Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-03-04


he. Here l am three weeks ashore
from Jamaica, and now I'm a-looking
for another ship. They don't want sail
ors on dry land. You'll be drove back
to it"
When returned to my lodging,
found letter addressed to Mr.. William
Pooley.
"Blistered if it amt been seen arter
allP' said l, grinning like fool.
opens the letter and, going to the
window, holds it out and reads it. 1t
was from gent, saying he had seen my
advertisement and was willing to give
me job, but must invest some money
along with him. Mrs. Bloomer said that
l must look to get number of letters
of that sort, They was all thieves who
wrote 'em, and was to take no notice.
She tore the letter up, fearing that 1
might be tempted to call upon the old
oovey.
Well, after that letter l heard no
more. Who was a-going to see my namo
down in that there corner? | looked
round at the orfice four days after the
notice had appeared and says to u clerk,
Considering, says, 1.-THE cost I've
been put to, I'm surprised, says l,
"not to have got any answers"
Put it in again." says he.
down in that corner?" says l.
whats your charge for half of one Of
them pages of your IL with that there
notice printed big, right amidships of
the white?''
eve don't do business in that sort of
way" says he. "'If we did, the cost nd
keep you to wind ard of jobs for the rest
of your shining days"
When l got to the lodging that after
noon, Mrs. Bloomer told me party had
called to see me.
Something in the job liner" says l.
81 can't say, I'm sure" says she,
and l thought that her manner was
changed. She had a sort of cast in her
eyes and looked at the wall past my
head, though she was a-staring hard at
me, taking me in.
"What did the party want?" says l.
"She was female" she answers. 81
believe she'll be able to find you a job,
Mr.. Pooley. She'll be here at half past
10 tomorrow morning if convenient to
you"
l went to my room and smoked pipe.
There was no letters in answer to my
notice. The paper might have the big
gest circulation in the world, but its
corner pieces wasn't read. What female
party was this a-asking after me? a
good many women kept shops. Numbers
was widows in the 'baccy, sweetmeat
and other lines. Any sort of a job ashore
would suit me, and one to my taste for
all l knew might be coming along to-
morrow at half past 10.
Half past / 0 came round right enough,
for if there's one thing that never dis
appoints a man it's time. That old
bloke, drawed with beard and log
glass, always keeps his blushing word.
There was no letter from the largest
circulation. l had come back from get
ting a mouthful of breakfast and was
a-shaving-it was about half past 10.
While was all lather comes knock,
and Mrs. Bloomer sings out, Mr..
Pooley, the party that called yesterday
is awaiting to see you in my parlor.
Right" says l. and wiping off the
SOdp pun OH NY JhOhe9 anu MSh1 uOW IL
! stairs.
There was a woman and her little
boy standing by the table. She wore a
green hat and looked to be got up for a
Sunday outing The boy for his tidy
looks was like one of them children
that sings in the streets along with men
in clean jumpers and women with
! babies under their shawls. Mrs. Bloom
er, standing beside the door, says, This
is Mr.. Pooley."
When steps in, the woman took and
lodged bit, shooting her head out first
! to port, then to starboard a-screw'
driving of her eyes into me with the
twistings of her face. She then says
family:
"Lor-why--yes, Bill" And grasping
the table she fell to rocking herself,
very quietly, saying once or twice soft
", "Bill, Bill" but with a note OF
such grief and reproach that an old goat
might have been moved by it.
"What's this?" says l, turning upon
Mrs. Bloomer.
"Oh, Bill" shrieks the woman on &
sudden, holding out her hands to me
"don't pretend not to know me if In
not to drop dead. Here's your child, YOU
own little William. He was 8 months
old when you left me, and-and-oh
William, think-now he's 6 years. ,
And with that she lifts him right ON t.
the table, calling out: Look at you
father, Billy. Ask him if he ain
ashamed to have left his poor wife TO
nigh six year, with never one word t.
say whether he was alive or dead!"
1 thought to myself, "Bloomed If
don't think now that them corner piece
in the largest circulation are read !!
Mrs. Boomers face was like ship
6gurehead, hard with feelings.
"You' IRE quite mistaken, says l. r."
never was married in this here world
and so if I've got wife she must be al
angel"
"Never was marriedr' she screamed
running up to me, while the boy san
out, "Mother, shall fallP' and Mrs
Bloomer put him down. "Never wa
married - she shrieks. 'D'you mean {
say you forget counting me at my ia
theirs, Simon Dadds, who kept the hos
tillery called the Sinking Star, on tn
Sandwich road? Never was married,
, she yells, with her words streaming i
a quick rattle like coal from a tiI
"when the church was st. Georges,
+ noo1 and the date Juue "a 1876