74
WoilBK THAN WaK, WOUSIS THAN PKsTII.KNCK.
sounds of costly' vehicles or rustling silks
were heard there. No inhuinnnity docked
with wealth and learning. Mrs. Abbott
now began to think the world cold and
heartless. ' While sitting hero forlorn,
these thoughts were modified 13 being
approached by a person with a counte
nance beaming with benevolence. This
person was no other than an Irish washer
woman, poor but respectable.
"And pray, Sirs. Abbott, what is the
matter now," said Sirs. SlcGIcn, with
massive arms like Grecian columns, and
hands folded in compassion.
"The cruel world has forsaken mo in
my trouble," said Sirs. Abbott.
"Ah, well! I don't know as I be a
world, but endade I will not forsake ye.
If I were a world, I'd soon lift ye out of
this trouble; ye'd not be sitting here in
the road. Uut a cup ot tuy will do ye
more good than all this blarney. Conic
right along. I saw ye before I started ov.
cr yere, and I put the kittle on to bile."
Taking Sirs. Abbott by the arm, this
broad hearted woman led her to the
house.
Sirs. Abbott, after being refreshed, ro.
paired to her home.
She could see the bright lights gleam
ing from the mansion of Squire lloskon
on the hill, and bear the merry voices of
the parly gathering there As Sirs. Ab
bott entered the house, nothing but death
ly stillness and darkness reigned. The
two children had fallen asleep. Where is
Mr. Abbott? If the reader would strike a
light he would discover a senseless and
helpless being sprawled upon the floor.
CHAPTER X.
"Why do you let such nuisances like
Sirs. Abbott into my sanctuary?" said
Sir. Heartless to his wife, just after Sirs.
Abbott had lefj his threshold. "Am I, an
honorable citizen of Straightcrook, to be
insulted in my own house by the wife of
a broken-down merchant? I will see the
gates of open on me first." Here
Sir. Heartless stepped to the bay window.
After gazing for a short time out upon the
lawn, he continued, "Hut I know where 1
can find revenge. Squire lloskon holds
a mortgage on Sirs. Abbott's piano and
on their residence in Tennessee. I
will see him tomorrow and try and
buy up both the mortgages. Squire
lloskon lias been very easy with them, for
they might have been foreclosed over 11
year ago. Hut let me get hold of them,
and I will show the Abbotts whether lam
a respectable citizen or not."
' But I guess SI.'s. Abbott lias been to
the Squire with her crocodile tears," said
Mrs. Heartless. "For Sirs, lloskon told
me yesterday that Sir. Sparks oll'ered to
redeem the piano for Sirs. Abbott if the
Squire would bear one fourth of the
amount. Sirs. Abbott pleaded so hard
that he about determined to agree to it.
" Sloney will change bis mind very
quick," replied Sir. Heartless. Let me
oiler him twice or three limes as much us
they are worth, and then see how sudden
he will tune up. After I get them in my
hands she needn't come to me with her
crocodile tears."
After strutting about the room for some
time his carraige drove up to the door,
and the family were soon in the midst of
a merry party at Squire Ho&kon's. That
night. Sir. Heartless nicido arrangements
to get hold of the securities. In the
course f a few days he had foreclosed
the mortgage 011 the piano.
This instrument was the last of their
ornamental furniture. It had been great,
comfort to Sirs. Abbott in whiling away
the lonely and sorrowful hours. It had
also been the means of aiding the family,
Sirs. Abbott, by renting the instrument
and giving instruction was enabled to
procure 11111113' com foils, for the family that
they would otheiwiso have been destitute
of. As Sir. Sparks was the only friend
that remained constant, he volunteered to
bid for the instrument witli his own mon
ey. He had obtained the prlncipnlship in
the town of Straightcrook, but his salary
was small. On the day of the sale, Sirs.
i"THff