The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-07-04
LITERARY GLEANINGS.
THE DISCHARGED WORKMAN.

"A Tale Of Pnis-unler the reign Of l.. PuHippc.]
II. "James," said his employers; during the
ten years you ha We been employed in my
factory, yon have gained every ones esteem
and friendship; but you see how il is, we
have nothing more to do, business is at an
end" Those words sounded in his ears
like a sentence OF want and misery pronoun-
ced upon his wife and children, and when
he entered his dwelling, the place his ap-
proach to which had ever been signal Of
Joy to ilspoor inmates, whose little wants he
had always supplied with tho two-fold delight
ofhapp;ness both impaired and received--his
wife and children ran 10 embrace him. -
James clasped them IN his arms, but his sor-
rowfll and desponding looks evinced, TO the
quick discernment Of his wife; that some Sc
cret uneasines S was preying upon his mind.
'sDeaf husband what is the matter? has
any misfortune happened 10 you?n
"No more work!' replied James as he
sunk upon the chair. ~
"No more work?" repeated the poor
mother in tone of agony Don't des-
pair JameE; tomorrow you may perchance,
find something TO do. God is our father;
and while he is rich in love we shall not
want
" Oh yes, wife, | will look tor work, here
take my IS francs, for the weeks work, and
make them last as long as possible" g.
Francis was. soon despatched with ten
francs 10 pay IKE baker, it was the amount
ola weeds consumption, and The credit of
ihe poor is limited.
Next day James lef home very early, 10
look for work, but his efforts were inef-
feciual. In vain he depicted the distresses
,ofhis family In vain he exhibited the GER
stiicatcs Of his good character; most of the
factories were idle. He returned and his
wife asked him no questions, the detection Of
bis counterance sufficiently attcsted his
/, .want.of success.
Weeks passed in the same manner, and
every evening james came home more
wreicbed than the preceding, while the in
tense coldncss. of the winter still increased
ihe suGeriags of his family. The children
were kept in bed, for James had no more
wood; The poor little things had no support
lit was Saturday night, and the baker had
rcfusedany more bread on credit. Already
The mother, deprived as she was of food,
could aff9Ird her babe but little nourshmeni,
and ,ho resllessncss of the poor innocent
betrayed its hunger. Meanwhile ihr two
other children awolsej and crying asked for
bread On hearing this, James became des-
pera,e. !, Suiting his forehead with his
clenched hand, he hurried TO and fro across
his chamber, exclaming: "There is wealth
enough around -supefluous wealth; the
,,nteeng rich revel in abundance, and prod,
Igally waste more than would suffice to keep
these poor babes from starving Why de
they not search cut the dwellings of the
needy and prevent crime by relieving those
frifing Sut emergent wants which too often
prompt its perpetra,ion?" !" ,.l.,v. a. 5
There was reason in his madness; bui
James lei it carry him loo far, and he brood
ed over il until his disodered mind settled
IN desperate and ruinous determination
He sat down looking towards his wife with
vacant stare. NOS
You look at me (said she) and YET you
appear not 10 see me- James, my dear, tell
me what as YOU" ,3 4 r
7e Nothing, Nothing! wife they weep.
they are famished; they shall have bread"
"a So saying he rushed out Of the room and
disappeared. His wife uttered a piercing
scream ;---" James, James, where are you
somg?"l But James did not hear her, the