Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-05-09
the house he said

shawl. Her eldest child was a girlseyen
years old. and her youngest. four. She
asked her next door neighborifshe would
take care of her children till noon. The
children we're known TO be good and quiz
et, and they were taken cheerfully. Then
Mrs. Stanwood locked up her house
and went away. She returned at noon,
bringing some dinner for her children,
and then she went away again. She
came home in the evening before her hus>
band, carrying heavy basket upon her
arm.
"well. Peter" she asked, after her
husband had entered and sat down, "what
luck %
" Noshin nothing" !" he groaned. Il
made out to get dinner from an old
chum, but could find no work"
And where have you looked to-
day ?"
"O-everywhere. I've been hun
dred places. but it's the same story in
every place. It's nothing but one eter-
nal no-no !. I'm sick and tired of it,"
"What have you offered to do 2"
"Why even went SO far as to offer to
tend liquor store down town."
The vile smiled.
" Now what shall we do ?" uttered
Peter. spasnodically.
"Why, we will eat supper first, and
then talk the matter over"
Supper =! Have you got any ?"
"Yes-plenty Of it,"
But you told me you had none"
Neither had we this morning. but
I've been after work to day, and found
some.''
"You? You been after work ?" ut
tered the husband surprised.
Yes"
"But how -where-what? %
"Why, first l went to Mrs. Shows
l knew her girl was sick. and hoped
she might have work to be done. l went
to her and told her my story, and she set
me at work at once doing her washing
She gave me food to bring home to my
children, and paid me three shillings when
got through"
!" What-you have been out washing
for our butchers wife ?" said Peter look
ing very much surprised.
OF course 1'have, and have thereby
earned enough to keep US in food through
to morrow, at any rate p; SO tomorrow
you may come home to dinner
80, have seen Mr.. Simpson. told
him Just how we were situated, and Of
fered him my watch as a pledge for
the payment of our rent within two
months, with the interest on the ar
rearages up to date. told him I did the
business because you were away hunting
work"
$50 he's got your gold watch ?'
No-he wouldn't take it. He said If
1 would become responsible for the rent
he would let it rest"
Then we've got roof to cover us.
and food for tomorrow. But what next?
What curse these hard times are u
Don't despair, Peter, for We shall not
s;arve. I've got work enough engaged
TO keep us alive"
Ah-what is that ?''
"Why Mr.. Snow has engaged me to
carry small packages, baskets, bundles,
&C., to his rich customers.
"What do you mean, Maria ?"
"Just what say. When Mr.. Snow
came home to dinner. was there. and
asked him if he ever had light articles
which he wished sent around to his Gus
tomels. Never mind all that was said
He did happen to want just such work
done, thou gh he had meant to call on the
idIers that lounge about the market. He
promised to give me all the work he could,
and am to be there in good season in
the morning"
"WeIl, this is pretty go. Ny wife
turned butchers boy T! You will not do
any such thing"
'' And why not %
because se-because-"
"Say because it will lower me in the
social scale.'
"Well, so it will"
Then il is more honorable to lay still
and starve, and see ones children starve,
too. than to earn honest bread by honest
work 1 tell you. Peter, if you cannot
find work, must. We should have been
without bread to>night, had not found
work to-day. You know that all kinds Of
light, agreeable business are seized upon
by those who have particular friends, and
are engaged in them. AT such time as
this, it is not for US to consider what kind
Of work we will do, so as it is honest
Oh, give me liberty of living upon my
own deserts. and the independence to be
governed by my own conviction of right. :"
But. my wife. only think-you car
rying out butchers stuff. Why, l would
sooner go and do it myself"
"If you will CO." said the wife, with a
smile, {" I will stay at home and take care
of the children
It was hard for Peter stanwood. but
the more he thought upon the matter, the
more he saw the justice and right of the
path iEto which his wife had thus led
him. Before he went to bed he promised
to so to the butchers in the morning.