The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-06-04
Ehc1 Little rim PaIls.


At dbout six O'Clock Ia the afternoon,
passenger cannot wIlk through the duietest
strcet in the city without meeting men, each
with a little tin pail in his hand. As the
bearer swings it at his side, and raps il
against his large buttonss one can readily
know that it is empty! Where has he
been! Whst has he beeh doirs! What is
the pail fotI One may not be able TO see
anything in the pail, but after all, II has
pleasant story in it. Early in the morning
that pail is filed. Before the breakfast
things are washed and put away, It is placed
upon the table by good and industrious
wom.n n, who rose before the sim. to prepare
the morning neal and bathe and dress the
child:en. Her fingers and feet have been
busy all the morning, and now shestops all
other work to sec the luboring husband OF
to bis work, aud prepare his noon meal for
him. The bread and meat, the large piece
ofpie, TIE gingerbread, the pickles, and per-
haps some dainty bit which she has saved or
the man she loves, are placed in the little
tin pail, one after another, until it is full,
and the lid placed snugly on. He, the la
| borer, stands by and looks, on. When all
is finished, he gives kiss to the youngest,
says pleasant good morning to his wife,
takes his pail in hand, and away he goes.
From that time he disappears for the day.
No one asks where he goes, and few know:
He swings the hammer, or pushes the plane,
or practices some other handicraft, in doors
or out. He tolls ell day for bread and cloth
! ing for himself and family. His arms are
strong, his heart is courageous, and his mind
content. The rich roll by in their carria'
! ges, but he cares not. Gay idlers attract
his eyes for q n5meht, but he despises them
When noon time comes, and the long whis
ties sound at the shops, he drops his work
aud opens his little tin pail. The meat il
eaten with true zest, and the bread tastes as
sweetly as mama, for be has the, healu
!, which labor brings. AT last, he reaches the
b. bottom, and his eyes moisten as he sees
there piece Of fruit or some little delicacy
which the kind wife shhgsled in unknown
to bim-something which had cost her self
deniHt Isn't that a sweet meal! With hi;
appetite, ind with the sweet associations
which ehbalm it, it is a feast for the gods.
The whistle ST funds agnin, and again tn!
r strong hands and courageous hearts are. a
, work. The day il now upon the wane, bu
d he grows little weary, for there is warn
e place in his heart that feeds the lire on whcl
!. willing labor depends. His eye is lifted t.
the clock, hcur after hour, during pauses il
. his labor, and down. falls the .tarey index, un
ill.,, at last, the stroke Of six runs ctti. an!
, the whistle Of release Of the day gives it
welcome blast. Before him are twelve o
fourteen blest hours ofrest! the rough hand
, are washed, the shirt sleeves rolled dow
!, ana battotcd;. the coat pst on, the little til
pail taken from its hiding place, ana he is i
the street again. Now we meet him. Nov
tie streets are full of little lin pals. The!
are carried BY men who have self respect
. wKo i've many lives. who earn, and "ow'
. not any man." The little tin pail rings care
lesSly at tseir sides, the celebration Of "a day
labor achiefeas-of hofd money hardly won
j A thousand childreH fttiffi to meet The it'll
). tin pals, and beg the privilege Of curryin
; them into houses and tenements scattere
all over the city. In many hundreds Of thes
the table is already set out, and at the fir
/. sits the neatly dressed wife; e;:and the hissin
! teapot aaditmg the husbands retdrn. B,
hold the family group gathering around tn
:, evening board! Before those Healthy appe
= tites how quickly the viands disnppear!-
and then sthe good wife washes the tea thing
I where they stand, and the little tin pail
eleahly wiped out and polished off for th
next day Is service. 4 Rus, ahd thus agail
= the days 60 round, with sound sweet slee
a between. aits vi. @'8a&e2 7"' -7.' ~'
:. "Toiling-retoicing- g-sorrowing-
W Onward through life he goes; ..
Eaeh morning secs some tasksbcgdh,s
% Every evening secs its close; - =
" Something attempted, something done, 6