received the announcement
with a look of quiet dismay, thanked
the landlord and left the house.
II suppose she is thinking of max
ing an effort to pay it off," said Mr..
Rewitt, addressing his better half,
land 1 hope she will; but 1 fancy it
will be a little too much for her."
For a whole week nothing was seen
or heard of Jerry but at the end Of
that time his wife appeared and put
down five shilingson the counter.
"Will you please take that off the
amount, sir" said she, and give me
a receipt"
This was done with a gracious smile,
and Jerry's wife departed. Mr.. hewitt
announced his having hit the right
nail on the head. The wife of the cob
bier was making an effort to clear off
her husbands debt.
AT the end of another week a Sec
ond five shilling was paid, and then
harvest came n-truly a harvest to the
agric, .ltural laborer, as at that time he
gathers in clothes, and whatever
n~ecessaries his harvest money will
enable him to procure. All the little
tradesmen in the village were busy,
and even Jerry was reported to be full
handed. But he did not come near
"The Dram Arms" for a drink.
On the third week Jerry's wife
brought ten shillings, and on the
fourth, fifteen, to the great joy and sat
isfaction of Mr.. Rewitt, whose JOY,
however, was alloyed by the fear that
he had lost a good customer. He re-
solved to look up Jerry as soon as an
other installment of this account was
paid. .,.
Nothing was brought for a fortnight,
and the landlord congratulated him
self upon not having hastily sought
his absent customer, who still owed
him over a pound, but the appearance
of Jerry's wife with the balance had
the effect of making him think other
wise. There was no display in putting
down the money-it was quietly done
but the happy light in the woman's
eyes when she took the receipt, spoke
more than mere words or actions.
81 have been hasty with Jerry,'
| said Mr.. Rewitt, when another whole
month had elapsed without Jerry ap-
, pearing he promised to pay at har-
vest time, and he did it; but I have
| attended him, and THE Green Goose
has caught his CUSTOM"
go and see him." suggested his
wife.
II 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"
"That's true; but I've got a pair
of boots that 1 want new fronts, and
I can wait a week or two. Take
them"
"I'Il take both" said Richard Rev
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