The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

Cloc

indley. He had occupied this house ever s

pering and so forth. The result was that although the house itself was not of much account he

asions raised the rent. When Linden first took the house the rent was six shillings a week. Five years after, it

s very well satisfied. He often said that Mr Sweater was a very good landlord, because on several occasions when, being out of work, he had been a few weeks behind with his rent the agent acting for the b

daughter-in-law, the widow and children of his youngest son, a reservist, who died while serving in the

Owen knocked at their front door. The

Linde

Who

ame's

ognized Owen's voice, and came to

Sloggit are going to start a large job on Mond

I'm afraid I won't stand much chance, because a lot of their regula

that block at the corner of Kerk Street and Lord Str

how, I'm much obliged to you for letting me know; b

don't want to stand about any longer

k a cup of tea,' Linden insisted. 'I w

l-looking old lady with white hair, was seated in a large armchair, knitting. Linden sat down in a similar chair on the ot

ing: ladies' blouses in process of making. This was another instance of the goodness of Mr Sweater, from whom Linden's daughter-in-law obt

antelshelf were a number of brightly polished tins and copper utensils. The room had that indescribably hom

was already pourin

the contrary. But then she remembered that Satan often appears as an angel of light. Appearances are deceitful. She wished that John had not asked him into the house and hoped that no evil consequences would follow. As she looked at him, she was horrified to perceive a small black head with a pair of

ing all over the table, darting madly from on

d with a feeling of superstitious alarm. Linden and the young w

age, Owen caught hold of it and, despite

I was coming along,' he sai

l give it something.' e

ravenously, almost upsetting the saucer in its eagerness, much to th

tea. Linden insisted on his sitting do

n like that. He knows very well the time it takes. The real reason is that he thinks I was gettin' too much money. Work is done so rough nowadays that c

rned Owen. 'Did you see Rushton

his bike before I got half-way, so I suppose he told his tale before I came. Anyway, when I started

king her head sagely. 'But it'll all come 'ome to 'em, you

ho had prospered were very similar in character to the two worthies in

hands with him and promised to give him a job when he came back. But now that poor Tom's go

n was evidently distressed, she was still mindful of the Ath

're not as them who are without God and without hope in the world. T

cared-for children about the streets lately, and what he remembere

n: he was afraid that he might say something that would hurt the old woman.

mpty cup on the

g. They'll be thinkin

, to the great admiration of the two children, who were sitting on the floor beside it. It was an artful

' he asked, addres

y. 'Give it to us,

ter,' exclaimed the little

I,' sai

u one of your o

ve got a

ou this, then you'd have two cats, and I'd

a little while if you give us this kitte

u rather have

: our cat don't want t

too rough with i

at; it's just be

ed the little girl, wisely. 'When they're grown up

two little orphans he thought of his own child, and of the rough and thorny way they wo

t, mister?' re

uest, but he wanted the kitten himself. Therefore

s 'ere: we've got one alre

him. No good could come of his being there. Was it not written in the Word: 'If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.' She did not know exactly what Anathema Maran-atha meant, but there could be no doubt that it was something very unpleasan

y when Owen put the kitten und

en, happening to notice a timepiece standing on a small t

very nic

ck, with a touch of pride. 'Poor Tom made th

d was made of fretwork in the form of an Indian mosque, with a pointed dome and pinn

and months he worked at it, and no one ever guessed who it were for. And then, when my birthday came round, the

r, from her lo

many happy

afterwards he were sent out to Africa, and he'd only been there five

ainful a subject, tried to think of some suitable reply, but had to

d not help observing that he appeared very frail and ill: his fa

l, he was not altogether bad: it was certainly very thoughtful of him to come all this way to let John know about that job. She observed that he had n

elf; her better feelings were aroused, triumphing mo

e in this rain.' Then, turning to her husband, she continued: 'There's that

ng, that he could not get much wetter than he already was. Linden accompanied him as far as the front door, and Owe