Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-01-09
Joe Smudd' S Experience.

reach tie urpelmost floor Qhere were
no elevators In those days., in the
fur,hest and smallest room Of which
Joe Smudd, the cobbler, lived, toiled
and rCjoicCd.
Joe was a hard worker, yet While on
his seat hammerng cut STRIPS OF leather
to proper tenmty and solidity, or in
stretching seams, or N Other employ
ment of his craft be was never att loss
for a tune TO whistle or verse 10 sing !;
and, although he sought not work -
never went out OF his little room IN
search Of it-be was seldom without a
half or whole dozeu broken-dOwn feet
coverings 10 repair.
OF course they were leigh! Ors who
patronized J,e Smudd, and for reasons
that were good in th, mselyes. They
were: his oblising disposition, low pri-
ces, good work and pronptness, aud
added to these, a song sung in a voice
as clear ard sweet as that OF silver
tongued canary.
Joe Smudd WAS, so his neiehbors
said, splendid singer aud it plea, ed
him to hear them raise bis cobblel
work ard his vuic(-not that lie
thought himself bet er mechanic Than
hundreds who depc nded on their aw
for living. aud naklug what fortune
favored them with the. last.
OF course Joe Smudd was not pun
sier. lie despised playing on words.
He was simply a sole.mender, aud q
sweeter and better singer than be
no one kewn.
1t was, perhaps, we'll that be was
not wise il this last particular.
But, Just now, work was slack, ant
Christmas was at hard.
To Joe Smudd the FIRST fact was Ut
usual
AS he sat on his bench aud ponder
ed aud sang, he wondered what bad
happened-why il was be had 10 shoes
to patch up, no boots 10 heel and Toe
nor odd Jobs TO DO with welting anC
upper and quarter, in-sole and out
seie.
Joe Smudd was not discouraged. No
he. He only wondered, that was all
Well, lie rather liked it, for it gave him
the opportunity he had long been seek
ing, 10 study the words OF song he
had heard few weeks before whistled
and sung by some unknown persona
queer, little old man with green gog
giles mounted on his nose, aud who, as
he hazily and huskily voiced The notes
looked steadily luto JOe's kindly face
and vebementlY struck the tagging
with his staff in time to the rise aut
fall OF the notes.
And now, as Joe ran his eyes owe
the printed words and sang the iim'
correctly and sweetly, be bethough
him of the little old man with bis COM.
cal action. and laughed.
1t was a low, round, good-nature(
chuckle that welled up from Joe
Sm udd's throat when he recalled th'
action and figure Of the singer, with his
important air.
When be had finished the last line Of
the song be murmured:
We'll, that's a nice tune anyhow
and the words are almost as good a
the air. I'd like that old gentleman
whom [ first heard sing it TO listen tC
me- and tell me whether it's al
right
Hardly had Joe Smudd uttered thest
words when, TO his great surprise, th
lamp by which he had read the lines o.
the soug began gradually 10 grow dim
mer. and then, with a squirt, go out
leaving him In total darkness.
.Whew y cried Joe. That's funny
-iuuny for the lamp. 1t never did st
before; and l declare l thought as i
went clean out l saw the old gentle
man with goggles on his nose and hi
bp stick in bis hand standing there be
fore mep
Did you. now y a voice, to joe
great constf rnalion. cried. We'll,
what If sou did, Joe Smudd |? Ha, ba +!
Don't you know that there's a door to
vour room, window TO look ont Of
and chimney by which the smoke
from your little stove may ascend lc
the air Ha, ha, Joe Smudd, Joe
smudd, YOU don't keep your door lock-
el do you, when YOU siGg9 And, II
tell you what, Joe, it's Christmas, and
you've grand voice, and how much
money have you saved from your la
Dor since this time last year Tell m'
that, Joe Smudd. Hem! want t.
know it. DYE hear p
And the little old gentleman at 'hf
close of has Grafton, struck the bar
| A ,or three or four times with his blE
cane. as if deslfous Of giving doubl'
and treble emphasis to his words.
Joe Smudj, by ibis time, had forgot
Ten he was talking to an intruder, AM
| thai, too, in the dark.
Hi.b cheerful laugh he answered
swell, sir, I've lust rnsde ihresaf
ends meet. But I've 'waxed happy az
hammered out a good living, includ'ni
an occasional pipe aud a plnt, no
and then, OF beer. I've heeled 90
ioed il fairly.'