News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-02-15

dear" asked Mr.. Scratchley, laying
down the evening paper he was read
ing and looking inquiringly at his wife
pYer his spectacles
Hes been and half pooled my ia
eorite tomcat."
Half pooled your tomcatY re-
pcated Mr.. Scratchley in tone of sur
prise How on earth is that eXtraor-
binary operation performed, my dear"
Easily enough when you're wicked
enough to invent the plan. All you've
got to do is to take an inOffensiye cat
belonging to somebody else and with
pair of scissors cut all the fur off close
to the skin. legs, and tail and all, till
the latter is as bare as hop pole and
trim him almost up to his fore quar-
tiers, so that he's fluffy about the head
and shoulders and shorn like a lamb
behind, making him look like one of
those ugly French dogs, and that's
what the little wretch calls half poo
ding my cat"
81 am deeply indebted to you for
your lucid explanation, but l don't
quite see what is to be DONE" remarked
Mr.. Scratchley. with a puzzled air.
Thrash him." suggested his wife.
"That is easier said than done. He
mas a way of wriggling which renders
him difficult to hold. He also kicks,
and | have known him to attempt to
bite when the pain l caused him was
excessive"
"Thcn he must 90 to school. He shall
not play his FRANKS here any longer
with impunty" Mrs. Scratch!cy said
in an unmistakabe tone of decision.
Every well. my dear. let Us consider
that settled. He shall go to school. Sit
down and discuss the matter quietly.
The question now is, where is he to go
to-"
''There are plenty of schools. You
can find one easily enough. should
not wonder if you should find one in
the paper you have been reading. They
are advertised"
"A happy thought, my dear. for
which thank you" said Mr.. Scratch
ley. II will at once refer to the adver-
tisement columns of this journal and
study the scholastic announcements"
Mr.. Scratchley was retired trades
man. lie had been a bookseller and
stationer; but. having made compe-
tence, he married a widow who also
had some money and bought a small
house standing in its own grounds
called The Elms ut Highgate. The mar
riage was blessed with the birth of
daughter, who was christened Emily.
About this time he had an addition
to his family in the shape of a little
boy whom he said he had adopted. He
called him Jack HarkaW way, declared
he was the son of poor parents, with
whom he was acquainted and took
great credit to himself for his philan-
thropy. The neighbors. ON the other
hand when talking about the matter
expressed their opinion very plainly to
the effect that so excellent man of
business as Mr.. Scratchley would not
have had anything to do with the boy
unless he was we'll paid for it.
When he was old enough to under
stand what was said to him, Jack was
informed that his father and mother
were dead and that he was indebted to
his kind friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Scratch
ley, for the good home he enjoyed. He
ought to have been grateful, but some
now or other he did not evince any
particular gratitude He was often
disobedient, nearly always mischievous
and at times disrespectful which was
perhaps owing to the constant neglect
and frequent severity of his guardians.
What little he knew Mr.. Scratchley
taught him at odd times, and he was
really better informed than might have
been expected from the rough tuition
he was given, for which he had to-
thank his natural aptitude and intelli-
gence, which were of high order.
Neither Mr. nor Mrs SCratchley
showed him much kindness Affection
for him they had none. All their care
was conferred upon their pretty little
daughter Emily. With the latter Jack
Harkaway was always on the best
possible terms They had the audacity
to call themselves sweethearts. and
Jack said he would make her his dear
little wife when they were old enough.
Every one who saw Jack declared
that he was well bred. The presump-
tion in many minds was that the par
ents of the lad were gentlefolks. but
when M Scratchley was questioned
on the point he only said, Poor crea-
tures-very poor, very poor" If there
was a secret about Jacks birth, Mr..
Scratchley kept it with praisewofthy
tenacity.
We left Mr. Scratchley reading the
advertisement sheet of his paper in Or
der to find out some school that would
do for Jack.
"Education, commercial, highly rec
commended, particularly for French"
he exclaimed, adding: That won't do
What does he want with French? And
they're sure to charge extra for that
Here's another which seems more like
": Education, 20 to "a guineas per an
mum. No extras except laundress, 6
shillings per quarter Ike that. Very
good. No extras No vacations unless
wished Very good also. Holidays
nuisance. Quarter to commence from