The Golden Shoemaker

The Golden Shoemaker, by J. W. Keyworth

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Title: The Golden Shoemaker or 'Cobbler' Horn
Author: J. W. Keyworth

Release Date: July 23, 2007 [eBook #22124]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE GOLDEN SHOEMAKER:
or, "Cobbler" Horn.
by
J.W. KEYWORTH,
Author of "Mother Freeman," "The Churchwarden's Daughter," &c., &c.

[Illustration: "'Come here, missy!'"--Page 38.]

London: J. Williams Butcher, 2 & 3, Ludgate Circus Buildings, Farringdon Street, E.C.

Contents.
Chapter Page
I. BEREAVED! 1
II. AUNT JEMIMA 8
III. HOW MISS JEMIMA MANAGED HER BROTHER'S HOUSE 13
IV. "ME LUN AWAY" 19
V. "THE LITTLE TWIN BRETHREN" 22
VI. THE FATHER'S QUEST 25
VII. WHAT HAD BECOME OF THE CHILD? 36
VIII. THE SHOEMAKER BECOMES "GOLDEN" 41
IX. A STRANGE CLIENT FOR MESSRS. TONGS AND BALL 47
X. MISS JEMIMA IS VERY MUCH ASTONISHED 52
XI. "COBBLER" HORN ANSWERS HIS LETTERS, AND RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS OF HIS FRIENDS 58
XII. "COBBLER" HORN PAYS A VISIT TO HIS LANDLORD 65
XIII. FREE COBBLERY 72
XIV. "THE GOLDEN SHOEMAKER" WAITS UPON HIS MINISTER 76
XV. "COBBLER" HORN ENGAGES A SECRETARY 85
XVI. THE ATTACK ON THE CORRESPONDENCE 91
XVII. A PARTING GIFT FOR "THE LITTLE TWIN BRETHREN" 98
XVIII. THE NEW HOUSE 105
XIX. A TALK WITH THE MINISTER ABOUT MONEY 110
XX. "COBBLER" HORN'S VILLAGE 116
XXI. IN NEED OF REPAIRS 123
XXII. "THE GOLDEN SHOEMAKER" INSTRUCTS HIS LAWYERS 129
XXIII. MEMORIES 138
XXIV. ON THE OCEAN 149
XXV. COUSIN JACK 163
XXVI. HOME AGAIN 176
XXVII. COMING INTO COLLISION WITH THE PROPRIETIES 184
XXVIII. BOUNDER GIVES WARNING 193
XXIX. VAGUE SURMISINGS 201
XXX. A NOVEL DIFFICULTY FOR A MAN OF WEALTH 207
XXXI. "COBBLER" HORN'S CRITICS 217
XXXII. "IN LABOURS MORE ABUNDANT" 232
XXXIII. TOMMY DUDGEON ON THE WATCH 239
XXXIV. A "FATHER" AND "MOTHER" FOR THE "HOME" 249
XXXV. THE OPENING OF THE "HOME" 255
XXXVI. TOMMY DUDGEON UNDERTAKES A DELICATE ENTERPRISE 267
XXXVII. BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH 275
XXXVIII. A LITTLE SHOE 285
XXXIX. A JOYOUS DISCOVERY 293
XL. TOMMY DUDGEON'S CONTRIBUTION 305
XLI. NO ROOM FOR DOUBT! 313
XLII. FATHER AND DAUGHTER 326
XLIII. THE TRAMP'S CONFESSION 339

THE GOLDEN SHOEMAKER.
CHAPTER I.
BEREAVED!
In a small house, in a back street, in the large manufacturing town of Cottonborough, the young wife of "Cobbler" Horn lay dying. It was the dusk of a wild evening in early winter; and the cruel cough, which could be heard every now and then, in the lulls of the wind, from the room upstairs, gave deepening emphasis to the sad fact that the youthful wife and mother--for such also she was--had fallen a victim to that fell disease which sweeps away so much of the fair young life of our land.
"Cobbler" Horn himself was engaged just now in the duties of his calling, in the little workshop behind the kitchen. The house was very small. The kitchen and workshop were the only rooms downstairs, and above them were three small chambers. The one in which the dying woman lay was over the workshop, and the sound of her coughing came down with sharp distinctness through the boarded floor, which was the only ceiling of the lower room.
"Cobbler" Horn knew that the death of his wife was probably a question of a few hours at most. But he had promised that the boots on which he was at work should be finished that night; and he had conscientiously withdrawn from his wife's bedside that he might keep his word.
"Cobbler" Horn was a man of thirty or so. He was tall, and had somewhat rugged features and clear steadfast eyes. He had crisp black hair, and a shaven face. His complexion was dark, and his bare arms were almost as brown as his leathern apron. His firmly set lips and corrugated brow, as he bent now over his work, declared him to possess unusual power of will. Indeed a strength of purpose such as belongs to few was required to hold him to his present task. Meanwhile his chief misgiving was lest the noise he was compelled to make should distress his dying wife; and it was touching to see how he strove to modify, to the utmost degree which was consistent with efficient workmanship, the tapping of the hammer on the soles of the boots in hand.
Sorrowing without bitterness, "Cobbler" Horn had no rebellious thoughts. He did not think himself ill-used, or ask petulantly what he had done that such trouble should come to him. His case was very sad. Five years ago he had married a beautiful young Christian girl. Twelve months later she had