Year: 1872




same advice. At times he appeared to
grow desperate, and from his lips would
rush the words, Buy your own cherries" !"


"Ah yes" said he, as his wounded
conscience CALLED him, "I've bought them
too long for her and her children; I'll take
care of number one for the future, shall
then not only be able to buy my own cher
ries, but many other sweet things beside"


At length the bell rang for leaving off
work. John went to the counting house
and received his wages, which amounted
generally to about thirty shillings per
week. Now, although he was in the habit
ofpaying frequent visits to the public-house,
he was not by any means what people would
call drunkard. Indeed, he would have
felt insulted if any one had dared to apply
such term to him, and, no doubt would
have been ready in his way to prove that he
only took what he thought would do him
good. 1t was true he did on Saturday
night sometimes get over the score, as the
friendly glass went round more freely
than usual, and also went home later now
and then. But the cheerful song caused
the time to fly so fast that he felt he must
prove that he was good fellow, who must
do as others do. If at such times the wife
complained that the money left was barely
sufficient to purchase the needful things for
the coming week, he was apt to tell her to
"mind her own business" and few sharp
words between them would often follow.
But, alas such scenes are too we'll known
to need description, and Mary, like many
others, had grown weary with complaining;
so she had firmly resolved to do her best to
make the house as comfortable as her limit
ed means would allow, and, by kind words
and looks, to strive to make the home as at
tractive as possible, feeling assured that by
such means she might expect to draw him
from the publc-house; the opposite course
would most likely drive and keep him there.


John, having received his wages, went
back to his bench, and for few minutes
stood with his money in his hand, evidently
hesitating what to do.


"Well, what shall dop" at length he
said to himself. "I must go and pay my
score for don't wish to be dishonest. If
knew how much it was I'd send it; but
never mind, I'll go and pay her off and have
done with her forever"


In few minutes he was once more with
in the reach of the landlady of the "Golden
Eagle"


The moment she caught sight of him she
put on her best smiles, and without giving
him time to utter word, said in the most
pleasant way she could:


"I am SO glad to see you, John. We've
just tapped barrel of our best" Draw
ing glass and holding it to him, she add
ed, "I wish your opinion of it,"


"No, thank you, don't want any," said
John; "Tve come to pay you what owe.
How much is it p"


"I don't like" said the landlady, as she
took up the money, "really to change this
without your tasting something. What
will you take?'


"Nothing, say again; I don't believe in
your throwing sprat to catch mackerel," +"
said John, speaking impatiently. Taking
up his change, he walked out, and was
soon on his way home.


"Well, have made nice mess of it
this time I" thought the landlady. eff
ever get caught again losing my temper,
I'll be bound it shall not be over such a
good customer as he has been. If it had
been one Of those noisy fellows shouldn't
have cared bit; but a nice quiet fellow
like John, who takes his glasses so regular
ly, and pays up so well every week. But
I'll look out and lay my traps to catch him
before long, and the first chance l got to
set him going again will.


He is not going to slip off in this way,
can assure him; he is too good to lose with
out an effort; and he may depend upon it
that when ] have him right again, I'll keep
him, warrant"


While she was thus planning in her own
mind Johns future capture, he had hurried
home, and reached it, much to the surprise
of his wife, long before his usual time
She soon put the kettle on for his tea, and
while setting the tea things, the water boil
cd. ff tlHn
John took his tea almost in silence, which
was SO unusual that Mary was on the point
of asking him what was the matter, or how
it was that he was home so soon. Just as
she was going TO speak he put his hand in
his pocket and taking out some money,
threw 1T in her lap, saying, "I suppose
you'll be going TO market directly, Nary"