Year: 1876

one time in ali my life. i thought of all
the things it would buy-how it put the
rent straight-what we'd have for dinner
on Christmas day, and whether my mate
(who, told you, was ill), was fairly enti-
tied to half Of it. Of course, if he had
been with me, he would have had half !;
but then. a. he wasn't, l didut zee that
he had any claim. However, thought
Id talk that over with the missus, (her
heads ever so much clearer than mine, at
least she says SOY, and do what was right
and proper How long l should have
stood dreaming don't know, if q servant
girl hadn't run out and asked me If l was
going to stand there all day. SO | started
the horses again, and in few minutes was
hard at work unloading. Still, | couldn't
forget that had a five-pound note of the
Bank of England in my pocket. and this
so disturbed me that wonder nov didn't
shoot myself into the cellar along with the
Goals. fancy, too, that, knowing that |
had all this money in my pocket, | felt q
little bit independent and careless and
besides, shis was one If these particular
houses, where the missus is always saying,
"Oh, Mr.. Coalheaver, don't make more
dirt than you can avoid !" or, " I'm afraid,
Mr.. Coalheaver your Boots are very heavy. "
People of this sort always get in your way,
and make their remarks Just when you've
got two hundred weight Of Goals ON your
back and il you happen to make any an
swer back again, which you're pretty sure
to do, as people of this sort are always
stIngy, they threaten to report you. Well,
she kept on bothering me, and when she
made a remark upon my boots, said,
"All right, marin, I'm going to get my
patent feathers out Of pawn before l come
again" With that she said was an in
solent fellow, and that she would write a
complaint to my employers. She kept her
word, too, but my master wasn't bad
sort, and wrote back as follows -


Madam, We regret that you should
be compelled to complain of any of our
servants. During the twenty years we
have been in business we have endea vored
To engage gentlemen to do work-hitheIto to
without success.


We are, &c,


'CLAY, Cross q Co.


"Wallsend Wharf, Camden Town"


| believe he always sent this form Of letter
to people who complained of the conduct
OF his men, though why he had two names
and Co. at the end Of EN- | never could
make out.


Well, to 90 on with my story. | got
through that days work somehow, and
when | got home at night me and my Ole
woman talked the matter over. Dear me,
how it did cheer her up to be sure. 1t did
her more good than all the doctors stuff
she had been taking, and even our bran
new baby crowed with delight. In fact,
it so frightened up the old girl that she
looked quite well and strong again. She
was dead against giving any of 1t to my
mate, because she said, he had been on the
drink, and that was the reason ne WASH t
at work that morning, and if he had any
uf it he would only make bad use of it.
Besides she said, it was better to keep it
quiet.


Now | had never thought Of it in this
light never thought that somebody
might have lost it who couldn't afford to
lose 1t. Findings keepings, losings seek
ms, said and besides, it's only rich
people who ever have hve-pound notes,
and If they do lose one now and then It
don't matter much. SO then We talked it
all over, and reckoned up what we'd do
with every shilling and so | handed it
over to the old woman, knowing that she
would lay it out to the best advantage.


About three days afterwards was Christ
mas day, and very Jolly time we had of
1t, | can tell you. We invited my mate
and his wife to dinner, and very much sur
prised they were to see everything so COM
Portable. The children got new boots, the
mIssus had a new cap, and several articles
Of clothing had been ''gOt out that is,
you know, fetched away from a kind rela-
ton, who lends money at good interest
on good security Well, we had a very
comfortable day indeed, Jolly good din
ner, with as nice a bit OF meat as ever was
roasted. The children had nuts and ap-
pies in the afternoon. Me and my mate
had stroll and pipe, and got back COM
Portable to tea. After tea we had some
grog, when my mate and his wife took a
little too much, and then they quarreiled.
He said my wife was better manager than
she was, and that was the reason we could
ask them to dinner, and she said | didn't
drink as much as he did, and that that was
the reason. However, take it altogether,
we had a very pleasant time Of it and in
the course of day or two things tell into
their usual course, and if | did think about
the FIVE pound note at all, it was with
thahkfulness, and-with the hope that
might soon find another.


Well, nearly fortnight had gone by
when one evening, as | was sitting reading
the newspaper after hard days work, 1
heard a knock at the door, then q mans
voice. ana soon made out that he was in
quiring as to whether was at home. I'm
medlately afterwards in walked a police
man, who inquired if my name was John
Smith. On my saying it was, he handed
Inc paper, which he said was a summons
to appear befort the Magistrate next
morning on a charge Of unlawfully detain-
ing five-pOund note, the property of
Joseph Holdhard, &c. Well, here's pref
ty mess, thought what's to be done
There was the missus a-crying, and the
children with their eyes wide open, won
dering what had happened. Well, it's no
use making long story Of it. Next morn
ing went before the Magistrate. Evil
dence was given by the pawn-broker, who
had his book to show that he changed the
note for my missus by the prosecutor,
Mr.. Holdhard, sharp speaking, business
like man, who proved clearly that the note
was his and by the police, who had re-
ceived notice OF the loss. Fortunately for
me, my master came forward and gave me
a good character, Or else l might have got
SIX months, as the Magistrates said they
had power to give me. l have been told
since that they have no power to imprison
any one for keeping what they find unless
they see the thing dropped. However
that may be, Mr.. Holdhard said he didn't
want the man (meaning me) imprisoned !;
became forward, he said, on public grounds,
in order to teach people that it was their
duty to lind out the losers Of property if
possible, and that if l would give my word
TO repay the money he would ask for the
summons to be dismissed. This you may