Jack's Ward; Or, The Boy Guardian

it was a night of happy anticipation. In the humble home of the Hardings it

et the rent, Martha," said th

r. Colma

e is, Martha. There isn't much feeling about h

are doing him

you never hear how he

ow

me round he was in about the same situation with ourselves-a little worse, even, for his wife was sick als

?" asked Mrs. H

more lenient with us. I can't but f

to the reader, who should knock but Mr. Colman himself. Both the

om. No one, to look at him, would have suspected the hardness

id, affably. "I trust you and your

, is continued to us," s

uch a scene of comfort as this. You've got a comfortable home, and dog cheap, too. All my other tenants are grumbling to think you don't ha

leasantly, but the pill

he cooper, soberly, "you have chosen rat

od sir?" inquired th

ss depression; my own trade in particular has suffered grea

st something of

t be able to pay my qu

ldly. "Perhaps you can make it

he first time, in the five years I've lived here, that thi

harder," said Colman, harshly. "It is hardly honest t

one ever yet lost anything by me, and I don't mean anyone shall,

ord shook

pelled, by a prudent regard to my own interests, to warn you that, in case your rent is not ready to-morrow, I shall be o

ravely. "I may as well say that now; and it's no use

ll. That's understood. But it's a disagreeable subject. We won't talk of it any more no

as usual," answere

id, after a pause. "Will you allow us to remain

house, and they wish to come in immediately. Therefore I shall be obliged to ask you to move out to-morrow. In fact, th

of bitterness unusual to him. "If we are to be turned into t

erely a matter of business. I have an article to dispose of. There are two bidders, yourself and another person. The latter is will

ing; but you must excuse me if I think of it in another light, when I r

s all. Just take to-night to sleep on it, and I've no doubt you'll see things in quite a different light. But positively"-here he rose, and began to draw on his gloves-"positiv

e landlord, leaving beh

t know how it seems to others; for my part, I never say them words to anyone, unless I really wish 'em well, an

e, but in her own gentle heart she could not help feeling a repugn

man," he sa

te anyone, my son,

Ain't he goin' to turn us

ur rent, he is just

to be so friendly? He do

t to be pol

ck a man, it should be done pol

" said the co

acant in this neighborho

the next block belon

etter one

ame rent that we have been paying.

't we g

we have failed to pay our re

that nothing but the hard times wo

e lightened my heart a little. I feel as

thing that Mr. Colman said that didn't sound so well

o you r

eading the verse: 'Never have I seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bre

er-present help in time of trouble.

rest thoughtfull

length. The last sands of the old year were running