Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-06-18


confided his schemeto O'Sullivan. Their
was an old pleasure garden across TIN
water which was falling into decay VIII,
not take it and make a second Cremorn'
out of it The scheme was perfect whel
it was submitted to Tim, and he took t.
it amazingly. On paper fortune wa
certain, and the business was so lively
so different from the monotony of the
city chop-house. The upshot of half {
dozen meetings at solicitors Office anC
dozen conversations in various places
was, that an announcement appeared il
the papers stating that the Royal Ken
Gardens would shortly be opened to the
public, under the direction of Messrs
Jones (the other waiter) and O'Sullivan
1t was tremendous programme which
the new partners submitted to the pub
lie. 1t was to be the Alhambra and Gre.
morne rolled INTO one, amusements day
and night, and grand hotel and restau
rant on the premises, where dinners and
suppers of the most recherche kind
could be obtained.
The outlay necessary to make the de-
cayed and long-disused gardens respect
penses, made such an inroad into the
united capitals that it was with sigh oi
relief O'Sullivan saw the opening day
approaching, when little of the money
cast upon the waters would begin to
float back again through the turnstiles.
But alas From the very first mo-
ment the affair was a failure. People
came at first, when the excitement OF
the opening was on, and the expenses
were not considered in the desire to at
tract; but gradually the public found
that the place was "out of the way u
The West End didn't care to make q
journey into an unknown district-a sort
of social Central Africa-on the chance
of being bored; and the East End paid
its sixpence admission and brought its
own refreshments, which arrangement,
it need hardly be said, left the balance
of profit on the side of the visitor instead
of the proprietor.
For six months the Royal Kent Gar
dens, freighted with the hopes and the
fortunes of two ex-waiters, hoated
slowly toward the rock-bound coast of
Basinghall street. At last it struck
Bankruptcy Point, place inhabited by
a remorseless race of wreckers. They
are called accountants and hquidators,
but there is nothing in their costume or
speech to distinguish them from other
tribes inhabiting these islands. The
wreckers soon seized the battered hulk
of the Royal Kent Gardens, and set to
work at it so we'll that In very short
time they had carried off everything,
leaving the two captains without a
penny in the world.
1t is with Tim O'Sullivan only that we
have to concern ourselves. The loss OF
his money broke him down. He went
home to his anxious wife one night and
told her the terrible truth. All their
years of honest labor and thrift had
ended in this-ruin ! Their comfortable
little home-all the little household
treasures which they had gathered about
them-would have to go, and they
would have to start life again at the
wrong end.
Mrs. O'Sullivan thanked God they
had no children. yet once the lack of a
child's voice in the quiet house had been
Tile Ol ueF
She was a brave little woman. She
had one big cry when she knew the
worst, then she put her knuckles well
into her eyes to stop the tears, and, with
trembling voice, bade her husband be
of good cheer. They were healthy and
strong, and they didn't want much. Tim
must go into service again, and perhaps,
with luck, he'd be able to save money
once more-and keep it. Tim let him
self be comforted, and went out boldly
to look for berth. He got one, but he
lost it again. 1t wasn't that he had
fallen off in his capacity as waiter, but
he wasn't so quick and agreeable to the
customers as he had been, and he for
got things.
Do what he would, he couldn't help
thinking and grieving over the past, and
hen he got muddled and queer in his
head, and at last he forgot dinner or
dered at the hotel where he was waiter.
The dinner was ordered at breakfast for
four. Tim got thinking about his
troubles, and somehow or other the
thing slipped completely out of his
mind
Back to his time came the gentleman
and his three friends, and there was nc
dinner ready. Tim got the sack there
and then, and it was sometime before he
got another berth.
At last he heard of situation at the
hotel in the Midland counties. He had
been on a race-week job, as extra hand
in a neighboring hotel, and he applied
for the berth, and found that the poor
little fatherless Job Scudder, whom he
had befriended and started in life in the
old days of his prosperity, was now his
master.
But what a different Job Scudder he
was ! He had grown quite proud and
pompous, for he was making a good bit
of money, and the customers had taken
to him. 1t was "Job, do this" and
"Job, do that )" and the proprietress
of the hotel, being widow, left good
deal to Job, so that in time he almost
fancied himself the proprietor of the
place.
Jobs word was law in tnat house SO
far as the servants were concerned. II
was no good complaining to the missus
she only said "Mr. Job has my au.
thority to settle the matter you must
speak to Mr.. job"
Tim O'Sullivan soon began to find out
that his former kindness to Scudder was
almost forgotten and would avail him
very little. 81 can't make no fav'rites, >
Job would say, whenever he felt in.
clined to wig his former master "it
sets a bad example"
Tim bit his lip and said nothing, fol