The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-03-26

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pence halfpenny. Jerry's wife received
the announcement with look of quiet
dismay, thanked the landlord and left
the house,
For a week nothing was seen or heard
of Jerryi but at the end of that time his
wife appeard and put down Ave shilllngs
on the counter
viii you please take that off the ac-
count, sir" she said, land give me a
receipt"
This was done with a gracious smile
Jerry's wife departed. Mr.. Rewitt an
nounced his having hit the right nail on
the head. The wife of the cobbler was
making an effort to clear her husbands
debt,
At the end of another week second
five shillings was paid, and then harvest
came on, All the little tradesmen in the
village were busy, and even Jerry was
reported full-handed. But he did not
come near The Dram Arms for drink.
On the third week JerIy's wife brought
ten shillings, and on the fourth fifteen.
to the great joy and satisfaction of Mr..
Rewitt, whose joy, however, was alleged
by the fear that he had lost q good Gus
toner. He resolved to look up Jerry as
sUon as another installment of his ac-
count was paid.
Nothing was brought for a fortnight,
and the landlord congratulated himself
upon not having hastily sought out his
absent customer, who still owed him over
n pound, but the appearance of Jerry's
wife with the balance had the effect to
make him think otherwise. There was
no display in putting down the money
it was quietly done-but the happy look
in the wOman's eyes as she took the
receipt spoke more than mere words or
action.
81 have been hasty with jerry" said
Mr.. Rewitt, when another whole month
had elapsed without Jerry appearing;
''he promised to pay at harvest fine and
he did 1t; but have offended him. and
the Green Goose has caught his custom.
"GO and see him." suggested his wife.
81 intend to do so. Here, give me our
Toms boots; they want a patch on the
side, and it will be an excuse for me to
drop in upon him."
THAT isn't much of a job for him, see
ing you gave George Stevens the best of
the work" said Mrs. Rewitt
''Stevcns's work is better than Jer-
rvs" replied her husband, 'you can al
ways trust him to do your work when it
is promised, but Jerry keeps the things
for weeks together"
"That's true; but I've got pair of
boots that want new fronts, and | can
afford to wait a week or two Take
them.n
"rll take both" said Richard Rcwitt;
nothing like batting your hook well
while you are about it,"
Armed for the re-cOnquest of jerry |
the landlord set forth in the morning
that being slack time when he could be |
easily spared from home. Outside were |
a couple of loafers with no money and |
no credit, who touched their hats to him. |
Mr. Rewitt favOring them with nod of |
lofty indifference.
Jerry's cottage was in the middle of !
the Village, standing back about fifty |
feet from the road; and although its in |
side poverty had been well known, the |
outside, thanks to his wife, looked quite |
es well as its neighbor, Therefore, Mr.. |
Rewitt was not the least surprised to see |
it look bright and gay on that beautiful |
autumn morning.
AS he approached the door he heard |
the sound of Jerry's hammer on the lap
stone, and to his utter amazement, the
voice Of Jerry carolling cheerful ditty,
as unlike the cracked efforts he used oc-
casionally to come ont with in the tap
room, as the song of the thrush is to the
hoarse note of the raven. Raising the
latch, the landlord of The Dram Arms
peeped in,
"Ah! is thatyou, Mr., Rewitt?" replied
Jerry, looking up. Come in"
Jerry looked wonderOus clean. and had
even been shaved that very morning
His blue shirt looked clean. too, and he
actually had collaro on. Mr.. Rewitt was
so overcome by the change that he stood
still with the boots under his arm, for
getting that they formed part of his mis-
mion.
you look very well, jerry" he said
at last.
Never felt better in my lifc," replied
Jerry. Il wish, sir, could say the same
of you. You look whitsh."
"Tvc-Tve got bit of cold" replied
the other, land I've been shut up up
good deal with business lately. Trade is
good, but how is it we have not seen
you?'
well, the fact is, sir" said Mr.. Re-
witt, cheerfully; 'the door is quite clean
rs far as You are concerned"
81 am glad of that"
"Others have got their SHARE" said the
landlord, facctiously; but think we
could make room for you, if you look us
up"
"No, thanky, sir" returned Jerry.
I've had enough chalking on other peo-
Dle's doors, and now | chalk on my
Dwn."
"Chalks on your own!" :
eyes, sir; lave the goodness TO turn S
lround and look behind you. There's
ny door half full" h
'It's a wise thing to keep accounts /
said the landlord, who hardly A
Snew what to make of it, ''ior mistakes
will happen; but"
"No mistakes can happen, sir" inter !.
'upted Jerry, 'for / am the only party 4
Is keeps that account" n
"But who trusts you to do that? p
"Nobody Il trust myself" replied
Jerry. "The marks that were on your i
loor showed how much did drink, and d
hem marks on mine show what | don't {,
rink
A little light had got i'm the landlords p
Jrain, and he had pretty good idea of 81
What was coming, but lie said nothing.
THAT night when you spoke to me ii
bout the chalks on the door being a
disgrace TO me, was the night
If my waking" continued Jerry. mo
nan could have lectured me better than
,ou did, and thank you for IL from the
bottom of my heart. AS left your
rouse I vowed to touch drink no more
md | came home, told my wife so, and
Nc both joined in earnest prayer that |
night have strength to keep my vow.
The nett morning | went over 10 George
stevens and asked him how ! could go
bout joining the pledge. He helped me
ike a man-and it was done"
With his eyes wandering to and fro be-
ween Jerry and the chalks upon the
loOr, the amazed landlord still remained
ilent ami Jerry went on.
my wife wanted to work herself to
leaih 10 keen me- he snid. .hnI [ sill n