HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1871-12-15, Page 2777,,
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Cay.y.
NY\
THE HURON EX
POSITOR.
••••
,fx•
DEC. 15 1871.
v .4, • , ,
TUEDREADED CD.EST.
BY MISS M E. BRADDON.
((TonclucZoct from la8t week.).
It did happen that Martin Prestwitch
possessed the sum of seven pounds ten,
amassed by what supreme efforts of
(sconce -ay he and his narrow honsehold.
only could have told, and _ honestly set
aside for the payment of the Christmas
quarter's rent. To part with any of this
would be like shedninglis heart's blood;
bat he felt himself utterly unable to bop°
with this dreadful creature, whom he had
given back to the living world ; and. if
the coiner had. asked him for his heart's
blood instead of a five -pound note, it
seemed to Martin Prestwitch that he
must needs have given it.
So, after a longish parley, and a des-
perate endeavor to defend_ his treasure
on the doctor's part, Martin PreStwitch.
stole up stairs once more in the deed
night-time,- and crept like a robber to his
little hoard, from which lie took the five -
pound note demanded by the torinenter.
He looked at the little Dutch clock in
the kitchen before he went back to the
- dissecting room -watch he had none -
and saw that it wanted still a quarter to
three o'clock: The leng, dismal winter's
night was not half gone yet, and Dr.
Prestwitch did net know how_ lunch
m -ore that ressiscitatsd felon might ask
of him before it was done. Te think of
-
going to bed was worse than idle; sleep
or rest was an. impossibility, with that
baleful creature upon the premises. Dr.
Prestwitch seated himself by the fire,
opposite his visite., and prepared to wait
for morning with 'what patience he
might.
Fed and clothed, the intruder was in-
clined to be social, and expanded con-
siderably as the night wore,on, favoring
Dr. Prestwitch with numerous glimpses
of his past history, exhibiting a career at
once aderenthreas and felonious. Sense
of right and wrong seemed altogether
wanting to this creature, whose real
name, he told the doctor. was Jonathan
:Blinker, but who had been known to
fame by eeveral aliases, the most familiar
of which was Captain flashman. -
Day dawned at length -a dull gray
winter's morning, the atmosphere heavy
with unfallen snow, the bright white
ground looking even whiter than it was
against the dense leaden sky. When the
little Dutch chick in the kitchen struck
sevens Martin Prestwitch turned the trey
of the .dissecting -room door, and conjur-
ed Mr. Blinker to keep silence; and. for
one whole hour the two men sat without
speaking, Mr. Blinker dozing by the ex-
piring fire, the surgeon listenme to
Barbara Snaffles' movements as she astl-
ed, about, performing her morning duties.
Then came the shrill srnall voices of the
children, and then his wifes gentle
tones inerairing for the doctor at the dis-
sectino•room doer.
You don't mind being locked in here
for half an hour or so, While I go and. get
those shoes and stockings, s do you ?"
asked Marten of .Mr. Blinker, in - a
whisper.
The coiner looked athim doubtfully.
"Yon ain't going to sell me., are you ?"
he said.. " Yoe wouldidt- go and peach
upon a poor devil that you've brought
back to life? You wouldn't let me
swing a second_ time for the sake of the
reward? '
"Do you take me for a scoundrel?"
exclaimed Martin, with suppressed in-
dignation.
" No, I don't, and_ I'll trast you," an-
swered the other promptly.
. So Dr. Prestwiteh went out, and lock-
ed the door behind hies, to seeure his
secret from. the exploring eyes of Bar-
bara Snaffles.
He had. to answer his wife's remon-
strances and tender upbraidings. How
could he sit up all night, to the peril of
his precious health ? _He told Iser that
his studies had. been especially interest-
ing, and the nighth,ad .slipped away un-
awares.
What I didn't it seem long, Martin,"
she exclaimed, all those home down in
that cohl, dreary room?"
-" No, indeed, my love; T never- was
more comfortable," answered the doctor,
with audacious mendacity.
" You ate a- good supper, anyhow,
Sir," said the familiar Barbara, "Only
- think, mum ; there islet a roossel of yes-
terday's quartern, and. the Dutch ,cheese
is clean gone !" -
Martin Prestwitch shmk- off without
attempting an answer to this accusation..
He muttered somethino about seeind
patient, in the next street, put on his hat,
and went out.
It would not do_ to trifle with Mr.
Blinker. The shops must be open- by
this time, and the coiner might be shod.
and dispatch:ed. The doetor cheapened
a. pair of roomy second-hand shoes on a
colibleids stall, and bought a pair of Oom-
forta,bleworded doekings, of the size
which bis anatomical eye taught him
was likely to suit Mr. Blinker. The
half hour had scarcely expired when he
turned_ the 'key in the dissecting -room
door. The coiner was asleep, with, his
head reposing-corefortably upon the oper-
ating table,
The shoes and stockings were an ad-
mirabe fit; and when Dr. Prestwitch
had farther' pros ided an old hat, Mr.
Blinker, presented a tolerably reepee table
aopearence. There was still the quefd-
fiat' f disgnise ; but the doctor, after
seine little search in his surgery, found a
pair of green spectacles, which made a
eolisiderable alteration. in Jonathan
_Blinker's phs-siognonly. When these
had been assumed, the doctor looked
emtdsaw that the ground_ was clear, that
no inquisitive Barbara or imxious wife
was lurking in the shadow of an ad- 1,
jacent door -way, and then ushered
Illinker intothe court, rejoieed beyond' I
allineasure to be rid of him. evenat the !
cost of a five pound noteand_ teat
cadent bottle -green coat.
On the threshold .Mr. Blinker turned
round.
"1 shall give 3 -nu a look in soon, doe -
tor, to tell you how I get on."
Oh, - don't, if you -please," the sur-
geon cried, piteously. It would never
do for you to come here. You see, my
semily look upon yetis in the light of a
bods-, and I don't see how they are to
Cirought to regard you from any other
poii,it of view."
"1 sha'n't come to see your family,"
replied Jonathan , Blinker; "I shall
come to see you." •
. With this awful • threat he stalked
away, looking gigantic in the narrow
alley. The doctor closed ihs door with
a groan, and went to the .parlor, where
the meagre breakfast was neatly leid on
the round table near the small bright fire, 6
and where the anxious wife was- ready -
to take alarm at Martin's haggard face.
But Mary Prestwitch's anxious looks
were not half so embarrassing as the
searching glances o Barbitra Snaffles,
who regarded the ' surgeon \Irith a merbid
.
curiosity, as a man who had just left a
abnormal eimployment. She lingered in
the room while be ate.' hie breakfast,
handing him his toff e -cup till hovering
over his solitary egg.
"Is it there still?' she asked him in
a stage wI;dyer, while Mrs. Prestwitch
Lwas engased with the, three hungry
children, the youngeet of which was till
dependent on the maternal breast for the
most prim tive kiud of nourishment.
' "What do you mean by -it ?" Dr.
Prestwitch asked, impatiently.
"‘ Him ! The bedy! ' .
"No, .girl ; it'sigone."
"Gone? What 1! you've done with it
already ?"
i, Yes."
"And they've fetched. it away ?"
"Yes, they've fete, ed it away."
"Well, 1 never !" exclaithed. Barbara,
with an injured. air ; "they mast have
-been in a hurry. I thought I should
have seen it this naming. I've seen a
many in my time:- rewired and other-
wise -and I never rissed , one before.
I -ma,ke no doubt I s all dream of him."
4 ' Dream of him ! onsense, girl.e
"Not having seeit hint I make no
doubt -I shall dream of him," said Bar-
bara, with an air of conviction. "I
i
never missed one .before -not if . it was
three streets off, an 1 the family it be-
longed to a'most stra igers to me ; and to
have had one in thd same house, and
right -down stupid.
•
ie !" cried the doe-
erfect Vampire !"
as brought him. as
Miss Snaffles in -
not seen him, seems
like." . -
" Good Gragiotis
tor; " The girl is a
" Was it them tw
fetched him away ?"
quired; curiously. -
"Of course," aiDANI, ered the doctor.
' . "And are they go ig to bury him at
.Newgate ?" ,
"1 suppose so. here, _Bab, go and.
mind your seseek,lea d don't worry me
any more about th man. He's gone ;
that's eriough for youe .
si
Heartily did Mart n Prestwitch wish
that his visitor of 1, st night had indeed
been Carried away t be safely interred
within the prison w lis. That farewell
threat- of Jonathan Blinker's weighed
heavy On his soul. '
For the firSt time Ince he had lived
in Little Bell Street, Pr. .Prestwitch was
behindhand with his Christmas rent, to
the bewilderemet of 9, his faithful wife,
who .had helped himsto save the seven
pounde ten so carefully scraped. together
against the landlord should claim his
Le.
S' It's - gone, Mary," the doctor said
dismally, "or at least fivepounds ten of
it. You see, my dear, 1 was obliged to
to part with it.", .
," But what for, Martin? What could
you want five pounds ten foe ? • Yon, who
never spend money."
" Surgical instrumentS,emy lo-ve; a
man's first duty is to his profession."
And again Martin Prestwitch hated
himself for having lied to the wife ef,his
bo
The landlord was displeased, but not
implacable- Dr. Prestwitch was a ease-
ful tenant, and had shown himself a Iron -
est mans.. so, after grumbling a little,
the_landlord gave him a month's grace,
and went his way. -
Jonathan Blinker kept his promise.
In thawintry gloaming a meat hulking
man in a bettle-greeu coat with fur col-
lar might have been often seen entering
the doctor's surgery from the narrow
:
Side -alley, with a furtive, surreptitious
air. Here Dr, Prestwitch held converse
with him,- nd -Was fain to provide some
small sum f money against his commg.
- In time these donations took the form of
a weekly allowance, and the ao mplish-
ed Captain Flashman became • a l.guiai.
peusiouer upon the doctor. B_e eh ays
used. the same argument when claim ig
his bounty: De. Prestwiteli had reviv (I
him of his own volition, and was, thee -
fore bound to alithent him -to keep hi n
" goin °a, " as the captain called it. .- .
Dr. Prestwitch. submitted to this t -
position with much bitterness of ,spi -it,
and many a groan breathed in the oli-
tude of his surgery. He was a man of
a gentle and somewhat timorous -aature„
and he felt himself quite unequal -to re-
sist such a claimant ; ee week ley week
the poor fellows brain was rackecl by
the consideration of how he was to pro-
vide for Jonathan Blinker: Nor was it
money only that his tormentor demand-
ed from hero. The ex-toiner was of a
huogry temperament, and took it bad
if there Was not some trifling snack pro-
vided. for him when lie paid his weekly
visit; whereby the surgeon was fain to
have recoarse to divers small stratagems
in order to set aside the remains of a
_beefsteak pie or to Secure the bla.de-bone
of a shoulder of mutton for the refectioa
of his oppressor. The devoted Barbara
did not fail to note the disappearance of
these viands, and to remark upon the
fitfulness of her master's appetite.
For a longtime this' secret burden
weighed Martin Prestwitch down -to the
( st. Life had been a hard struggle be-
fore, butit was infinitely herder now,
when the small weekly serapings , which
he might have- saved were all absorbed
by the omnivorous Blinker. lie woke
sometimes in. the dead. of the night,
startled from sleep by the memory of Ids
tormentor, and lay broad. awake for
hours, brooding over his difficulties.
Mr. Blinker had taken care to impress
upon him that the thing he had. done
was agaiost the law, and that be was
liable to some severe penalty for liaving
assisted in the evasion of a. condemned
felon. Being too benevolent a mall to
betray his incubus, and not valorous
enough to face the difficulties of the case,
.Dre Prestwitch submitted to.be imposed
upon, and received his pensiotier as
meekly as if Joisatban Blinker had been
a creditor armed \ sith a righteous laim
agaiiistlint.
Things -went on in this dismal manlier
for some time, and then there came a
change for the better in the doctor's cir-
cumstances. Patients dropped in upon
hirn, or seta for him, much oftener than
of old. Now it was a eummons to at-
tend. the birth of some denizen of a slum
in St. Giles's, anon he was celled to the
death -bed of sonic imeicut inhabitant of
of the Mint ; semetimes he was sent for
to repair the damaises caused by a fa,c-
lion light in the the .purlieus of Fy(1.
Lane, or to operate upon. the fraetured
ribs of some inukulind enember of the
dangerous dlaeses in Bedfordbury. On_
all these occasions he found that he had
been reemni ended by Jonathan Blinker,
who had d scribed him . as a perfect
master of s rgery and physic; and on
all these oe asioes Dr. Prestwitch had
-reason to suspect that his new clients
belonged td the criminal classes. But
patients arc spatients, and these people
paid. the doctor promptly .and liberally,
when flush of money, and showed themid
selves h, norable whenever he gave them
credit. The juvenile population intlfese
quarter: was perpetually being increas-
ed ; an the ladies being uniformly
pleased with gentle Martin Prestwitch,
one ma ron recommended / him ! to an-
other, Intl the_ goetleman who was
usually described among Clem as
"Blink r's doctor" found his practice
was pie 'ng up, andelis financial position
becoming easier. .
There was still, however, thos dr-eade
ed visits of Jonathan Blinker ; 1 and it
seemed to Dr. Prestwitch as if he whole
-life was preyaded by that bulky figure in.
tho bottle -green coat, very . shiny about
the cuffs and elbows and mangy .4. to the
fur collar by this time. And yet he felt
that on the whole he was bound to be
grateful to his tormentor, for the ulti-
mate re tilt of the business had been ad-
vantage ms to himself, did'even trY
to make
Jonatha
fectiona,
some, show of gratitude ; while
1, on his part, was 'positively af-
e to his benefactor, declaring
himself 7eady to serve him in any man-
ner, at the hazard of a second suspension
per col. even. . . •
"There's nothing I Wouldn't do for
you, doctor," he said. " I'd -coin for
you if I had. a - new sot of tools, or the
money to buy 'em, There !" .
The ( octor, of course, entreated him
to dismi s all ideas of coining fioni h•is
bey* a Id to set about leading an honest
life ; ba on this Mi . Blinker would. only
shake h s head dubiously., as net perceivs
ins( the elevaacy of the proposition.
- So t ings went on for nearly three
years. The doctoes three small, child-
ren had been :recruited -by tui infantile
brother, and now numbered four; with
the pos ibility of a fifth looming in the
distanc . The doctor's practice was bet-
ter, buitwas not a good. oile, and
could na t by any means be called an
aristoce tie or even a "genteel practice's
'nee had he doctor any prospect of being
-able to -I emove to a More fashionable
ti -an Little Bell Street. He could
pay the - utelier and the baker, however,
mid had no need to worry himself about
his rent; and this to a man of such
modest ( .esires, was enough for potent-
ment. -
Mr. Blinker had been his pensioner all
this time, and Barbara Snaffles had be-
come' quite familiar with the weekly
visitor ih the bottle -green coat, dimly
visible itt the- gloaming; for whatever
the season of the year Mr. Blinker came
only in the twilight. She believeditt
him tirthly as a patient in the corns
chandler litie-Dr. Prestwitch 'Mastoid
her he ,as a corn -chandler -afflicted
with soi e .chronic disease, and one of
her nas er's most profitable customers.
The t ird year was closing in when
the ever ing and hour of Mr. Blinker's
accuston ed visit came round without
bringing that gentleman. to Tit le Bell
Street.- It was the dist.time that he had
failed to appear with Tnesday ev ning'S
dusk sin 'e the foundation of this istitu
bon, and Dr. Prestwitch passed he ref
maieder of the evening in a statel of all -
most. feverish restlessness, with •the ex
coiner's allowance in his pecket. Could
any thie g have happened to Jo• athan
Blinker? Could it be that this in ictio.n
come to t suddeo end.?
A sec . Tuesday dame ronn
again Mi. Blinker was missing; a third,i
and -then a fourth, with the same result,
Dr.. Pre twiteh felt a wild half -guilty
hope th t he shouidnever see Jonathan
Blinker again. Yet he was loinewhat
sorry to Clink that evil had befallen the
missing an, nevertheless ; fertile sugemi
was of kiudly disposition,. andthe
creature 1 ad loved. him. . - •
Six •w seks wentby, and there were
stili rio idings of Mr... Blinker. The
surgeon .ead the police news, expecting
to see so Ile record of calamity to his fel-
onious cquaintance ; but the Scanty
news she ,t of the day contained no in-'
formation of the messing Jonathan.. If
he had. ..affered, he had .stiffered Under
some alic s unknown to the doctor. At
the end f the six Weeks, and while Dr.
Prestwit wonderment was yet at its
height, t ere came -a Mystericeis brown_
paper p, reel,' addressed to the debtor in
a queer, -ramped hand: that he had never
seen befoe. It was a small oblong pack-
age, ver, carefully- corded and Sealed,
yet ina omewhat eldnisy mamma ; and
it arrive( in the. evening, while Alartin
Prestwit .h was enjoying a pleasant in-
terval u repose in the bosom- of his
4triVer'st rgeon'of LittleBell Street was
not the r edpieut of many parcels. Gifts
and offedngs of friendship were • not
showerea upon him, even at the.. most
festive s 'assize Christmas brought .him
no Mons. er •turkeys, the new year no
costly fri -olities for his children in the
way df. •ngar-plums ; and. his little Ones
had gide ei out of mfaney without as
much as a sponsorial fork and spoon
among ti e four of them, • /he adycnt of
a- parcel, therefore, was a sufficient!aause
for exci•t ment in the small family 'circle. -
The lovii g little wife's bright eyes: grew. ._
brighter., With pleasure, the twc elder
c il dr en 111Stled.o.ch other at their fath-
er's_ kne s -in :their eagerness to see the
parcel o iened and. Barbara Snaffles
stood op 'n -mouthed and. open-eyed at
her mast
The p rcel felt very .heavyas almost
like plat , Dr. Prestwitch thouglit-and,
oh ! wha an -acceptable gifb. a dozen or -
so of siter forks and spoons would have
been. iii • that humble household ! He
bloke th seals and unfastened' the cord
with Ilan 18 that were tremulous With ex-,
eiteenent lnaidle the brovsn paper there
weS a small deeel boX roughly made, ,and,
the lid ai1ecl- down. •-. There was some
Work in 'eeirie delayin raising the. lid •
bat wheer it was Iiftcd _Mary Pred-Witch
thought the Sight she :beheld an all-suf-
ficiunt ward for a hundred time as
ninth tro
Conifin talily reposing - between: :two
layers of eottonevool ispeciu•ed a -quanti-
ty nf goli guinea.ssi • their yellow bright-
:nese- plea.engly relieved by •a background
of -crown pieces, flesh from the mint,
"Oh, ilartin !" Cried the little woman,
with :etas red. hands. " who eals Lave. sent
us So mu sh money'? Thapks be to God,
-whoever t is !"
For a f w moments Dr. Prestwitch (lid
indeedbeheve that some unknowui bene-
factor h d taken compessioa upon,. his
poverty, nd that the glisteuieg counters
before h m were geeidne emu of 1 the
realm, )illy moments ; and thee the •
image of Jonathan _Blinker arose before.
his dazz ed eyes, and he felt assured
that th es , -bright reproductions of King
George's image were the handiwork of
the coine
He pus .ed away his wife's hand as she
stretched it out to take one of the
guineas.
"Don't excite yourself, Molly'," he
said, gen ly. "It isn't real money, It's
only
only so e one playing off a practical
joke upo me."
eal money? Oh, Martin !"' ex-
.•
; and
the wife, With some hing like a
sob.
(
o, -my love. They look very- well,
certa nly, but 'there's not a. genuine
gain a among them ; and if you or I
were to try to pass one of them, it would
be at the hazard of our necks."
wouldn't mind trying, though,"
said he reckless Barbara, "at Barna,by
Fair.
14T
AO, 1.)in LISAILMC(.1 of you !" cried.
the d dor. • -
-He took up one of the delusive coins
betw en his finger and. thumb, and felt
the c lges with the air of a man learned
in ro" tallurgy. ,
" 'xamine the milling, my dear," he
said, • handling the false guinea to his
wife. "That's the test." :
Mc ry Prestwitch burst out crying as
she 1 eked. at the bright simulacrum. It
was , bitter disappointment. Five min-
utes_ ago she had fancied that a .shower
of ric les had descended upon them ; and
now- t seemed as if the thought of their
pove ty was a ksener pang than it had
ever been before.
re they readies- false, Martin ?" she
aelce( , piteously,
s false as any that ever a man was
hung for coining,' replieii the doctor.
had just come upon a scrap Of pa-
per that lurked at the bottom of the
box a briefscrawl from Jonathan
Bliner .
onerd Sine" wrote thp felon, "I
are sett sum tooles and begun work
agen. I send a fu SpeSSImij1t1, which
may )0 ynsefull. Thay wol4I parse in
yr ea dnirede. Yrs to emend. J. B."
Ma tin .Prestwitch tossed this missive
into •he tire. . _
h, Martin; who is it. that hasplay-
ed th s wicked trick ?" asked his wife ;
an( what was there in that note?" ,•
"i othiug that 1 could Make out,
Moll). Don't fret, my _starling I don't.
supp se the person meant. unkindly."
C
ot mean. ankiudly f?' And to - dis-
appoi it ns like that? - Oh, Martin ?",. -
Th Clilistmae snow lay in the isethed
nook • and by -Ways of the great . city
once noree'and •the doctor was fourteen
years older than at the beginning of this
story. ', But he -still lived in iLittle Bell-
Stree , and still worked very hard to
proyi e for his wife and children. The
fact. vas, he had so many of them that
his h usehold expenses for the last four-
teen 3 ears had. been steadily ' on the in-
cieas . He did not. grumble at this,,
howe er, He could ill have .spared one
of th, t merry band. . • ' ' -
His circumstances have ',- improved
-some\ =hat year by year, but .never So
-much as to' justify•his remove' t� a more
fashio table neighborhood. His )atieots
•beloe ed tothe lower classes; and if he
had 1 ft Little Bell Street, he nivathave
left Ji s practice behind him. . So a 'Whole -
, se
nosegi y of Wool:nines {lowers had grown '
up in bat dingy old house'more. or less
under the dominion of Barbara, Snaffles.
"Old servants are such bard masters,"
fia,ys harks Reade ; and. certainly Bar-
bara r ilea the. doctor's household.with a
rod of hem • . .". .' s .
. Th re was 'a great commotion in the
famil this Christmas. The oldest girl..
her re ther's namesake, Molly„ was .go-
ing t be marriedgoing to i be trans-
planted. into a sphere of life much- loftier
than t list in wheal her fathereand moth-
er .ha( their being ; for she had . been
lucky enough to win tue affe.etiona of a
fashio iable young doetor, . Whose father
was a ebytician with a large West End
practi e ; a :very proud and poinpous
gentle'n an, not a little disposed to con-
sider that his only soli. was throwing
himself away upon pretty Mo11y Prest-
witchwe
h;
The were 're to be married up4n thelast
• day of the -old year, and poor Molly had
• had h rd. work to prepard her simple
weddi ig outfit, With the aid. and counsel.
of Baa. sa,ra Snaffles, ' (+entre little Mrs.
Prest\ itch was something of a cipher in
the ho isehold, -like :niost mild-temsilired
womei whose lives are - taken' up' with
the re ring of children. She. Was con-
tent ti look on and see the indefatigable
Barba] a manage , for herself i and. her
family and it seemed to her that every
thing ' istress Snaffles didevas wise. • -
On !heistmas-day there waS :to be a
great festival hi . Little .13e11 &rect.
' Youn Mr. Clemmory-Molly's intended
was t dine with liss •future father -lila
law ; ad_ the great Dr. Clemmory hint -
self, 0. Saville Row, had condescended to
accept Martin Prestwitelds . invitation
to liar ake of his modest Christmas fare.
The .f ro. was to be by -• no Means un -
worth of the distinguished guest, hoar --
ever ; for .- Barbara had. been Op to ' her ,
eyes 1. preparatioes for the last week,
and had cheapened one of the finest geese
in Leadenhall Market for the. feast,
which with a haunch of mutton, it boiled
round of beef, and a veal pie,. the doctor
'and hili wife agreed would make a very
pretty little 'dinneee 'They 'Were to. dine .
at thette in the afternoon -quite a patri-
cian h ursabot young Cleminui.y. had- in-
former them that -his fatherndver dined,
earlier ; and. as a8 the appointed imedeew I
near,,1 arbara s nerveusness msreased to ' •
. _
a fevetith ieteesity. , She felt. that het
repute nes ae a cook and, a. nia ager was 1.
'staked ripen •this cast. . I
A li tle befOkethree De. Clen mory and
his scil . arrived, the 'West End, physieian,
a pont emus. .man, with a fat voice, a
pawde ed wig, a pair of handsome legs
'in Wasik silk stockings, and . a gold -head-.
ed dad& The Sloan waineeoted parlor
seemed. hardly capaeions euougs for euch
was quite fluttered by the impertaiice of '
gotud company ; and ..Its. I restwiteh
her guest.
.1t was nearly dinner -time, and they
wine all assembled in the peeler ; Melly ,
the yerniger radiant and :blooming in 0 .
white annslin fleck, with a coral neck-
lace round her '• slur' d er - thr rat ; two
younger girls, . \vim looked. lil e smaller
repetitions of :\Jolly ; three lif ys, more
or les'in the hobbledehoy 81:6. re of ex;
isteoco all in clean. shirt frills, nit show- i •
ing a 1 ttle more bony l wrist .1) dow their
coat etifs than was in accord nee with .
the reigning fashion -poor pe ple's chil-
dren grow -so fast. It ,was on he stroke
of three a Mrs. PeestWitch was wonder-
ing 'how the goose Would t irn out ;
whether the haunch ol mutton would be
roasted to that perfection of culinary art
which such a man as Dr. Clemlnory had . 1
a right to expect in any joint Set before l
him ; and whether Barbara would emerge
triumph-antly from the plum -pudding or- ' (
deal, and walk u»scathed through the •
mince -pie furnace. The house was sm.all,
and the narrow entrance hall had. been
odorous with. chimer for the last hour or
more. • _., -
Before the neighboring _ °leeks began
to strike the home there came a loud
double kriock,at Dr. Prestwitch's door.
The surgeon and his wife started and
stared at each other aghast.- . They had
invited no other guest ; and theadveut
of . a dropper -in - upon such an occasion
Not.
would be an unmixed calamity. Every
fork and. spoon had been pressed into the
service of the day, every inch of the din-
ner -table was engaged. - -
The 'West End physician was' laying
down the law in his pompous voice,
talkind about the King and my Lord
North ° a,nd those contumacious Ameri
cans • but every other tongue was eilent
and 'Dr. and Mrs. Prestwitch were
strainieg their ears to the utmost to hear
the opening of the street -doer, and Bar-
bara's parley with the expected visitor.
There was a long pause : it was not an
easy thing for Bab to leave her dinner at
the supreme moment of " dishing -up,"
and it would have been ill -manners for a
member of the family to leave the room
in order to open the street -door. There
was a prolonged. pause, therefore,- during
which the church -clocks chimed. three
With a solemn sound, and the individual
who had. knocked gave a load, husky
lem, a sound that sent a cold shiver
through Martin Prestwitch, he • scarce
knew why.
At last the door Was opened, and a
voice that turned the surgeon's Wood to
ice was heard inquiring for Dr. Prest-
witch. _ Then a pair of creaking, shoes
walked down the passag,e, the parlor
door was limes open, and Barbara an-
noanced Mr. Jonathan Blinker!
It was; the coiner dressed. in a brand
ncsv bottle -green coat and breeches, and
a scarlet waistcoat elaborately adorned.
with gold -lace ; the coiner grown stout
and red-faced and prosperous-lookinlr ;
the coiner in a snow-white frilled shirt,
and with a new three -cornered hat under
kisTahlerirle. was a dead silence. Martin
Prestwitch's countenance 'assumed. a
!Sickly hue ; tilt great maa from Saville
Row stopped suddenly in his lecture, and
stared at the new -comer as if waiting for
an introduction. Mrs. Prestwitch and
the children stared also, but were inclin-
ed to consider Mr. Blinker's jovial red
face in a favorable aspect. He looked an
eminently respectable gentleman of the
agricultural class.
"How (rye' do, doctor ?" he said, un-
abashed by the assembly in which he
found himself. "I've just collie back
from America, and I thought I'd give
you a look up before I went any where
else, even though it was Christmas -day;
and dont mind cutting my Christmas
beef with you, if you've no objection a."
What could Martin Prestwitch do -a
weak soul at the best,. and especially
feeble where Jonathan Blinker was con-
cerned? He faltered out a half -audible
intiduction: " Dr. Clemmery, Mr.
Blinker ; Mr. Clemmory, Air. Blinker."
The physician bowed with an urbane
stateliness ; good-natured George Clem-
mory shook liands with the stranger.
• "Your arrival is somewhat of a co -in-
cidence," _said Dr. Clemmory ; " we
:were discussing the' aspeet of American
affairs when you knecked."
Barbara announced dinner before Mr.
Blinker could reply.- By a rapid and jue
(Helens manaivring of the knis-es and
forks shies had contrived to prepare a
cover for the uninvited guest and the
coiner took his place among .the -rest of
the company, to the horror of Martin
Prestwitch, who' knew not wr-hat revela-
tions might be made before the meal was
finished, and who felt that his face was
palpably bedewed with colelprespiration.
The banquet was a success. Dr.
Clemmory ate like an alderman, and
praised the goose and the haunch until
Barbara's countenance glowed with an
honorable pride. Mr. Blinker made him.
self eminently agreeable, talking jovially
with the youngsters at his end of the
table, and leading the laughter for all
Dr. Clemmory's jokes with a stentorian
peal. It is true that be put his knife in
his mouth a good, deal, and supped up
his gravy M a painfully audible manner ;
but people were not so refined in those
days, and a prosperous agriculturalist
might do as much as this withoirdcreat-
ing scandal. Altogether things' were
much better than Martin Prestwitch had
expected, and as the evening wore en he
began to breathe freely.
After dinner there was a dessert of
nuts and oranges. How happy George,
Clemmory and pretty- Molly Pres -twitch
seemed roasting chestnuts at the fire in
the dimly lighted parlor, with all those
young brothers and sisters, while their
parents conversed more gravely in the
dining -room, where there was a steam-
ing bowl of punch ! Under the influence
of punch the West End physician be-
came wonderfully expansive, and. pa-
tronized Jonathan. Blinker in the most
cienial manner.
"1 like a man of that stamp," he said,
afterward, in confideuce to Martin Prest-
witch ; "an holiest, jovial fellow, cast
in a good mould, Sir -east in a (rood.
mould. There's see:mine . metal there,
Dr, Prestwitch ; you can hear the ring
of it. The man is sterling coin, Sir."
Martin Prestwitch shivered, and could.
only reply I -6th a sickly smile.
RAILWAY TIME TABLE.
Trains leave the Seaforth station as
follows :-
Express.
2.37 P. M.
Express.
10-50
GOING WEST.
Mixed. MAL
1,40 P. M. 8,40 p.
GOING EAST.
Mixed.
1,40 le M.
Mad.
8.00 A. M.
B R EA KFST-EPP'S 0OCOA-G:1z ATEFL'I*
AND Comte) Rad Id By a thorough
knowledge of the natural laws which_
govern the operations of digestion and
trition, and by a careful application
of well selected cocoa, Mr. Epps has pro-
vided our breakfast -tables with a deli-
cately flavored beverage winds may save
us many doctors' bills."-Cia herric
aazette. --Made simply with boiling wa-
ter or milk. Each packet is labs:sled-
" JA31 ES EPPS & Homosopathic
Chemists, London." s Co.,:lse. makers of
Epp's Milky Cocoa (Cocoa and Con-
denzed
JUST RECEIVED,
A T
THOMAS LEE'S,
A CHOICE STOCK OF
FRESH FAMILY GROCERIES,
Compri:4/1'g
TEAS, SUGARS,
CO FFEES, ktel;3,
CURRANTS, RAISINS,
SOAP, TOBACCOS,
Etc., Etc.,
AR of which he can afford to sell as cheap as any
the town.
TEAS FROM BO cents*TO $1,
And warranted to give satisfaction to all.
SHEARSON & CO.'S
No 1 Flour and Feed
Of every description constantly on hand. ABA
PROVISIONS
Of kilt& to be ha. at the lowest possible rates..
Simpson's Spice, the hest Condition Powder for
Farm Stock in use. Farmers, try it.
The highest price given for Farm Produce of all
lauds.
Remember the place,
SHEARSON & CO.'S OLD STAND,
West Side, Main -street,
SEAFORTH, Out.
THOMAS LEE.
HOUSE & LOT FOR SALE
IN SEAFOR1'11.
Teon Sale, Cheap, a Frame Cottage and a 'Lot
and a half. on the corner of Jarvis and Market
streets, immediately facing the Market square,.
The house contains two MOLDS 5na two bed -rooms,
,with hall and summer kitchen. There is also
splendid well of water on the premises. For terxus
L.ktiao,L.apply.... to the undersigned.
JOHN DAITNCEY,
Seaforth.
NOTICE.
ABOREP wanting -wort fOr feW
I iweeks will find employment on the
G OVERNMENT DRAINS,
In -Grey. WAGES, $1,25 per day.
Enquire of t5e foreman on this wbre
or apply to the agent at the office, J as,
T. Blain. "
G. BLAIN, Contractor.
Grey, May 12, 80-tf
J. P. BRINE,
LICENSED AUCTIONEER for the County of
-A-4 Huron. Sales attended in all parts of the
Country. MI orders left at TEE ExPesrron Mee ,
wit, be promptly attknded to: los
STOVES, TINWARE AND
COAL OIL.
AVIS. INI7ITNEY has just received a huge stock
47-5" of .Cooking, Parlor and Box Stoves, -of the best
manufacture, which she eau sell ,cheap as any
in the trikde.
TINWARE, of every description,
kept constantly on hand and made to order.
Also, Stove Pipes, Ea,ve Troughing, etc.
Custom -work promptly attended to, and outside
work will receive every attention.
COAL Of E.
Alarge stock of the very best Coal Oil kept con-
stantly on hand, and will be sold wholesale and
retiititi7n.ienther the
place, Carmichaers Block, Main
strie'lentliSestrill.L1;111)ied by note or book aeconnt are re-
gulLisettiesd, brass, eolyper, etc.
taken in exchange for goods.
EGAIONDATILLE
Before the night was out 1)r. Clemmory
was obviously the worse or the better for GROCERY' STORE
liquor, and. had become almost maudlin
in his expressions of regard. for the ex -
coiner. Mr. Blinker had drunk more,
but the ong drink had no effect upon W11. 111 02\ /SON
inin When th d physician's coach came
to fetch hire away from Little Bell
Street he volunteered to set Mr. Blinker 4_,As n fre,th suplav of choice Family
Groceries, of every deseriplion, embracing very
Mate of Seaforth,)
down at his inn before arising home, an
offer which Yale aecepted, to the horror..
of Martin Pi est -witch. •
If Dr, Cleminory had taken a fancy to
Mr. Blinker, that worthy, on his part, !
had taken fancy to the junior members
of the l'restwitch family. He iesistei-1.
ripen kissing the three girls meter the
Mistletoe N.'"11011 he wieeed them good •
night. and welled. by kissing Barbara
Snaffles in the passage., He squeezed
Martin Preetwiteh by the hand upon the
threshold, and. said, in a' confidential
voice.
" 1 thirds you've been glad to see me,
doctot, .and I take it kindly. I've not
forgot. past favors. I've made a bit of
money out yonder in the Shipping line, .
and I've left every penny of it to you.''
'it was the truth and the bit of money
turned out to be a large fortune, which
Prestwitch- inherited three years
afterward from the grateful Blinker,
\\-ho expired in the odor of sanctity at his
own house at t Tipton, sincerely regretted
1 Fine -flavored Teas,
)3. the young Prestwitches, to whom he
lad been a kind of fairy god -father,
showering benefits and gifts upon them
luring those concluding years of his life. !
To the last day of his existence Dr. 1
Clemmory wae wont to speak of Mr.
Blinker as a model of probity, and. the I
very flower of successful traders and MONEY !,
self-made men..
000 TO LEND.
TiIE man was never known that could I
please everybody. but Frank Paltridge
comes the nearest to it in his line of ;
business. .$1 per dozen. Scott's block, I
Seaforth.
Of various varieties.
Also, Sugars, Coffees, Spites, Fish;
TO BACC0D4,
Bismits ,,very othpr n rtiop OW Groet-r3'
nll of v. hich he will sell Lit prices As ItiV: al.L Cali be
had at SuLforth or in any in the County.
I
BUTTER AND EGGS
taken. in exchange for goods a
FLOUR AND FEED,
(31 L.14.-ry (104eiiptioy. IL (lit etn,ct:',--11-: i.71 hand,
eluding -hear-on & Co.'s No. 3.
A ran it; respuctfully
TH0:41140.N.
RI:MEMBER THE BR'S "K STORE,
isosooenVILl.1:,
LO(AN'S 01,1) STAXD
;
T HAVE the above sum on hand. for
1 investment on good Farm Security, at
8 and 9 per cent, -Private Funds.
JOHN 5. PORTER.
SEAFORTII, July 25, 1870,
Dtc.: 15.. •
101110Effrracaaistrx4swmosv*
ERIEr 3.1
Fanny Fern
-writing a new1)91
-
Anthony
-whole inovel
-way td, Austialia.
— Si.even thous
to the 'Belgian Int
:.— The -Guinea,
watches with thei!
Just-
-, Bricklayers
manding per7J
work.
— at is calculi
trait propeller wh
1T),G40 sleepers.
—Since the pe
much small -pox th
wllntned
-- Some of then
house keepers on
are W*0111-elL
—The late. SIX
'Cations in Utah -8)
than ieported.
people are missing.
The workingi
iaill have OrgalliZIA
promoting: the sepa
and State. -
— The English
silver currency 'win
ed with '(equal fao
dollars and francs.
1WeahilhAnyAlr:lek:Iiia:lio14tili:
xied inside a muff
—Large gold di
studded with dian
precious stones, I
fashion again for ,t1
—
1' e, ar n . 1 \Ir. at I) 'dar Newwil
1
- las been discovered-
. in
f----antThe Chicago .)
-worn by the -cow 1
the lamp that set ,fil
on exhibition in ail
one different places;
7—Probably the ,
,continuons service
States is Mrs. Sia.
God& a- Ladies' ,.
touched eighty-four,
sta.-May at the woil
has beer. engaged P
377-7. *
Mr. Robert
.
son of the late
'from Chicago to a. g
.city that the lawye
are entitely with°
brary of the Law an..
large private law
been consumed by]
1
Lincoln ,calls on his 1
bar of New -York te
assistance.
--- Dr. Willard 1).,1
foremost.,:bf our--pli
the astoUnding -state
third of all the deatl
city are the result,
reedy, of the use,
that in the last th
190,000 persons in I
died of its use, eithe
or their parents,
—Spielhagen, th
mancist, -rill come
Stares neXt spring, ,
Shakespedrd.
— The largest sal
Francisco school teac
Inoutia-; the net is
more poorly paid t
tiora. Next to mini
I:ahl lai-ias Els oiifss rat: e tohe:I:, e' 1 a sEi 11:1 -
paying sellooleteaeleds
GAIETI
A gr: ef-stricken
--widow tel _graphed ty
her late husband : 11
,dead. USS fully ,col
ance."
— " Charley,"said
to her son., " you, ar4
again!: 4' . 7o,": 49.1
-1
44 you ai!re vrong, Ma
to me." 1
— Boarding .,sw,,,,
Charlie, 1 expect t/
next oifleetneitt
ne
What wil you grado
in white title. '
—A stable ,keepe
Mass., ±41 the Rev
not a gra while ago
noon service must be
must buy more horse
—This is how a
-drunkard put on his
-wind blew, it int/
knelt dowin slowl
nuated camel, ant
into it, pressed it. * •
his head afrainst tip
then aros/ li a so
majesty, and thc 1 -4 -
big succcss parting it
-- A Down -Kist ,
that his fathei, i1 't'
:
would tell a lie:
411arter :cents, il
the allegati.,n. bu
admitted that lie 11,
tth:11 f'or .i,l.
-- " What make,
/Toss ?” said an old
11101, the other
11102Ml ? *hesa r
. .
things in the worli .:
milk is always sour,'
plied, Aarp13 .
— A gentlei •