The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-03-13
THEY THAT MOURN.
BY SHAN F. BULLOCK.

stores of silver, testing the coins with
their teeth, knotting them firmly in r. d
pocket handkerchiefs, finally slowing
them away in their long, wide pockets
as cautiously as though every sixpence
was a diamond. In the streets people
were leisurelS moving towards the
shops, where tills were rafting and
counters teeming, and trade. for few
hours, fourishlnG, after it's whole six
days of bilssful staSnation.
cart laden with butter, chiefly in
firkins, issued from the market-yard
gate, a man between the shafts, one at
either wheel, two pulling behind, all
noisily Cndeavoring to keep the cart
from running amuck down hill into the
river. Close behind. like chief mourncra
after hearse, one might fancy, came
Tim KERN and Nan, his wife-a bat
tered, slow-footed couple, heavily bur-
dened with the big load of their years,
white haired, both of them, and lean
as grayhounds. Heavily they shuffied
along in their clumsy boots; the man
with one aim across his back, the other
swinging Imply; the woman holding
up her slli with one hand and gripping
with the other the handle of a big,
empty basket; both looking over the
tail-board of the cart at the few pounds
of butter for which they had shaved
hard for weeks, and for which, after
hours of haggling, they had just re-
ceived few most precious shillings.
Fixedly they watched it. and mourn
fully they were bidding it last fare
well.
They passed through the gate, stray
gled across the footpath, and silently
watched the cart zigzag down the street.
run presently along the curb, and, amid
great shouting, discharge it's contents
into the packing house.
Faith" said Tim across his shoulder,
Z" twas cliverly done. l wonder, some
day, they don't break their neoks." He
wagged his head obviously; Nan tucked
up her skirt; the two turned their faces
up hill and set out to share their profits
with the shops. The butter was gone,
and sorrow go with it!-'twas heart
break
Tim Kcrin's share of the profits was
shining slXpence, reluctantly ten,
dered to him by Nan, his wife, who now
walked couple of steps behind him,
with IS pence shut tight in her hand
and the remainder of the butter moucy
(only a shilling or two) tied fast in a
cotton bag and safely slowed away in
the neck of her hnsey-w oolsey dress.
ThreepenCC of Tins sixpence was to
buy tobacco, a penny might go in the
purchase of a weekly new spaper, pen.
ny would buy a pair Of "whangs"
(leather laces) for his boots; the penny
remaining, when all those Injuries had
been honestly paid for, would buy q
whole tupiblerful of frothing porter
A whole tumblerful! At sight of it,
with his minds eye, Tins lips dried
and his feet went quicker over the cob.
blestones.
Mans lips were tight, her brow wrin-
klcd. She was figuring. 1t would take
her to be powerfully cute to fill her
basket with the things she wanted;
tea, sugar, bacon, herring for tina
Sundays dinner, bit o. white bread
And-and supposing there was penny
or two over with knowing bargaining
there might be}, was it likely now that
Mr.. Murphy, the draper, would let her
have a cheap yard of narrow, soiled
lace to go around the border of her
night caps. Twopencc might do, three
Pence would be sure to- Aw, glory
be to goodness! did anybody ever hear
of such romancin', such extravaganza:
sure it was running wild her wits were!
1hreepence for lace indeed!
A friend stepped from behind cart
and caught Nan by the arm. What,
was it pass a neighbor like that, Mrs.
Kerin would do? Pass her ouldest
friend, Mrs. Brady, as if she was a nile
stone, and never pass the time of day,
or tell how she sold her butter, or how
the world was using herself!
Och, och, Mrs. Kerin," moaned Mrs.
Brady, what have ! done to we. at all,
at alp"
Nan stopped and put out her hand,
then volubly began explaining; sure,
sorrow the sight of Mrs. Brady she
had seen; sure, she never passed a
Ieighbor without spanking; sure, twas
walkin' along romancin' she was, fig
ur1n' in her head, seeing how far she
could make the few shillings go. AN
how are you, ma amp" asked Nan, when
full pardon for her oversight had been
generously given and gratefully re-
ccived. "How are you, an all your
care?'
Meanwhile, Tim,- his sixpence hot in
his palm, had taken turn through the
throng of the streets, had questioned
his neighbors about sales and prices
(Just as though he were man of stom-
ach and capitaD, had spelt out the
time on the big market-house clock as
hc stood by the town pump listening
to the hoarse drone of a ballad-singer;
and now, on the sidewalk of Main
street, stood dreamily looking through
a shop window at pile of newspapers
which stood precariously among an
array of tobacco pipes and sweet bot
ties. If he bought paper, Tim was
thinking, he would have whole week s
diversion o. nights; if he didn't buy
it, he would save the price of another
tuablerful o. A heavy hand fell on
his shoulder.
Hello, Tim!" said his neighbor. Shan
Grogan; "havin' wee squint at the
sugar-sticks, is it We areP"
Jaw ay,' answered Tim. turning:
sew ay! / was just lookin' at the pa
pers there, an wonderin' what an ojhs