The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-06-06
JACOB AND POLLY.

Jacob Cattley was messenger 70
Messrs. Parkinson, Goldchest 81 Co., tho
rich bankers 10 Lombard street. At least
he always considered himself attached 70
the establishment as q messenger, though
he had never signed articles with the
principals, aud 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 moi 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 the clerks would have sc0rned to
perform at any price.
If anybody required a cab, Jacob was
sent for one; ii aeccuntry gentleman with
a big balance on his books wanted to be
shown the way to the Bank of England,
or Biilingsgate, or the Tower. Jacob was
told off as guide; If something YVES
wanted surreptitiously by the clerks, in
the shape of newspaper or ham sand
wicb, Jacob was sent for it; and there had
been times when twas even considered
safe to trust him with Telegram.
Jacob received no sslary, but was sup
ported by voluntary contribution, like a
hospital, and what those contributions
amounted to in the year there had been
much speculation concerning, at the bank.
among the clerks. 1t was set down by
young and imaginary minds as 4 pretty
penny, take it altogether
But taking Jacob Cattley altogether
was, to the ordinary observer, TO set him
down as poor, half-starved, ill-clad,
miserable old man, struggling hard to live,
and always on the brink of failing at it
A sAabbier old gentleman was not TO be
found; but he was never la rags; and be
always boas,ed a clean face under his
rusty brown hat, which he poised at the
extreme back Of his gray head
He did not appear to flourish on his
contributions, but grew. thinner aud more
pincaed with every day Of bis outdoor
service there
Still he did what the clerks called his
day morning, when he left Ale, bank, and
before be stepped into hisearrisge. the
door of which Mr. Cattley arrays opened
for him, gave him something. it was
noticed, but whether sovereign or .
threepenny piece was q matter Of uncer-
tainty, the claw-like hand Of Jacob clos
ing SO rapidly on the gift ss
The junior clerks thought 1t would be q
sthreepenny," Mr.. Goldchest not being .
liberal paymaster, In their humble opinion,
forcibly expressed each quarter day, but
Jacob, probably OF 8 reticent disposition,
never let them know, and, at all events.
he did not wax fat on his emoluments,
and in the rainy aud frosty seasons caught
many cold and cough, and wore, Win
ter and Summer, the same suit OF gray
threadbare clothes, TO which, in very
Indictment weather, q red cotton handker-
chief was added BY way Of protection, to
giraffe like throat
Jacob was considered q poor hanger on !;
bat Jacob had his hangers on too, and
people whom in bis 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, OK a little kindness
rendered, and Jacob had bis dependent in.
the background, and one who waited and
watched for him as regularly after bank
ing hours on Saturday sS RsisheN Waited and
watched for Mr. Gold chest about noon
This dependent on Mr.. Cattley was d
dark-haired, dark.eyed purveyor of penny
button holes |" and twopenny bouquets,
2 poor Hover girl whe regarded Mr. Gait
ley as a rcgular customer on Saturdays,
one who was always good for q penny.
sometimes even twopenny. when he had
been extra fortunate.
Jacob, II may be said, never purchased
MS flowers IN Lombard street; no one IN
that busy centre had seen Jacob Cattley
spend penny for anything; but once
away from the city proper, and hurrying
on towards Biackfriars bridge-on the
Surry side OF which he lived, and which
he crossed twice day to and from This
place OF btisinessp-any one who had
taken the trouble to watch him which
no one ever had-would have seen Jacob