Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-08-10
The Last 6lass--The First
Feast.

smart looking young landlady, with a
ouick tongue, to one of her best custo'
mers, who spent the bulk Of his wages
at her husband house, and kept his
wife and family in rags and misery.
Nonsense, missus,' said the man
Saul Hobson by name; Il haven't
broken your glass;
But you have them she retorted,
impa,iently. annoyed at his contradic'
ton; Just look at that crack; do you
mean to tell me that crack was there
when you took your drinkS You've
knocked ii against something, that you
have-why, the glass Is utterly ruined.
All right said Saul, pacifcally, in a
rather maudlin tone, Tor be had already
drunk a great deal.
'Tlsn't all right said the provoked
lAndlady; it's all wrong, and 1 can tell
you, you shall not leave this house
without paying for the glass you have
brokcn.'
'Nonsense!' said Saul; you know
me, and you ought to believe my word.
| didn't break that glass. You don't
mean that:'
Il do mean it, she said.
Bless my heart! and think what an
old friend l am Of you and yours; you'd
never be so hard upon poor fellow as
that beside, know l didn't break it.
You did break it!' she exclaimed,
still more angrily,'
Then Saul Hobson grew red in his
turn.
Very well, missus,' he said, siernly
what's to pay?'
'Fourpence; and twas worth every
farthlng Of the money, too
He flung down four penny pieces
noisily upon the table.
There, then; and now the glass is
nine, and / can take it hUme?'
OF course you can,' she rejOined,
baughtily and sarcAstically, if you've a
mind to go filling up your place with
roor broken stuff like that. Take it
and welcome.'
There's no welcome about it; Pve
paid for it. and It's mine
With these words Saul Hobson rose
to leave the Three Fawns,' carrying in
bis hand the broken tumbler. At the
door he met the landlord, who had been
out.
Good evening, Saul; where arc you
going of to, man?'
Home, said Saul.
'Home?' nonsense said the landlord;
lit isn't nine O'Clock yet-YOu've been
in 20 time at all, man; what's the mat
ter?'
'I'd better not speak any more in the
house, for my word isn't believed
Sally said the landlord Of the
Three Fawns,' turning a look Of an
noyance on his buxom partner behind
the bar, what have you been quarreling
with Mr.. Dobson aboutS'
Nothing, Mr.. Hart; he's broken a
glass and had to pay for it, that's ALL
Il didn't break it, said Saul.
Had to pay for 1t? Give him back
the money this moment. Is this how
you manage my business when by back
is turned? Don't you know better,
Sally, than to treat an old friend and a
good customer in such a way? What's
he price ofa tumblers Come back, Saul
aud forget all about her folly urged
the landlord.
No, thank you.' said Saul, not smil-
ing nor yielding in the slightest degree
to Mr.. Hart's good nature and blandish'
ments. L shall keep my word and go
Lome.'
So saying, he left the house.
You are a beauty to quarrel with
Saul Hobson,' said the landlord, an
grly, to his wife, and there ensued a
war of words between the pair which we
need not chronicle here.
There's no sense in your being sc
savage. Mr.. HART said his wife,
amongst her other speeches; that man
will be back IN few nights at furthest.
as sure as my name is Sarah Hart
Rnt the landlady's prophecy was des'
tined TO be uniuiled.
Sam HObson took his way to the
desolate, barely furnished room he
called his home. His wife looked up in
surprise as che saw him enter. With
dry humor. that she hardly appreciated
he sat the broken lumbler on the table
and said, -
There. Fan, what do you think o
that as a bargain for fourpenceY'
'Fourpence. Saul?' the answered II
grave earnest, st would be dear at q
ha' penny. What on earth did you
buy broken tumbler for? Surely we
have broken things enough about US,
and she glauced around at the contents
Of the room, OF which certainly quite
large proportion was unsound. Sau
followed his wife's glance, with a bite
smile upon his lips.
Yes, Fanny; so the tumbler will
match
Wondering alike at the comparative
sobriety and the strangeness oi one th'
discreet wife vehtured no further re
mark.
Have you got no supper for yonl
husband, Fan p he next asked
I've bit OF bread, Saul, there
nothing else in the house.
lie laughed bitterly.