Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-11-27

replied the landlord, Sbut II 1t is
pressing / will reckon it up
ssIt is pressing, and / will 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 sskeleton," which Mr.. 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, seven
teen shillings and fourpence halfpen-
| ny. Jerry's wife received the an
nouncement with look of quiet dis
may, thanked the landlord and left |
the house.
''I suppose she is thinking to make
an effort to pay it off, said Mr.. Re-
witt addressing his better half, "and
1 hope she will; but I fancy it will
'bena 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 shillings on the
counter.
"Will you please take that off the
amount, SIR" she said, ''and give
me receipt"
This was done with a gracious
smile and Jerry's wife departed. Mr..
Rewitt announced his having hit the
right nail on the head. The wife of
the cobbler was making an effort to
clear off her husbands debt.
At the end of another week Sec
ond five shillings was paid, and then
harvest came on-truly harvest to
the agricultural laborer, as at that
time he gathers in clothing, and
whatever necessaries his harvest
money will enable him to procure.
All the tradesmen in the little village
were busy, and even Jerry was re-
ported to be full-handed. But he
did not come near "The Dram
Arms for drink.
On the third week Jerry's wife
brought ten shillings, and on the
fourth, fifteen, to the great Joy and
satisfaction of Mr.. Rewitt, whose
joy, however, was alloyed by the
fear that he had lost a customer.
He resolved to look up Jerry as soon
as another installment of his account
was paid.
Nothing was brought for a fort-
night, and the landlord congratulated
himself upon not having hastily
sought his absent customer, who still
owed him over pound; but the ap-
pearance of Jerry's wife with the
balance had the effect to make him
think otherwise. There was no dis
play in putting down the money-it
was quickly done-but the happy
light in the woman's eyes as 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, she promised to pay at har-
vest time, and he did it; bnt / Of
Tended him, and The Green Goose
has caught his custom"
$50 and see him." said his wife. %
81 intended 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 you give the best of your
work to George Stevens" said Mrs.
Rewitt.
q Stevens works better than jerry"
replied her husband; ''you can al
ways trust him to do his work when
0 it is promised, but Jerry keeps the
things for weeks together
r "That's true but I've got pail
: of boots that want new fronts, and
o / can wait week or two. Take
them"
s'I'll take both," said Ricnard Re
g witt, "nothing like batting your hooE
while you are about it."
Armed for the re-conquest of Jer
|, ry, the landlord set forth in the
: morning-that being slack time
when he could be spared from home
q Outside were a couple of loafers
/ with no money and no credit, Mr.
Rewitt favored them with a nod o
% lofty Indifference.
Jerry's cottage was in the middl
% of the village, standing back fift.
: feet from the road; and although it
a. inside poverty had been well known
the outside, thanks to his wife, look
ed quite as we'll as its neighbors
- Therefore Mr.. Rewitt was not in tn
least surprised to see it look brigh
and CAV on that beautiful autum
,, morning.
AS he approached the door, b
D heard the sound of Jerry's hamme
on the lapstone, and to his utter as
90 tonishment, the voice of Jerry caro-
~ ing cheerful ditty, occasionally
come out within the tap room as th
90 song of the raven. Raising th
!, latch, the landlord of 1.-The Oral
Of Arms peeped in.
i, 'sGood morning, jerry" he said.
o. 'sAh! is that you, Mr.. Rewitt !
,on1;oJ To,rx, IooIz;por mn seGon