Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-16
JACOB AND POLLY.

ment as a messenger, though he had never
"signed articles" with the principals, and
was just barely tolerated outside on the
pavement, at an acute angle Of the build
ing 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 fol
many years now, and it had become Gus
tom Of late days TO send him on little er
rands which were not within the province
of a regular clerks duty, and which the
clerks of Perkinson, Goldchest & Co
would have scorned 10 perform at any
price whatever If anybody required q
CAB, Jacob was sent for one; il country
gentleman with big balance on the books
wanted TO be shown the way TO the Bank
of England, or Billingsgate, or the Tower
Jacob was told off as a guide; if something
was wanted surreptitiously by the clerks,
In the shape OF a newspaper or a ham
sandwich, Jacob was sent for it, and there
had been times when it was even consid-
cred safe 10 trust him with telegram.
Jacob received no salary, but was sup
ported by voluntary contribution, like a
hospital, and what those contributions
amounted 20 in the year there hsd been
much speculation concerning, at the bank,
amongst the clerks. 1t was set down, by
young and imaginative minds, as pretty
penny, take il altogether" But taking
Jacob Cattley altogether, was, to the or
dinary observer, TO set him down as q
poor, half-staived, ill-clad, miserable old
man, struggling hard TO live, and always
on the brink of failing at it. shabbier
old gentleman was not To be found; but he
was never in rags, and he always boasted
q clean face under his rusty-brOwn top
hat, which he poised at the extreme back
of his grey head. He did not appear to
flourish on his contributions, but gew
thinner and more pinched with every week
of his outdoor service there.
Still he had what the clerks called his
stips;;" and Mr. GOldchest, every Saturday
morning, when he left the bank, and be
fore he stepped into his carriage, the door
of which Mr.. Cattley always opened for
him, gave him something, il was noticed,
but whether a sovereign or a threepenny-
piece was a matter Of uncertainty, the
ciaw-like hand Of Jacob closing 50 quickly
on the gift. The Junior clerks thought it
would be "threepenny," Mr.. Goldchest
not being a liberal paymaster, in their
humble opinion, forcibly expressed each
Qusrterday, but Jacob, probably Of re
ticent 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 a cold and
cough, and wore, winter and summer, the
same suit of gray thresdbare clothes, TO
which, in very inclement weather, red
cotton neckerchief, relieved by white
lozenges and tied in a strange knot, was
added, by way Of protection, to a 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 eccentric
world of ours, and always some poor
brother and sister to whom a hand can be
held out, or a little kindness rendered, and
Jacob Csttley had his dependent in the
and one who waited and
watched for him as regularly after bank
ing hours on Saturdays, as he waited and
for Mr.. Goldchest about noon;
and this dependent on Mr.. Cattley was
dark eyed purveyor of penny
-button-h holes" and two-penny bouquets, a
poor f1ower7girl who regarded Mr.. Cattley
as a regular customer on Saturdays, one
who was always good for a penls, some
times even twopence, when he had been
extra fortunate in the city.
Jacob, it may be said, never purchased
his flowers in Lombard street; no one in
that busy center had seen Jacob Cattley
spend a penny-piece upon anything but
once away from the city proper, and hurry
ing on towards Blackfriars bridge-on the
Surrey side of which he lived and which
he crossed regularly twice a day to and
from "his place of business, any one who
had taken the trouble to watch him
which no one ever had-would have seen
Jacob somewhere In the neighborhood of
Ludgate hill bargaining with Polly Baxter
Tor nosegay every Saturday afternoon.
Jacob Cattley would even condescend to
patroniZe Folly Baxter, and to occasionally
pass a remark upon the weather, or the
sxtent of her stock in trade; but all this
was done in an austere, stand-offish way,
which did not encourage conversation in
return, and which was washed-out copy
IF the great Goldchest manner, when the |
big banker skated across the pavement to
ais carriage. Polly Baxter did not know |
his, and thought it was very kind of the |
I'D gentleman in the queer-looking COM |
orter to say a word or two to her now and |
.hen-words which, with all their coldness,
lsd little ring in them Of interest or
or something not easy TO COM |
and which the flower girl did not |
attempt in any way to account for.
Suddenly Jacob CattIey was missed 4
rom Lombard street, and from the neigh |
1orhood Of Ludgate hill; and Polly Bax- |
er's basket blushed with flowers in vain |
or him. Every day Polly Baxter had |
,een accustomed to see him between and |
trOtting hOmewards, with his sharp face |
et due south; every day he had said |
Good morning." in a grave faterly way, |
md with solemn bend of his long neck: |
md on Saturdays, as We have intimated, |
he always stopped to bargain with her for
Ter gayest pennyworth. And now Jacob .
vas missing; and no one knew where ,
Jacob lived, SO that the mystery of his dis
appearance might have been solved by a
riendly call.
Hes dead, for sixpence poor old cove"
aid one Of the Junior clerks, pert and .
langy and Over-dressed youth, whom
Jacob had in his heart disliked. despite the
fering of a penny now and then He's
fl, depend upon it. I'm sorry was SO
euced hard on him last week"
Polly Baxter wondered more about him
han the rest of the community aware Of
lis existence. She did not know why she
hOuld bother about the old man" but
he did He was something removed
rom her life, a regular customer gone,
nd that was to be regretted when regular
ustOmers were scarce When she had
ought her flowers at Covent Garden mar
ct in the early morning, and had taken
hem to her little attic where she made up
er penny punches for the day, she caught
erself thinking Of the funny little bloke,"
nd Of his grave, old-fashioned ways
'olly Baxter earned her own living hon