Stories with a Vengeance — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

THE STORY OF JACK THE PAINTER, 21 “ Ab,” quoth the friend, “Ive heard of |1s to marry a sensible woman, who will take Lady Bellarmine. Handsome woman, with a moustache. But Philocoma’s a very queer name, for all that.” * * * * * And this, perhaps, is a very Queer Story. If it has any moral at allI think that such moral may be briefly stated. You should do your best not to squander your money, especially when you have laboured hard to earn it; and if you are by nature ex- travagant, the best thing that you can do care of your money for you, and not allow you to waste it. But you should never steel your heart against the pleadings of poverty; and in particular you should do your best to be kind and merciful and cour- teous to Ugly Old Women, even if they do occasionally appear to be impostors and call you a fool for your pains. I sa appear to be. For aught you can tell, beneath the skinny and osseous envelope of the most hideous old hag that ever hobbled there may be a very beautiful Soul. > a JOO S CO)