Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-10

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"'Tisn't all right" said the provoked
landlady; otis all wrong, and / can tell
you you shall not leave this house without
paying for the glass that you have broken"
Nonsense" said Saul you know me,
and you ought to believe my word. l didn't
break that glass. You don't mean that 2"
al do mean it," she said.
"Bless my heart and think what an old
friend am of you and yours you'd never
be so hard upon poor fellow as that Be.
sides, l didn't break it,"
"You did break it |" she exclaimed, still
more angrily.
Then Saul Hobsou grew very angry in
his turn.
"Very well, missus,' he said sternly
"what's to pay ?"
"Fourpence and it was worth every far
thing of the money, too"
He flung down four penny pieces noisil y
upon the table.
There, then, and now the glass is mine
and can take it home 7"
"Of course you can," she rejoined haugh-
tily and sarcastically, if you've mind to
go filling up your place with poor broken
stuff like that. Take it and welcome"
"There's no welcome about it; I've paid
for it, and it's NINE"
With these words Saul Dobson rose To
leave the "Three Fawns," carrying in his
hand the broken tumbler. At the door he
met the landlord, who had been out.
"Good evening, Saul; where are you go
ing off to, man 2"
Home" said Saul.
"Home, nonsensel'' said the landlord
ait isn't nine o'clock yet--you've bee in nc
time at all, man what's the matter 7"
"Td better not speak any more in thi:
house, for my word isn't believed"
Sally" said the landlord of the "Thres
Fawns," turning look of annoyance on his
buxom partner behind the bar, "what hav'
you been quarreling with Mr.. Hobson about?'
Nothing, Mr.. Hart; he's broken a glass
and had to pay for it, that's all.
81 didn't break it," said Saul.
| Had to pay for it Give him back the
money this moment. Is this how you man
age my business when my back is turned
Don't you know better, Sally, than to trea
an old friend and good customer in such {
way What's the price of tumbler CONT
back, Saul, and forget all about her folly,
urged the landlord.
| "No, thank you," said Saul, not smiling
nor yielding in the slightest degree to MIR
Harris good nature and Establishment, ."
shall keep my word and 60 home"
| So saying he left the house.
| "You are beauty to quarrel with Sau
Iobson," said the landlord, angrily, to hi:
wife, and there ensued war of words be
tween the pair which we need not chronicle
| here.
"There is no sense in your being so saw
age, Mr.. Hart" said his wife among hel
speeches, that man will be back in few
nights at farthest, as sure as my name ii
Sarah Hart"
Saul Hobson took his way to the desolate
barely-furnished room he called his home
His wife looked up in surprise as she saw
him enter. With dry humor that she hardl,
appreciated, he set the broken tumbler OF
the table and said
"There, Fan, what do you think of thai
as bargain for fourpence ?"
| a" Fourpence, Saul" she answered in grav
earnest, it would be dear at a ha'penny
What on earth did you buy broken tum
bier for 2 Surely, we have broken thing
enough about us" and she glanced aroun'
at the contents of the room, of whicl
certainly quite large proportion was un
sound.
Saul followed his wife's glance, with
bitter smile upon his lips.
"Yes, Fanny; so the tumbler will match.
Wondering alike at the comparative SC
briefly and the strangeness of his tone, tn
discreet wife ventured no further remark
"Have you got no supper for your hus
band, Fan 2" he next asked.
"Pve bit of bread, Saul; there's notl
ing else in the house."
He laughed bitterly.
"And you didn't expect me ?"
"No, didn't"
Dwell, don't blame you for that. Is
too late to buy pound of bacon ? Ther
is fire enough to fry it, more's the wonde
There's shilling, Fanny; perhaps 20
would not dislike cup of tea ?"
"Oh, thank you, Saul"
Fanny Hobson was hungry and tired, an
the prospect was inviting. She slipped Of
readily, wondering and excited. She SOC
returned with the bacon and an ounce
tea. 1t was quite wonderful, the alacrit
with which, thus encouraged, she hustle
about to make the place comfortable. I'll
warm savory smell, and the noise of the fir
ing bacon as it fixed and Kissed in the pa
reached the children in their bed on Il
floor in little recess Of the room, and tn,
called out;
"What is it, mother; who's frying 2"
Smother is" answered Saul HobsoI
"and if you are good and quiet you sht
have taste"
Awestruck at their fathers voice. Il
children were like mice for the next fe
minutes, save whispered comment or tv
on the prospect before them.
II was a sight TO behold that family bs
an hour later9the poor little wan. hattie
scantily attired children gathered arour
their parents knees. and eating rayenons
of bread and bacon, with an Occasional a
of warm tea from the basin which the
father used, or the cracked tea cup of the
mother. When they went back to the