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Buy Your Own Cherries

Buy Your Own Cherries image
Parent Issue
Day
9
Month
November
Year
1892
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

I; was aboiut three o'clock one hot Saturday aítermoion in July when Johu Lewie, the carpenter, laid down his hammer, put nis luuul in his pocket, and drew onit just the price of a pint, as he said to; himself; so he resolved to go aeróse bo the Golden I'.'ml". Just as he opened the bar door, what sihould lie see on the counter but a píate or ripe eherrlee, the eight vi which so marte Jolm's nno'uth wíifrr tltat he put out his hand to take a lew. "Y'Oii touch them if you daré, xir!" criied the landlady. Jolin was startled; lint before lie óptalo reply ahe added: "The idea of taking suco libèrties! i should lik tto' know what you are thinking abOTt!" "Well, missiiLS, I Wás only going to take on;; or two to wet my whiatle." "Yon lia.d better not try it 011," Bhe replied. "Why mot? You ivon't ínind uiy havlng a lew. will you?" said John, ; ii inkj siie was joklng. "Xto, sir, mot ome. I lia ve just lí.'HL'ht '&m as a aieat for my chil!r n: bessides, they are very dear." "Well, juist lolt mi' try one?" "No-, n.ot one; go and bu.y your own eherriets." "Well, I was g'oing to buy a pint 'of your bet," rtüplied .Tolm; "but I will take youir advine, and buy some herrte--,," and hte w&lked out of the fíll'Op. The landlady i.n a moanent her imihtako, and called John to come 1ack. "Well, I've done lit now," she said, takiog up tlie píate of oh'erries; "what a tupiü I was not to let hkn liave juist a few! He is too good a (.-ustomer ta lose; I iniuist look out for him, wheQ lite oo'iaieis to pay his score, and coax him over again." WhiJe ishte was planning, he wats far tova the street, lookhiff out where (ruit was Bold. As sooa as he saw wo'hie elierrfes, he called out - "Here, master, let me have threepen'wcurth of thase cherries, will you?" When he put oaie of the cherries in his mouth, its sweetness brought back tliO our words of the landlady. As he 9WB.llo.wed the juicy fruit, each seemed to repeat the lamlla.dy's words - "Buy j-our owai cherries." 'Yes, that I will," said John to lumseH, "íf that is the way yon serve a teltow; after spending many a pkxuind to begrudge even a paltry cherry." All the rest of that afteruoon the wotrds hau'nted him. "Ah, yes," said lie, "I've bought them too long for her and her children; 111 take care of number one for ttoe i'uture. I shall then not only be able to: ibuiy my owtt cherries, but anauy ■oithier Kweet things besides." At length the bell rang for lea ving off work. John went to reeeive his wages, alnd went bavk to his bench aad tiood with the money in hi hand, hesitating-, "Wiell, what shall I dfoi?" at length he said to hhwself. "If I kiiew ho.w nuut-li I oiwed, I wöuld seiid it; but aever m.iwi, 111 go and pay lier o and liaive dione with her." When he entered the public house, the moment eftie caug'ht sight of him she put on her best símiles, aind said in the 'mout pleaeamt was she cauld: "I a,m glad to see. you, John. We have juist tapped a barrel of our best." Drawing a glass, she added, "I wish yo'ur opinión of it." Aio, thia.nk you, I don't want any," 8a;id Joihm: "I've conie to pay my score. Hicxw much is it?" ■Wiiar's your hurry? Come, take a g-laiss." "Na, nat a drop," said John; "X want to' ba off." AS'eil, will yoiu take a gin ss of somvethittg eihort?" "Xo! moir long either. Will you let uve know how mucih I owe you?" paid .Tiulnv. getting impatient, "or I"U gio without tiettling." "Ali! I see naw tha.t I've oil'endled jioii," said the landlady; "come, dioi let tus be friie.nds anoe moje." "Njtot n dram will I take here or an,ywhere else, if t kniov it!" "But," isaid the Unvllady. "I doii't like to quarrel. eepeclftlly witli you; a.nd ae for the cherrtes, why, I was oittly jokin-g, for I've. kept theun on purpcee ior you"- fetrliing them out dl the parlor: "See, here they are." "No. thank you," sadd John. with ia smile; "I took you-r advlce and went and bouight sonne." "I tlon't like," said the landlady, as efoe took up the ■money, "10 ehange this without you taating somethlng. What will yom toste?" ■Xwthi'iig, I say aii'ain," said John. Taking up his clnvuKV. he walked out. "Well, I ha.ve made a uiie mess of. it this time." tlumght the landlady. "If I ever get eaught again loing imy temper, it shall mot be over such a g)0Od riistonier. If it had been one oii lïiose noisy fellows 1 shouldn't liave oared a bit; but a alce, quièt fell'ow like John, who takes his glasees i-eigular, siuid paye up sk well every week! But 111 took out, and lay ni.v traps 'to caitch him beiore long." Ileithen hurried hoime, and reaehed it, anuch to his wWe surprise, long beSore 'his usual time. Jodm toök his seat almost in silence, whieh was ho inusual that Mavy was on the point of asking him what was the nnatter, wlDeia, ta.king out some miwiney, he threw it in her lap, saying, "I .súpoos you'll be going to market soion. Mary?" "Yes," said Mary; and she wo'iild have siddvd, ■'and I slmll be glad t-0 ■go ioon," but slïe hlad leaa-ned tliai she raust not say too much on Sntunlny liight; aa she wjent ta put on her bonnet (indsliawl. On looking at the mouiey He was surprised to find three íoivr Bnillüngg more tliaii uisual. Beimg a thii'fty body, who knew liow ito lay U!t money wel], she quickly vlaited the shops and bought the things tlicy woiald want during the weck, addtng a few comforts whk-h the extra Shililngs enabled her to buy. .Mary hO'Ught John quiet and dull, and mi :■(■ ventured to ask him kindly wiiether he was well. lic eaid ha w.ais all right, she did niO't venture to question him any more a.bout it, thinking it best to wuit. John, ■not liking to return home sooner than m.sual om M'onday night, went to a temperance meeting. When another mieetlng was announeed the nest eveii:im he decided to go; and frota wh&t rthe speakers said, He signed :lie piedle. On the next S.aturdny, when John giol iiis wages, !i.' íe!t a thrill oí joy run through liim-. Looking at the soverígn and a half, he said: "It'.s matiy a loaig day since I could say irotli belongied to toe, and ril take gio'od caj-e I don't poxt with you uniera i get plenty oat oï you." Again le sterbed home. Mary lelt olnee or twice on tlie point oi eaying how pleased s'lie was, but she checked lnerselt, lesl he rrtigiit, wh.en glvlng her the iwnii'j', stop tor what nlie tliiü'iüght last week's mietake. Wlien iie had nie-ariy finished kis tea, he ya id, "Well, Mary, you'll be wanting .to go a-marketiii'g directly, I suppo.se - there's .yattr money," throwing it in her la.p. Sihe ifelt as if her heart was ready to sink as she t-ook the money in her ha.nd. "Ah!'' she thought, "he has foo'ii stopped the over-plus oi last week;" bnt thinking by the light oí tbe iire it lO'oked ra.ther yellaw, she went to the window. "Oaji it be pöasible?" h thought; "a ov'reign and a halil" ais she asikied, ""Is all this me. John?" "Ye.s," isaid JoJin, "and I hope you will try and spiend it well." "I hope yon ha.ven't done anything wrong ito get it, John," said Mary, with t-eai in her eyes. "Nö, iny lass," said John, 'I hav'e done wrong long enough, and I am now going to try to do right." "But"- .said Mary. "liever mind aay motre questions now," raid John; get your bonnet and fhawl and let us bcuth go to marloe." Mary did not ned' telling tlue second time to get rea-dy. Bidding Sally ond Tommy takO care oí the children, to be eure aind mind the house, they went out toigether to market. On the rolad, John told her all, and au-iked her to forgive him for the past, and help liim to do better. Mary listened with trembling yet joyful interest. The butüher, wheia he saiw them, ceaed erying "What will you buy?" "for." thought he, "they won't want much. A email joint tiiat everybody eli-e leaves." Si he turned kis bacli toiward them. He was oom rO'Hsed by hearing John's voice ea.y: -'I say, wha.t's this leg of mutto'n ai pound?" "The idea oif ymur asking such a, questioin," thought the butcher. But quick ais thoiight he eaid, "Eighpence to you." "Talie ït down. and sêe wlmt it weighs." "Yes," twiiid the butcher, thinking to liimself, "111 weigh it, and thafll eettle ytoiu, I know." "It weigh-s jast eiglit pwunds, and comes to iive shjllings and ïourpence. Noiw aa-e you done?" thought the bntcher. "111 have it," said John. "Here Mary, give Mm the money," swing the butcher löoked mther doubtful at thean both. Ma.ry laid the soverign on the bloik a.s en.rniuUy as it' siie was alraid of rutoblng the gold oH. The In, ulier thomght all this i-are ,a. a part oí the plan to1 deeeive him, a.nd thiat the mioney wa's bad. He bouinced it upcm the block to te-t it. But by ite ring he knew it was right; but lus ïaee ejiamgied its ex pressioa and liis voice its tone, s he asked, with greart politemetsB: ■■Can I send it home for you, pir? Is there any other airtk'le?" while the change rested between his lingera. ■Nd," said .Tohn, feeling ra.ther vex ed, "moitíiing etee to-night." ■Tliank yo'n, sSr. I-t nïe see, you live' a: X. 20 lïroad street." ■Ye-V said Joihá, a they went out o: the s.lup. Baeii sjiopkéeper wais eaixprised and pleased to re.t'iw laii-ger orders and nro.re niojiey, and of couTse, showed uu extra aun'ount oí civility. Whilé they wert' gtodmg irom shop to shop, the children. at home were talkinn- ab'oivt the mintter. "How iunny," said Tommy, "to see ratlwr and mutlier go out to market toü.etJier." "Yes," said Sally, "lsn't it?" "I wonder," said Tommy, "whethi-i' anylKxly that iather knows has died and left him siamie money."' A KÜiarp rai romsed them. Sally opened the door. There stood the butfher's boy with a basket, and ;i leg oí BMj.it.toin in it. "Do's Mr. Lewis live here?" asked the boy. "X'i," said 8ally, "tliere's no one rol' tlrat name lives here." "Ii's srrange," ssvid tke boy: "I was told This was the house, lsn't this N]o. 20?" "Ye-i, ttoiB is Ntf. 20; but no one of that nam;1 lives here." ""WWo does live here, then?" asked fbie boy. "My fatlhier and miother and me," neplied Sally. "And what'e yoiw ia.t!i.'r's name?" '.' ■Tl.ey call him .Tat-k Lewte." "Well, that's him- Mister and Jack'S ; all the saflae," said tlhe 'onv. "Come, hier&'s a leg oi muttfjn for you." "Oh, I'im sure you1re wrong," said ívilly; "we neror haive suoh tilinga coime to our houw." 'But I tiell yon ifB all rdght," sald tlue boy, 'ToT itls paid for." "Wiell, ir it'.s i)aid' íoi-, III bake t in, but I'm mire yo1!!'!! have to come and fetch it back again," replied Saliy. "Oh,, iril be íí II rigkt," said the boy. "My wtarti!" 6ia1ï Tommy, "isn't it a whopper? Only fancy if it was our'n, woul'da't we have a tñck-ln at dinner?" Anoihcr knock was heard at the tlO'OT. "Here he eonaeS," ea'id Tommy; ■V.lmil i brtng !hi' leg of mutton?" But on opening the door, it waa a '■'s boy, with Ithree Uurge loaves. "Does Mr. Iewi.s live here?" asked the boy. "Wiell," replied Sally, thinking ii t range, "my ïather'.s calle d Jacl i .■■■■ i -. if lia I ' Mm." "AU right! liere's tfcriee loavi-s jor lii.m." "Are tliey paid for?" aked Sally. "Yes," ,-;aid tlie bioy. "Come, malie haste." ■'Wel!. 111 tako 'em in, seeing als !uiv fcïhey're paid for; but we uevcr ïiave such big l'oaves as them come to our bouse, and you'U have to fetch 'emi back again; tliere's eomie misKaike, I"m eaire." "Thre, thatAs ajl fudge;!" said the boy, aiad off lie "eiit. "My word! a.in't them buters?" aal Tommy. "Only lalucy if they were WUTja," in the miifct of wliic.li auother rap was heard at the door. "Here they are," Tommy sa,id; "I'U bring 'em to tlie dtaor." But upon the diOior being opeued, 'tliere was a; lad with percels of tea, isugar, ciojfee, etc. AgaSn, the sanif (luiistiloia Vtaa asked. But Sally depidt-d to take im all that wals paid for, tellinig ea2h they m.ustn't be sur prised il they Jiajd to fetch 'em back. Other apticlee fromi different shops aiiThied uotil tJie tal)le began to be üill. "I do wish father and mother would come home," said Hally. "Suppose a policemian wías to come, what should vfe DoS" "I wfouuter," asked Tommy, "wheth er tother and imoither's going to keep a shop?" "Doin't 1 silly; you would be still if we were Ment to prison." While they wre talking, they heard the voices oí tlneir father aad mother, and were told tliat the things on the tiable were for the coming week. "When om tJie Sunday afternoon, they were seated around the table, and miothier brought out a píate of Hice nosy clierries, was it any wonder tliat Mary'fo heart wals full of em tton? Indeed, she could not help draw ing clo(se to John, while the ehildren were ma.kitig earringl-i oif the cherries, and, putting her arms aroiund hls neck, she kissed titea, while tears of rea] joy trickleid dowa her cheeks as ene soitly said, "Joh.n, if you will only continue to buy your own cherries, we may be happy yet.." And so it was, for in a short time, Mm fonnd he could buy clothes for hiis cliildran, then for hiniself and his wiite. Tlien he moved into a bettei hoiuse. The master, finding him alt teutWe t his WKrk, made him fore man, and Jolm began to say that lie found it more pleasalnt to receive two poumdS and ten shillings ai week for laoking afte-r men to do the work tham thirty BbillingB for doing it. Step by step he rase, until he be;une a master himself. Instead of working, he could pay other men to knok after it amd do it for him. He ent bis sou Tommy to a first-rate school; and ín due time he was ap-prenticed to a doctor, amd became a pylisiciam. Tlie rewt of the childreu were wcll educated. He built a: nice ro'W of house, i'rom which he received .sulikient to keep liini without work; and in ai hand.-ome ville, wlüch he also built, a:nd fitted up with everythlng U make it comfortaible he miüht oíten. be seen rettlintag in mi easy cliaSr, viewiug a cherry-tree, which he planited with hi own hands, and on whieh he ba'd been able to gTOfW bis own cherries. He and his wiie added to their tempera:nce that godliness iiii:-h is proïitable all things. Tliey alsoi continued hearty srüpportere of the Grand Alliance anti the temperance cause. W'on-fcing nnen, it is nut how muvh momey ,a week you earn, but wliat yon do with it wIhhi you get it. II ov ïnany a homO comfort, such as carpeta, solfas, chaira and books are ïotrt by spending tlie mioney in he wrong way! I.earn from this tal" ol rea-1 life that the ontside of a public house s the beat side, and ü' yu'u wi.sh to have a home. svet :, me, "Buv your own cherries."-

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier