The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-12-29

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went into an obscure part of the
town, where Scrooge had never
penetrated before, although he rec
rognized it's situation and it's bad
= repute. The ways were foul and
narrow; the shops and houses
wretched; the people half-naked,
drunken, slipshod, ugly. Alleys and
.archways, like so many cesspools,
disgorged their offences of smell,
and dirt, and life, upon the strag-
cling streets; and the whole quar-
,er reeked with crime, with filth
md misery.
Far in this den of infamous re-
sort, there was a low-browed, beet
ling shop, below a penthouse roof,
where iron, old rags, bottles, bones
and greasy offal were bought Up
On the floor within, were piled up
heaps of rusty keys, nails, chains,
hinges, files, scales, weights and
refuse iron of all kinds. Secrets
that few would like to scrutinize
we're bred and hidden IN noun
tains OF unseemly rags, masses OF
corrupted fat, and sepulchres OF
bones. Sitting in among the wares
ne dealt in, by a charcoal stove,
made of old bricks, was a gray
haired rascal, nearly seventy-ilve
years of age; who had screened
himself from the cold air without,
by a frouzy curtaining OF miscel-
laneous tatters hung upon line;
and smoked his pipe in all the
luxury of calm retirement.
Scrooge and the Phantom came
into the presence of this man, just
rs woman with heavy bundle
skunk into the shop. But she had
scarcely entered when another
woman, similarly laden, came in
100; and she was closely followed
by man in faded black, who was
no less startled by the sight of
them, than they had been upon
the recognition of each other.
After short period OF blank as
constituent, in which the old man
with the pipe had Joined them,
they all three burst into a laugh.
Let the charwoman alone to be
he first" cried she who had en-
tered first. Let the laundress
alone to be the second: and let
he undertaker's man alone to be
the third Look here, old Joe,
here's a chance. If we haven't all
three met here without meaning
i'll"
"You couldn't have met in bet
.er place. said old Joe, removing
ais pipe from his mouth. Come
INTO the parlor. You were made
rec of it long ago, you know; and
The other two amt strangers. Stop
ill | shut the door of the shop.
All, How it skreeks! There
amt such rusty bit of metal in
The place as its own hinges, | be-
lieve; and I'm sure there's no such
Did bones here, as mine. Ha, ha'
We're all suitable TO our calling,
we're we'll matched Come into
he parlor Come into the parlor."
The parlor was the space behind
he screen of rags. The old man
raked the fire together with an
old stair-rod, and having trimmed
ais smoky lamp (for it was night
with the stem of his pipe, put it
into his mouth again.
While he did this, the woman
who had already spoken threw her
bundle on the floor and sat down
in Il Haunting manner on stool;
crossing her elbows on her knees,
md looking with bold defiance
1t the other two.
"What odds then. What odds.
Mrs. Dilber?' said the woman.
Every person has right to take
care OF themselves. He always
did,"
"That's true, indeed" said the
!aundress. NO man more So"
"Why, then, don't stand staring
Us if you was afraid, woman,
who's the wiser? We're not going
to pick holes in each others coats,
SUPPOSE"
mo. indeed" said Mrs. Dilber
and the man together. 1--WE should
hope not
every well, them" cried the
woman. That's enough. Who's
he worse for the loss Of g few
things like these? Not dead
man, | suppose"
No. indeed said Mrs. Dilber,
laughing.
If he wanted to keep 'em after
he was dead, wicked old screw"
pursued the woman, why wasn't
he natural in his lifetime? If he
nad been, he'd have had somebody
10 lock after him when he was
struck with Death. instead of lying
gaspipg out his last there, alone
by himself"
IT'S the truest word that ever
was spoke" said Mrs. Dilber. ITS
4 judgment on him"
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