Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-15


self in the boarding house parlor, ant
an examination of the family Bible II
his possession, and of a certain bundle
of yellow letters that Mr.. Bloom ha(
more than once decided to burn, but
had fortunately spared, settled the mat
ter Half million of money hat
come to him in the regular course Of
nature, and he was richer, not only
than Mr.. Crabbe, but than any of hi'
most fashionable customers.
1t was wonderful surprise tol little
Tim Bloom, and he scacely grasped the
idea at first. Even after he had tolC
his chief conlidant, his landlady's pret
ty granddaughter, Mehitabel White. ;
pretty, pink-cheeked, capable damsel
called Hetty for short--he only went
so far as to think of a pair of patent
leather boots and a diamond cravat
pin.
Hetty walked him to a full realiza,
ton of his changed condition by say
ing, rather seriously, and looking away
from him:
"Of course, grandma's won't suit
you any longer, Mr. Bloom, and you'll
have to 60 back to Crabbe & Co.'S
again."
BY George! l never thought of it
SO 1 shan't," said Tim Bloom. "Nc
more counter jumping for me; and il
Mrs. White will let me hire the back
parlor, I'll take that. Go away? Not l.
Not yet; it's too soon," said Hetty tc
herself; "but he'll 60 as soon as he
quite understands"
"Let me congratulate you, my dear
Mr.. Bloom, said Mr.. Crabbe, bowing
as he parted from the departing clerk
as he did to carriage customers at the
very store door. 81 always felt su,
periority in you over the other young
men. said to my daughter Belinda
the other day: If it were not for Civ.
ing offence to others | should ask Mr.
Bloom to our little evenings. Some
thing of the prince in disguise about
him, but an employer has his duties
They sometimes make his heart ache
but he must perform Them"
Mr.. Bloom remembered the placard
over the water cooler: "Cashes not al
lowed drinks" "a cash who drinks de-
Quoted one-half," and thought that il
Mr.. Crabbe really had a heart this
must be true.
Tim Bloom was a rich man; but he
had no rich friends as yet. The clerks
at Crabbe s. Co.'S had been always
quarreling among themselves, and ht
had not known one in private.
The boarders were not "sociable.
lie treated them to ice cream severa
times, and took Hetty White to a con
cert or two.
He improved his mind in libraries
and museums, and set up bookcase
of his own, into which he put a misce
laneous assortment of volumes. Wher
one day he received perfumed envel
ope, inviting him to lawn tennis par
that Mr.. Crabbe's country seat, he fell
that the designations of the wealthy
had just begun for him. He accepted
it, of course, and went attired in per
feet style, and looking very well in
deed.
He returned bewildered. Mis-.
Crabbe was very handsome She play
ed and sang and danced and was "styl
ish." She had set her cap for him, ant
Mr.. Crabbe-yes, actually Mr.. Crabb'
had plainly allowe ed him to see thai
he would give his consent to tn,
match.
1.-TWO months ago he called me a stu
pid idiot. Two months ago he snubbe,
Inc whenever he spoke to me-" though
Tim Bloom. "Yes, this is the old story
everybody, everybody, even ole
Mrs. White nattering and cringing TO
my money. I wonder whether IIett,
is the same?' And in the seclusion o
his own apartment poor Tim Bloom
actually cried; though Mr.. Crabbe call
ed that evening and took him to
charming stag party, where the guest
were principally in the dry goods line
and in every direction ones ear
caught the remark, "sold bill o
goods to man."
"You rascal" said the excellent
father, on the way home, 81 see yol
are afraid to speak, but | knew yol
couldn't keep your eyes off my Belindi
last Wednesday,
"Could l hope for your consent i
She"
"My dear boy-ha! ha! hal Why asl
her and see.' cried Mr.. Crabbe. II
has always been the wish of my heart
even when you were poor, clerk, ant
she (don't you say l told you) alway
admired you always"
At nine O'Clock one night Mrs
Whites door-bell rang and q messen
ger boy handed in Il letter--a big lettc
with big seal and Immediately" OF
it. What could it be? Somethin!
about the property, of course. Mrs
White carried it herself to Mr.. Bloom
room, and as she handed it in, she say
him seated beside a table on whicl
stood a tray of delicacies. Mr.. Crabb
was at supper with her boarder.
Excuse me" said Timothy.
"Oh! certainly" said Mr.. Crabbe.