St. Landry democrat., 1884-10-25
JACOB AND POLLY.


JACOB AND POLLY.
Jacob Cattley was messenger to
-Messrs. Parkinson, Goldchest d Co.,
the rich bankers in Lombard street.
At least he always considered himself
attached to the establishment as a mes
ssenger, though he had never ''signed
articles with the principals, and was
just barely tolerated outside on the
pavement, at an acute angle of the
building and three feet from the street
doors, where customers and clerks
were not likely to tumble over him. He
had been hanging outside this big bank
for many years now; and it had become
a custom, of late days, to send him on
little errands which were not within the
province of a regular clerks duty, and
which clerks of Parkinson, Goldchest &
Go. would have scorned to perform at
any price whatever. If anybody re-
-quired acab, Jacob was sent for one; if
a country gentleman with a big bal
fance on the books wanted to be shown
the way to the Bank of England, or
Billingsgate, or the Tower, Jacob was
told off as guide; if something was
wanted surreptitiously by the clerks, in
the shape of a newspaper or ham
sandwich, Jacob was sent for it; and
there had been times when it was con-
ssidered safe to trust him even with
telegram.
Jacob received no salary, but was
supported by voluntary contributions,
like hospital; and what these contri-
buttons amounted to in the year there
had been much speculation concerning
at the bank, amongst the clerks. It
was set down by young and imagina-
tive minds as a pretty penny, take it
altogether. But taking Jacob Gait
ley altogether was, to the ordinary
observer, to set him down as
a poor, half starved. ill-clad. misera-
bic old man, struggling hard to
live, and always on the brink
of falling at it. A shabbier old gentle
man was not to be found between the
bank and Houndsditch; but he was
never in rags, and he always boosted n
clean face under his rusty-brown top
hat, which he poised at the extreme
back of his gray head. He did not APP
pear to flourish ON his contributions,
but grew thinner and more pinched
with every week of his outdoor service
there. You can see him shriveling
away one young man had seriously
asserted. Hes a regular miser, Ill
be bound" And with his hollow
cheeks, and peaked nose, and promi-
nent chin, ground fine to match that
poor pinched nose of his, he might
have been taken for 8 miser, or pau
per, or, indeed, anything deplorable.
Still he had what the clerks called
his s'tips'';; and Mr.. Goldchest, every
Saturday morning, when he left the
bank and before he stepped into his
carriage, the door of which Mr.. Cattley
always opened for him. gave him some
sovereign or threepenny piece was a
matter of uncertainty, the claw-like
hand Of Jacob closing SO quickly on the
gift. The junior clerks thought it
would be '.threepenny,n Mr.. Sold
chest not being liberal paymaster, in
their humble opinion, forcibly expressed
each quarter day; but Jacob, probably
of a reticent disposition, never let them
know, and at all events he did not wax
fat on his emoluments, and in the rainy
and frosty seasons caught many cold
and cough, and wore, winter and sum-
mer, the same suit Of gray threadbare
clothes, to which, in very inclement
weather, red cotton neckerchief, re-
3ieved by white lozenges, and tied in a
strange knot, was added, by way of
protection to giraffe-like throat.
Jacob was considered poor hanger
on, but Jacob had his hangers-on, too,
and people whom in his turn he took
upon himself to patronize. There are
always depths below depths in this &C.
centric world of ours, and always some
poor brother and sister to whom hand |
can be held out, or q little kindness
rendered, and Jacob Cattley had his de-
pendent in the background, and one |
who waited and watched for him as
regularly after banking hours on Sat
urdays, as he waited and watched for
Mr.. Goldchest about noon; and this de-
pendent on Mr.. Galley was dark
haired, dark-eyed purveyor of penny
s.button holes and tWo-penny bou
quets; poor fower-girl, who regarded
Mr.. Cattley as a regular customer on
Saturdays, one who was always good
for penny sometimes even two-pence,
when he had been extra fortunate in
the city.
Jacob. it may be said, never pur |
q #