Australian Tales - Setis

gentleman, “it would be all the same to us if it were forty times as much;
but Tuesday's our pay day, so you must call again.”
“Well, well,” muttered Jerry, as he looked over his list again, “I've had
bad luck thus far. I almost wish it were punishable by a fine, to say ‘call
again.’ I'd rather have a tooth pulled out any day than have a job like this;
at least, I think so just now, for I am tired and hungry, and I have not
collected the price of a mutton pie. I'll call upon Dr. Dosem; he knows
the difficulty of collecting small accounts, I'll be bound, and he'll pay me
out of sympathy.” Jerry was again disappointed, however, for the doctor
had gone out to visit a patient.
Obedient to his father's instructions, Jerry went through his list, and at
each place of call got more pathetic in his appeals; but, with two trifling
exceptions, he met with no success. Various were the excuses, most of
them ending with the tormenting words “call again.” Mrs. Phubbs'
husband was not at home; Mr. M'Muffin's wife had gone out, and had
taken the keys with her; Mr. Steddy had no change; and Mr. Screwdup,
whom Jerry met in the street, had unfortunately brought no money out
with him, and had left none at home either. Mr. Gruntall would call and
see his father, as there was an overcharge of ninepence in his bill. Mr.
Doutt was almost sure he had paid the bill before, but would search
through his papers for the receipt; and Mr. Bull couldn't be bothered with
such paltry accounts, they must be taken to his private house at Balmain.
Jerry returned home late in the afternoon, with a sad heart, and with
pockets nearly as light as when he had set out in the morning.
“I am sorry to say I have had plenty of excuses, father, and rather more
scolding than I liked,” said Jerry, “but I've got very little money. Here's
five and sixpence from old Mrs. Rackem, the teacher; and half-a-crown
from Mr. Scrapard, the currier: that's all I've got; and I could have earned
nearly as much if I had been in the workshop all day.”
“Well, it's a hard case, Jerry,” said his father, passing his hand across
his brow. “There is a matter of twenty pounds owing me, in small sums,
and if I had them, I could pay all my debts and be an independent man.
As it is, I see no alternative but to pawn the tools again, so take the
basket to Mr. Balls, Jerry; ask him to lend me £5. The man must have
four pounds to-night, and we must make the best shifts we can at home.
But what we are to do for the tools on Monday morning I don't know.
However, there is no use thinking about that just now; and I hope I shall
be kept from thinking about it to-morrow. Well, well, it's downright cruel
of folks to be so thoughtless. Most of those whom you have called on
could pay their little accounts easily enough, if they chose, for they are
mere trifles to them individually, but in the aggregate a most important
sum to me. ‘The labourer is worthy of his hire;’ but it is pretty plain that
he does not always get it. Oh! Jerry, Jerry,” added the poor man with a
sigh, “this is a hard, cold world; or there are too many hard, cold folks in