1921-12-10 — Page 10

10

"THE CHIMES."

(Continued from Foge 3.)

Tripe is more expensive, properly understood, than the hothouse pine- apple. Taking into account the num- ber of animals slaughtered yearly within the bills of mortality alone; and forming a low estimate of the quantity of tripe which the carcases of those animals, reasonably well but thered, would yield; I find that the waste on that amount of tripe, if boiled, would victual a garrison of five hundred men for five months of

thirty-one days each, and a February over. The waste, the waste!**

Trotty stood aghast, and his legs starved a garrison of five hundred shook under him. He seemed to have

men with his own hand.

"Who eats tripe?" said Mr. Filer warmly. "Who eats tripe?"

Trotty made a miserable bow. "You do, do you?" said Mr. Filer "Then I'll tell you something. You snatch your tripe, my friend, out of the mouths of widows and orphans.";

ups for, sir," said Troity

"The good old times, the good old times, repeated the, gentleman, What times they were! They were the only times. It's of no use talking about any other times, or discussing what the people, are in these times. You don't call there, times, do you? I don't. Look into 'Strutt's Costumes, and see what a Porter used to be, in any of the good old English reigns," 'He hadn't, in his very best circumstances, a shirt to his back, or a stocking to his font; and there was scarcely a vegetable in all Eng land for him to put into his mouth," said Mr. Fiter. "I can prove it, by tables."

THE CHINA MAIL.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1921.

"As you happen to be here," sold the alderman to Toby, you shall carry a letter for me. Can you be quick? You're an old man."

Toby,

who had been took after Meg quite stupidly, ing made shift to murmur out that he was very quick and very strong.

"How old are you?" inquired the alderman

"I'm over sixty, sir," said Toby. "Ohr This man's a great deal past the average age, you know." cried Mr. Filer, breaking in as if his patience would bear some trying, but this really was. carrying matters a little too far.

and figures, facts and figures! Put If they 'em down, put 'em down 1" said anything they said this, until the brain of Toby reeled, t

He pressed his bewildered head between his hands, as if to keep it from splitting asunder. A well-timed action, as it happened; for finding the letter in one of them, and being by that means reminded of his charge, he fell, mechanically, into his usual trot, and trotted off.

SECOND QUARTER.

The fetter Toby had received from Alderman Cute was addressed to a great man in the greatdistrict of the town. The greatest district of the town. It must have been the

if you only understand 'em, and "Fut that down indeed. Alderman, Those boys will grow up bad, of made old Toby's leap up from Ite can talk to em In their own and you'll do something. Married!, course, and run wild in the streets, faintness? No, no. The alderman manner. Now, you porter! Don't Married!! The ignorance of the first without shoes and stockings, Mind, (a blessing on his head ) had put you ever tell me, or anybody else, principles of political economy on the my young friend. I'll convict 'em them down.. my friend, that you haven't always part of these people; their improvid-summarily, every one, for I am de enough to eat, and of the best ence; their wickedness is, by termined to put boys without shoes because I know better. I have tasted heavens! enough to Now look and stockings down. Perhaps your husband will die young (most likely) your trips, you know, and you can't at that couple, will you?" chaff me. You understand what Well! They were worth look and leave you with a baby. Then "chaff' means, eh? That's the right ing at. And marriage seemed as you'll be turned out of doors, and word, isn't it? Ha, ha! hal Lord bless reasonable and fair a deed as they wander up and down the streets, Now, don't wander near me, my you," said the alderman, turning to need have in contemplation. his friends again, it's the easiest A man may live to be as old as dear, for I am resolved to put all thing on earth to deal with this Methuselah," said Mr. Filer, "and wandering mothers down. All young sort of people, if you only understand may labour all his life for the benefit mothers, of all sorts and kinds, it's of such people as those; and may heap my determination to put down, 'em."

Famous man for the common up facts on figures, facts on figures. Don't think to plead illness as an

figures, on people, Alderman Cute! Never out facts

mountains excuse with me; or babies as of temper with them! Easy, alfable, high and dry; and he

excuse with me for all sick persons more hope to persuade 'em that and young children (I hope you know joking, knowing gentleman l

they have no right or business to the church-service, but I'm afraid be married, than he can hope to per-not) I anr-determined to put down. I feel I'm intruding, sir," said sunde 'em they have no earthly right And if you attempt, desperately and Toby. "I-I misdoubted it this or business to be born. And that we ungratefully, and impiously, and morning. Oh, dear me!" know they haven't. We reduced it to fraudulently attempt to drown your a mathematical certainty long ago!" self. or hang yourself, I'll have no Alderman Cute was mightily pity on you, for I have made up my diverted, and laid his right forefinger mind to put all suicide down! If on the side of his nose, as much as to there is one thing," said the alder say to both his friends,. "Observe me, man, with his self-satisfied, smile, will you? Keep your eye on the "on which I can be said to have other, it is to put suicide down. So

Then the alderman gave an arm to said don't try it on. That's the phrase,

isn't it? Ha, ha! now we under-each of his friends, and walked off In high feather; but he immediately stand each other."

came hurrying back alone, as if he had forgotten something:

The alderman cut him short by giving him the letter from his pocket. Toby would have got a shilling too; but Mr. Filer clearly showing that in that case he would rob a certain num: ber of persons of ninepence half-penny aplece, he only got sixpence; and that.

greatest district of the town, because it was commonly called "the world" by its inhabitants. ⠀⠀..

The letter positively seemed heavier in Toby's hand, than another letter. Not because the alderman had sealed it with a very large coat-of-arms and no end of wax, but because of the weighty name on the superscription, and the ponderous, amount of gold

But still the red-faced gentleman extolled the good old times, the grand old times, the great old times. No

You see my friend." pursued the still went turning round and round in alderman, "there's a great deal of matter what anybody else said, he one sex form of words concerning nonsense talked about want-hard them; as a poor squirrel turns and up.' you know; that's the phrase, isn't turns in its revolving cage; touching? ha ha! ha and I intend to put the mechanism and trick of which it it down. There's a certain amount has probably quite as distinct percep of cant in vogue about starvation, tions as ever this red-faced gentleman and I mean to put it down. That's had of his deceased millennium. all! Lord bless you," said the alder It is possible that poor Trotty's man, turning to his friends again, faith in these very vague old times you may put down anything among faintly. "I'd sooner die of want!" was not entirely destroyed, for he felt this sort of people, if you only know practical man!"and called Meg to, made up my mind more than on an thought himself very well off to get and silver with which

of vague enough, at that moment. One the way to get about it."

thing, however, was plain to him, in the midst of his distress; to wit, that however these gentlemen might differ in details, his misgivings of that mor ning, and of many other mornings, were well founded. "No, no. We can't go right or do right," thought Trosty in despair. "There is no good Trotty was so shocked, that it gave in us. We are born bad!” him no concern to see the alderman finish the tripe himself It was a relief to get rid of it, anyhow.

Alder-

"Divide the amount tripe before-mentioned, man," said Mr. Filer, "by the estimat. ed number of existing widows and orphars, and the result, will be one pennyweight of tripe to each. Not a train is left for that man. Consequently, he's a robber"

"And what do you say?" asked the alderman, jocasely, of the red faced gentleman in blue coat. "You have heard friend Filer. What do you Say "

"What's it possible to say?" retura- ed the gentleman. "What is to be said? Who can take any interest in a fellow like this," meaning Trotly. in such degenerate times as these? Look at him! What an object! The good old times, the grand old times, the great old times! Those were the times for a bold peasantry, and all that sort of thing. Those were the times for every sort of thing, in fact. There's nothing nowadays. sighed the red-faced gentleman. "The good old times, the good old time's!"

Ah!"

But Trotty had a father's heart within him; which had somehow got into his breas. in spite of this decree; and he could not bear that Meg, in the blush of her briet joy, should have her fortune read by these wise gen le.

men.

"God help her," thought poor "She will know it soon

Trotty. enough."

He anxiously signed, therefore, to the young smith, to take her a vay. But he was so busy, talking to her softly at a little distance, that he only became conscions of this desire, simultaneously with Alderman Cute. Now, the alderman had not vet had his say, bat he was a philosopher, too-practical, though! Oh, very practical!-and, as he had no idea of losing any portion of his audience, he cried, "Stop!"

said

Trotty took Meg's hand and drew it through his arm. He didn't seem to know what he was doing though.

Your daughter, eh?" said, the alderman, chucking her familiarly

under the chin.

Always affable with the working Knew classes, Alderman Cute ! what pleased them! Not a bit of pride!

"Where's her mother?" asked that worthy gentleman.

Dead," said Toby. "Her mother got up linen; and was called te heaven when she was born."

"Not to get up finen there, I suppose," remarked the alderman pleasantly.

Toby might or might not have been able to separate his wife in heaven from her old pursuits. But query: If Mrs. Alderman Cute had gone to heaven, would Mr Alderman Cute have pictured her as holding any state or station there?

"And you're making love to her, are you?" said Cute to the young smith. i

him.

"Come here, my girl!" Alderman Cute.

had

The young blood of her lover been mounting wrathfully within the Toby knew not whether to be was agonised or glad, to see that Meg last few minutes; and he

But had turned a teadly white, and drop- indisposed to let her come. setting a constraint upon himself ped her lover's hand. he came forward with a stride as 1 Meg approached, and stood beside her. Troty kept her hand within his arm still, but looked from face to face as wildly as a sleeper in a dream.

"Now, I'm going to give you a word or two at good advice, my girl." said the alderman, in his pice. easy way. It's my place to give advice, you know; because I'm a justice. You know I'm a justice, don't you?"

Meg timidly said, "Yes.". But everybody knew Alderman Cute was In justice. Oh, dear, so active a justice always! Who such a mate of brightness in the public eye as Cute?

"You are going to be married, you say." pursued the alderman, Very unbecoming and indelicate in Inne of, your sex! But never mind. that. After you are married, you'll quarrel with your husband, and come What do you mean?" cried Filerio be a distressed wife. You sharply. "Married?"

"Yes." returned Richard quickly. for he was nettled by the question. "Now, you know," the" And we are going to be married on alderman, addressing his two friends, | New Year's Day." The gentleman didn't specify what with a self-complacent smile upon his particular times he allurled to; nor face, which was habitual to him, "I did he say whether he objected to the am a plain man, and a practical man; present times, from a disinterested and I go to work in a plain, practical That's my way. There is consciousness that they had done way, nothing very remarkable in producing not the least mystery or difficulty in dealing with this sort of people himself.

may think not; but you, will, "Why, yes, we're thinking of it, because I tell you so. Now, I give master," said Richard. "We're rather you fair warning, that I have made in a hurry, you see, in case it should up my mind to put distressed wives down. So, don't be brought before be put down first."

"Ah!" cried Filer, with a groan. | me. You'll have children-boys-I

"As for you, you dull dog." said the alderman, turning with even in creased cheerfulness and urbanity to the young smith, "what are you thinking of being married for? What do you want to be married for, you silly fellow? If I was a fine, young, strapping chap like you, I should be ashamed of being milkcsap enough to pin myself to a woman's apron. strings. Why, she'll be an old woman before you're a middle-aged man! And pretty figure you'll cut then, with a draggle-tailed wife and a crowd of squalling children crying after you wherever you go!".

Oh, he knew how to banter the common people, Alderman Cute!

"There, Go along with you," said the alderman, "and repent. Don't make such a fool of yourself as to get married on New Year's Day. You'll think very differently of it, long before next New Year's Day: a trim young fellow like you, with all the girls looking after you. There! Go along with you!"

They went along. Not arm in arm, or hand in hand, or interchanging Were bright glances; but, she in tears; be, glomy and down-looking. these the hearts that had so lately

"Porter!" said the alderman. "Sir!" said Toby. "Take care of that daughter of yours. She's much too handsome,"

Even her good looks are stolen from or other I suppose." somebody thought Toby, looking at the sixpence in his hand, and thinking of the tripe. "She's been and robbed five hundred ladies of a bloom apiece, I shouldn't wonder. It's very dreadfu!!"

'She's much too handsome, my man," repeated the alderman. "The chances are, that she'll come to no good, I clearly see. Observe what say. Take care of her!" With which he hurried off again.

"Wrong every way. Wrong every way?" sald Trotty, clasping his hands. Born bad. No business here!" The chimes came clashing in upon him as he said the words. Full, loud, and sounding--but couragement. No, not a drop.

with no en'.

"The tune's changed," cried the old man, as he listened. "There's not a word of all that fancy is it. Why, should there be? Thave no business. with the new year nor with the old one neither. Let me die!"

Still the bells, pealing forth their

'em down, .put Jem changes, make the very air spin. "Put

down Good old times, goud old times! Facts

associated.

it was

"How different from us!" thought Toby, in all simplicity and earnestness, as he looked at the direction. Divide the fively turles in the bills of mortality.. by the num- ber of gentlefolks. able to buy. 'em; and whose share does he take but his own? As to snatching tripe from anybody's mouth he'd scorn it!"

With the involuntary homage due to such an exalted character, Toby interposed a corner of his letter and

"His children," said Trotty, and a mlst rose before his eyes: "bis. daughters gentlemen may win their hearts and marry them: they may be happy wives and mothers; they may be handsome bke my darling M

apron between his fingers.

e'

the

He couldn't finish her name. The

the size of the whole alphabet. final letter swelled in his throat, to

Never mind," thought Trotty. "I know what I mean. That's more than enough for me." And with this consolatory.rumination, trotted on.

It was a hard frost, that day. The air was bracing, crisp, and clear. The wintry sun, though powerless for warmth, looked brightly down upon the ice it was too weak to melt, and set a radiant glory there. At other times, Trotty, might have learned a poor man's lesson from the wintry sun; but, he was past that now.

(Continued on Page 12.)

DAINTY GIFTS

HOI

LADIES

ENGLISH

CHINA

DESSERT

TEA

AND

COFFEE

SETS

CUT GLASS

SETS

AND

BOWLS

ETC.

INSTRUCTIVE GIFTS

GIRLS & BOYS

POR

STERLING SILVERWAREN

MANICURE SETS

TOILET SETS

SCENT BOTTLES

VANITY CASES

TRINKET BOXES

PUFF BOXES-

CALENDARS

PHOTO FRAMES

BRIDGE SETS

GLOVE STRETCHERS

CARD CASES

THIMBLES

MIRRORS

The Aristocrat of the Dining Table

COMMUNITY PLATE

ASH-TRAYS INKSTÄNDS TOBACCO BOXES CIGARETTE CASES SHAVING SETS HAIR BRUSHES EVERSHARP PENCILS FOUNTAIN PENS POCKED KNIVES

FRUIT KNIVES:

RAZORB

CLOOKS

LADIES

GLOVES, SCARVES, HANDKERCHIEFS

BLOUSES, JUMPERS LEATHER and SILK BAGS FANS, GARTERS, UNDIES, UMBRELLAS,

FEATHER NECK WEAR WRAPS SHOE BUCKLES

LANE,

CRAWFORD

&

COY.

MENS

TIES GLOVES

SILK SCARVES,

BRACES, GARTERS

DRESSING GOWNS

STICKS UMBRELLAS,

JAEGER WOOLLIES

TABLE DECORATIONS,

CHOCOLATES SWEETS

FRENCH PLUMS STUFFED PRUNES

STUFFED DATES TABLE FIGS PLUM PUDDINGS MINCEMEAT CRYSTALLIZED

FRUITS CRYSTALLIZED

VIOLETS CRYSTALLIZED

ROSE LEAVES SILVER DRAGEES MARRONS GLAUÈ HORS D'ŒUVRES

CAVIARE

GOOD THINGS

FOR THE FESTIVE BOARD

J

WINES

LIQUEUE

XMAS ORACKERS BARCELONA NUTS

ALMOND NUTS BRAZIL NUTS PATE de FOIE GRAS ELVAS PLUMS STILTON OFFESE

CAMEMBERT CHEESE FAMS

USEFUL GIFTS

GENTLEMEN

FOR

ENGLISH

LEATHER

PURSES

POCKET WALLETS

JEWEL CASES

STUD BOXES

DRESSING

CASES

POUCHES

COLLAR

BAGS

ETC.

AMUSING TOYS

TINY TOTS