Year: 1871

door Annie Johnstone found the prob
4 lem of keeping the wolf from the
door-the wolf which no king or parlia-
ment can extirpate-more difficult to solve
daily. She sat behind her little dingy
counter writing a letter, with but small
chance of a customer coming in to inter
fere with the work of composition.


"MY DEAR UNCLE WLLIAM-Papa told
me was never to apply to you, because you
helped him once, and had refused to do so
again, and you were displeased because we
tried to keep a shop which indeed has
been very lame attempt, for there is no
chance of the shops keeping us. disobey
him now, because | do not know what else
to do. have not seen or heard of papa
for five days, and almost fear that some
thing may have happened to him, though
he often has to hide for little time, be-
cause of creditors for he has not been
much more successful in getting to sell coal
or wine on commission, or as an agent for
insurance companies, than / have been as
confectioner, and he has not brought me
any money now for long time. He hint
ed to me that he might go abroad, but
hardly think he would have done that with
out letting me know; and yet he was al
v
and helping people to trace him, that he
may have done it, If the rent is not paid
by Monday, shall be turned out of the
house, and then what am / to do? You
see, dear Uncle William, l am obliged to
write to you, because l have no one else to
ask ; and if you will not put me in the way
of earning my living somehow, must pos
itively beg, and that would even be more
discreditable than selling, or trying to sell
pastry, wouldn't it? 1t is really not my
fault; have tried my best, and dined on
stale buns for days and days.


"Your affectionate niece,


CANINE TOMBSTONE"
She dire cted this letter to civilian
tombstone, Esq, Joss House Villa, South
end," and laid it on the counter before her,
just as customer came ina very young
man, with very shiny boots and hat, bril-
liant gloves, and natty umbrella, who
saluted on entering, in q manner not GUS
tomary amongst Englishmen, who general
ly remain covered in shop, however at
tractive the mistress of it may be.


"Good morning, Miss Johnstone," said
he, in an embarrassed way 81 have come
for my luncheon"


If the youth looked embarrassed, the girl
looked vexed. She colored over her fore
head, and knit her brows strangely, con
sidering how few customers she had, and
how great was her need of them. Her re-
ply, too, was as impolitic as the express
sion Of her countenance, being an intima,
ton that she was afraid she had nothing tC
offer him.


"O," he replied, 81 never eat heavy
luncheons just basin of soup and a glass
of sherry"


81 have no soup, and the sherry is out. y
"Well, now | think of it, l am tired Of
soup had sooner have sandwich and q
pint bottle Of Bass"


81 cannot give you those either" sale
she.


go, well, he persisted, "it's of no con
sequence. Here is some pastry, and an
very fond of pastry and that, with a bot
tie of ginger-beer-"


The girl, who had been constrainint
herself with difficulty, now broke out
"You can get good luncheon at dozer





called for vehemenco "why do you not g,
to one Of them?"


"I-I like this best" he stammered-
"Your pastry, though not, perhaps, quit
what you might call new, appears to agre
with me better or l mean, you know"


"You come here out of charityW crie'
the girl, bursting into tears. "You thin
am poor and want custom, and SO yo
come here and try to eat-stuff and an
sure you go where you can get proper foo
somewhere else afterward 1t is not m
fault if can't have things nicep'


80, for goodness sake 10, don't cry
o, my pretty-I mean to say, don't kno'
what am saying" cried the youth i
great distress. swell, if you must hav
the whole truth. do not come here 70
your stale tarts, but because fell in loy