Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 162: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

164 out the orders of his superior, admit them for the night, when the vehicle which contained our hero and the Jew clothier drove up. As the vehicle stopped before the door, and the driver dismounted from ‘his box, inquiring and jealous glances were cast towards it by those who felt that though they could not themselves gain admission, the object in that conveyance, whoever it might be, woul@l be able to do so. Want and privation sours the temper, and the heart often swells with hatred where it should throb with pity. A hungry stomach is not the thing to make men charitable, and cause them to look upon their more fortunate fellow-creatures with loving kindness. On the contrary, it excites envy and distrust, embitters their whole nature, and drives them to imagine that heaven’s gifts are mis- applied. | Angry glances then were darted at the vehicle, and low mutterings in discontented tones ra round the throng. “Some bloak as can afford to be took -where -he can be paid for,” said one. “°Tis'a shame,” said another. ‘‘'There’s no pity for them as deserves it—oh, no. Them as can pay for coaches don’t ought to come to work- houses and keep them out as can’t.” A groan of contempt followed this remark, and the features of the hungry crew grew black as midnight when Jack leaped lightly from the coach. ““Hi!’”’ called out the driver, ‘‘just knock at the door will you, one of you.” : “ Knock yourself,” said a gaunt, half-starved fellow in, rags. ‘‘ We ain’t a-going to knock for people to get in as can afford to pay their bed and grub, and we may knock till to-morrow be- fore they'd let usin as ain’t got nothing to eat, no, nor place to doss.” | “See that the Jew does not attempt to get out of the vehicle,’’ whispered Jack, “and Ill drive this poor set of wretches away from the door.”’ “You'll get badly treated if you try, sir,” said the man. ‘“They’re like tigers when they’re hungry, they are.” * “Do my bidding,” said Jack, ‘‘ and you'll see.” So walking up to the door he looked round upon the ragged group, whohad all risen to their feet, and said— c “Do you want to get in?” “We don’t want to stop here all night,” re- plied one. _ © Will SONo::? Why is that ?” “He says the house is full.” ‘Can you not procure another lodging?” asked our hero. “How can we get a lodging without money ? And if we’d got that, do you think we’d come here?” growled another. “But if you had the money ?” “Certainly we could, or anybody else.” “1 will give you money to obtain food an lodging for the night,” said Jack. ) The change that came over the haggard and careworn features of that group was something wonderful. he porter not admit you ?”’ SPRING-HEEL'D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. Where scowling eyes peered hatefully forth from beneath lowering brows, gleams of joy shone brightly out, and on every lip hung the words, “God bless you !”’ “Yes,” said Jack, “ you shall have the means to procure you food and shelter. I cannot be- lieve it would be denied you here were it in the power of the authorities to admit you. Your sufferings fill your hearts with gall and bitter- ness towards those who often feel acutely for your pains. But there—take this, and this, and this, and get ye gone.” 4 He placed a coin in each of the extended hands of the wretched throng, and felt, as he observed the bony fingers tighten over it, and saw the looks which accompanied it, that he was indeed doing good. a The thanks uttered were not loud and rough, as might have been expected from such as these; they were murmured in low tones, or only ac- knowledged by the grateful tear, which the swelling heart drove to the trembling eye, which gleame than it did before. Slowly, silently, each turned away from the workhouse door, and in another minute Jack and his companion were alone with the coach. _ “Now, driver, look here,” said Jack, who, of course, had removed his mask, but had substi- tuted a thick pair of bushy whiskers, which gave him the appearance of being some years older than he really was—“ look here, my friend. This poor Jew, through some affliction or other, has gone quite mad, and I feel it a duty I owe to a sufferings fellow-creature to see that he is properly cared for. At this late hour it would be impossible to obtain admittance for him else- where than in the workhouse. Let me see, where did you take him up, you might be asked. — brighter now through the salt drops At EHaton-square ? Yes, Haton-square, was it not?” « Jack gave the driver a nudge in the ribs with his elbow as he gave utterance to the last words, and the man, grinning all over his face, stuek his tongue in his face, and replied— ““'To be sure, sir, if you say so.” “Of course I do.” “All right, sir, Dll swear to anything,” said the man, ‘if well paid for it.” ** No fear of that.” “All right, sir; shall I knock at the door ?” asked the cabman. “You had better.” | The man sprang across the pavement, and raising the heavy knocker, let it fall with a loud ang. | A little hasp in the centre of one of the panels slipped back,'and the face of the porter appeared — at the grated opening. ‘* Now, then, what do you want ?” he asked. ‘*T want you to open the door.” . What for ?” “To admit an insane Jack. ‘* Kh,” said the man, ‘‘some one mad ?” “ Quite.” ** Better call the master.” “‘ Be sharp, then.” The face disappeared from the gentleman,” called out the driver retired to the side of our hero. @