The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-11-23
RECLAIM ED.

How slowly he walked, Poor old
man! Joe Pollard, ex-president of the
Statesman's bank of -opolis. His coat
was faded, his boots were scanned and
gray, his hat greasy and quaint-pat-
termed.
Only three years ago, and no more
stately, vigorous, hale gentleman walked
the streets than Joseph Pollard, Esq. !;
now he was ''old Joe" and sometimes
''poor old Joe" When he failed ne was
living iH great splcndor. People to this
day point out the Pollard mansion, and
Sell you of its former greatness. Happily,
there was no dishonor attached to his
name. He had given up all; home,
horses, carriages, everything that could
be dispensed with.
His only daughtcr-her name was .Jo-
sephine, but all her friends called her
Jeddy-gave brthnight party only a
week before the trouble came, on her
eighteenth birthnight Never a happier
or lovelicr girl than she. Universally add
mircd and respected, bright as a sun
beam, witty, merry, generous. In all
that throng of beauty, amid the flowers
and the feastng, that man would have
been bold indeed who could have pres
aged coming i'll fortune.
Only one week later, and the dreadful
news came. Joseph Pollard was bank
rupt. The cashier had been dishonest,
several large firms had gone down, and
the run on the bank had completed the
ruin.
The father found place as an assistant
boOkkeeper, but he had formed the habit
Of n IL % l. t,l>l
little he sank at last into what seemed an
utterly hopeless state, lost his business,
his pride, and almost his wits.
"My dear" wrote Aunt Prue, when
she heard of this misfortune put your
father away. There are plenty of places ;
and come and live with me. Enough for
one is enough for two"
"Aunt Prue," wrote Jeddy, indig-
rantly, Il am ashamed of you. What I.
counsel me to put my own dear father in
the poor house, for what other place is
open to him? No. Twill share his mis-
fortunes if | have to work my fingers to
the bone"
"Jeddy I'm useless. I'm broken down
and good for nothing, whined poor Joe.
day after day, as Jeddy sat and stitched
her life into the work she had under
taken.
Father. you are only fifty-eight
years DID, WAS the answer. "AIany a
man has begun life anew at your age"
"Ah. If / only couldn he would
make reply, and drink again to drown
his misery.
Jeddy had carried much Of her fine
wardrobe with her into the poverty of
her surroundings. OF course, she made
over and toned down the material, but
'the look of the lady" as one of the
coarser neighbors said, was upon her,
''and couldn't be mistook."
Everybody pitied her when old Joe
came reeing home; but few knew how
patiently she put up with his infirmity,
how she socthcd and coaXcd him, with
what tenderness she anticipated his
wants, and even when it would seem
that he was scarcely entitled to her re-
spect, honored him.
To her, under all his wretched dis
guises he was still father.
But her constant duties wore heavily
upon her, She grew pale and thin, ther
feverish and hectic but still she
worked on.
Three times handsome carriage and
pair were seen before the door of hel
plain little home.
The first time rich aunt came to re-
monstrate with her and offer her home
She found her preparing the poor mea
over the tiny cook-stoye,
'Jcddy, you are the best girl in tn
world, but you must go back with me- i