Year: 1859




CHAPTER l.


Some one has demanded-I really forget who
how it is that SO many cobblers have become
wonderful men. will just mention two who,
though dead, are still exercising q mighty in
fuence, though it be silent, upon Christendom
Jacob Behmen and George Fox. Newton
+ himself "ploughod with Behmens heifer "
and so we owe, indirectly, the greatest scientific
impetus Of the modern world to q theosophizing
shoemaker. The great William Law, the spirit
ual father of John Wesley and of the Methodist
..,novement of the last century, and--as some
say---of the Angio-Cath2iic movement of ths'
century, confessed that the humble Jacob was
his true teacher. If so, we owe the two great
est religious impetuses of modern England to a
poor Christian oobbler.


If this were to be an essay upon wonderful
shoemakers, think could add list which
would be really surprising. However, it it not
to be an essay upon wonderful shoemakers, but
\ merely the transcript of one episode out of the
life of certain poor honest journeyman cob
bier, by name William Griffin, and out of the
life of his betrothed sweetheart, Anne Moss.


William Griffin and Anne Moss had been en-
gagged since she was fifteen and he twenty years
Hold. Great poverty, drunken father. the
death of her mother, and the necessity of in
dependent work, had made Anne thoughtful
little woman long before she had reached the
age of womanhood-a fact which feel it nee
essary to state, as the prudent reader might
otherwise stop during the relation, to say over
to himself, or herself three or four sober old
proverbs concerning the evil of very early en-
gagements, and The ignorance of their own
minds supposed to be generally characteristic of
young girls; with which proverb | most cor
daily agree, reserving the right of exclusion
from all their conditions to Anne Moss alone
For if, as certain spasmodic poet has said, we
are to count life by heart-throbs, not by minutes,
why, then our little Anne could reckon up
heart -throbs enough at the age of fifteen to at
test her right to all the honors, privileges and
considerations of fifty.


Anne was little less than fifteen when she
took the place of maid of all work. This ex-
change of her miserable home for domestic
service was merely an escape out OF the lire
into the frying-pan. Both of them were fiery
trial to the poor girl; but the latter burnt a
little less fercely For, although her mistress
never beat her, never swore at her-while her
father frequently did both-becauso the lady
had not heat or passion enough in her nature
for such violent exercises yet she made the little
servants life very bitter to her by her infinite
applications of " Thou shalt not" Everything
that was humane, natural, pleasantor desirable,
had this waving before it, like the flaming
sword, to keep off Anne's eyes, hands longings.
Above all, she was allowed no followers Mrs.
Darah, having never-she thanked goodness
been in love herself, considered love the most
ridiculous folly and delusion under the sum-
Even if it might be indulged in by people who
had time and money for it, it certainly was no'
fit for servants She was often heard to say
that love made more thieves than malice or
selfshness did destroyed cold meat more rap
idly than ay-blows; and would empty larder
quicker than whole hungry family. She had
had servants with huge appetites, and servants
with lovers she found both expensive; but the
latter the worse for even if their own appe-
tites were ordinary, their lovers were usually
exorbitant.


In spite of these restrictions of her mistress,
Anne met William very often. They managed
to have walks together, to betroth themselves
to each other; and after five years steady love,
under great difficulties, to fix at last wedding
day; she by that time being twenty, and he
twenty-five.


During these years of courtship they had
both worked very hard and saved some money.
William situation was as good as his sweet
hearts was unpromising. Indeed, he always
thought, and almost hoped too, that Anne
must need nearly every farthlng of her scanty
wages for her dress. The proud youth delight
ed himself With the belief that she was dependent
upon him his love was pleased with the fancy
that he should bestow everything on her, and
receive nothing from her IN return He intend.
ed to set up "a small shop of his own, and begir
an independent business with his welded life


But the long selfreliance of his sweetheart
had made her too proud to think of entering 4
home to which she contributed no tangible
goods. 1t was kind and loving of William, sht
said, and like him, to declare that " if she hat
thousands, he should like her none the better.
She should like to have thousands, just to give
them to him. Yet, since she had not the in.
come of duchess or Of q bunker heress, she
would do what she could towards enrchin,
him with the income of poor little servan
maid She kept secret stocking for her few
far between and hardly. y.earned guineas. Whe
William talked of anything he had bought o
contemplated buying, the loving maiden inward
ly smiled with delight at the sly, unexpecte
additions to his comfort and pleasure which
was her intention and in her power to add.


Williams work was ten miles from his sweet
hearts; so he had a walk of twenty mile
whenever he wished to see her. lie could affor
this only once o week-namely, on Saturda
evenings for then he could sleep ut tavern
spend some of the Sunday with Anne, and re
turn at night, to be in time for the work of tn
new week.