The Dillon tribune., 1886-05-15
JACOB AND POLLY.

JAC\ID AMI IVLLls
Jacob Cattley was messenger IL Messrs
PerktnsOn. t;oldchest 4 Co.. the rich bank
ers in Lombard street. AT least he always
considered himself attached tn the estab
S.lent as n messenger, though he had never
''~igretl articles" with the principals, and
was just barely tolerated outside Oh thu:
pavement. at an acute angle OF the hnild
ing and three feet from the street doors,
$lcn. customers and clerks were not
likely to tumble over him. He had
tseen hanging outside this big hank Cor
pzaany years now, and it had hccon,e Gus
tom Of hate days tn send him on little er-
rHnds which were not within the province
ut a regular clerks duty. and which the
clerks Of Perkinson Goldchest 4; Co.
yssa,ld have scOrnetl to perform ut any
price whatever If anybody required Il
s:&b- Jacob was sent for one: If II country
ssentlemnn with big balance on the books
wanted to he shown the way to the Bank
tsf England, or Billingsgate. Or the Tower,
Jacob was told off as II guide: if something
sas.s wanted surreptitiously by the clerks.
I'm the shape Of IL newspaper or q ham
sandwich. Jacob was sent for it, and there
had been times when ii was even cOnSid-
cred safe to trust him with u telegram.
Jacob received no salary. but was sup
ported by voluntary contribution, like II
hospital and what those contributions
amounted to in the year there had been
much speculation concerning, ut the bank,
amongst the clerks. 1t was set down, by
young and imaginative minds, as II pretty
penny, take it altogether But taking
Jacob Cattley altogether, was. to the or
binary observer, to set him down as
poor, half-starved. iu-cla4l, miserable old
man. struggling hard to live, and always
t'n the brink of failing ut it. \ shabbier
old gentleman was not to he found: but he
sas never III rags. and he always bu,sted
:. clean face under his ru>ty-brown top
hat, which he poised ut the extreme back
. Df his grey head. He did not appear to
flourish OIL his contributions, but yew
thinner and more pinched with every week
Ut his outdoor service there.
Still he hud what the clerks called his
tips and MIR. GOldchest, every Saturday
morning when he left the bank, and be-
tore he stepped into his carriage. the door
If which Mr.. Cattley always opened for
him, gave him something, it was noticed,
Dnt whether sovereign or Il threepenny-
piece was matter of uncertainty. the
s.lawlike hand of Jacob closing SD quickly
OH the gift. The junior clerks thought it
wonld be II "tlllrepenrly," Mr.. Goltlchest
mot leing Il liberal paymaster, in their
humble opinion. forcihly expressed each
s(uarter-tlay. but Jacob. probably Of II re-
ticent disposition, never let them know.
and, ut all events, he did not wax tut on
his elnulunlents and in the rainy and
frosty seasons caught many IL cold and
cough and wore, winter and summer, the
same suit Of gray threadhare clothes. tt
which, in very inclement weather, II red
cotton neckerchicf. relieved by white
added, by way Ut protection, to II giraffe
like thrmt.
Jacob was considered a poor hnnger-on
but Jacob had his hangerS.on too. an,
people whom in his turn he took upon
himself to patronizc. There are always
depths below depths in this eccentric
world Of ours. and always some pool
brother and sister to whom Il hand can bs
held out. or II little Kindness rendered anu
Jacob Cattley had his dependent in tn.
background, and one who waited AM
watched for him as regularly after bank
ing hours on Saturdays. as he waited ant
watched for Mr.. Goldchest about moon,
md this dependent on Mr.. Caitley was
'tark-hai,e.l, dark-eyed purveynr of penn.
"button-holeS" and tWC-pen,ly bouquets. -;
poor tiower-girl who regarded Mr. Cattlel
rs II regular customer OH Saturdays. on,
who was always good for penny. some
times even tWopence. when he had leel
Extra fortunate in the city.
Jacob, it may lie said. never purchase,
his flowers in Lombard street: no one il
that busy center had seen Jacob Cattle!
spend penny piece upon anything. bl
once away from the city proper, and hurry
ing on towards Blackfriars bridge-on tn
surrey side Of which he lived and whic
he crossed regularly twice day to au
from 'his place Ut business, ANY one VIII
had taken the trouble to watch him
which no one ever had-wOuld have see
Jacob somewhere in the neighbOrh00d q
I.udgate hill bargaining with Polly Baxte
for n nosegay every Saturday afternoon.
Jacob Cattley would even condescend t
patrOnize Polly Baxter. and to OCCASIONAL
pass II remark upon the weather, or til
extent Of her stock in trade: but all thi
WAS done in an austere. stand Offish way