The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-05-03
TWEHTY YEARS TRIAL.
BY MARY A LOWELL.

"What on earth shall l do 2" asked
young mechanic, as lie came home one
evening in the height of the business
panic OF 1878, which operated SO disas-
trously upon all classes Of society, and
which has only been equalled in the period
of twenty years.
1t was momcntous question, and one
which Sarah Worcester, hopeful and cheer
tul as she was, could not answer easily
She had not impoverished him ; tor there
was not housewife in the country who
possessed in such perfection the art Of
making a dollar go as far as five would in
other families, and in making 'auld claiths
awmast as guide as new
Her husbands and children's S wardrobes
testified to this skill-Stephen Always
looking like gentleman, and his little
ones neater and more tastetully dressed
than any in the school; u Fcnnsy lvaDia
school, too, where there were Quaker chill
dren in plenty, to test her claims to neat
ness.
With such a wife, it would seem that
no iuan could fail Of getting oil in the
world, especially if the belief of some per-
sons that woman always makes or mars
her husbands fortune were true but in
this case, at least the proverb failed, and
Stephen Worcester was gradually going
down in the world, without a single bad
habit as it would seem, only with the pc
culiar i'll luck which some men invariably
find
The season had failed in n remarkable
way to realize the hopes Of the spring,
and Stephens lands had been almost bar
rem. His COW died, his workshop was
burned, and to add to his distress, the
children were attacked by an epidemic te-
yer, and his expenses were increased four
fold. Bills were staring him in the face
his cottage was mortgagcd to Its full
value and it did really seem thai Fate
was doing her worst against the success
of anything with which he had to do.
Meantime Sarah Worcester continued
hopeful, and almost cheerful, under these
accommodating trials. She had CAIN
sweet, happy temper, which stood in the
place Of wealth, to its fortunate possessor
and frightened up the desolate prospect
that to Stephen seemed growing darker
and gloomier.
"What on earth shall | do ~ was his
sorrowtul question to his wife, for the
hundredth time, as he paced the floor one
rainy afternoon, looking ont occasionally
on the burnt ruins OF his once pretty
work shop.
"Don't worry, Stephen" answered thu
blithe voice Of Sarah Worcester, as sh'
piled her needle as fast as ever. repairing
the rents in the children's almost worr
out clothes Don't worry. We are yer.
! poor. but so have thousands been before
us. God is not dead, nor has he torsaker
us. We trusted him in our prosperity
AMI it is a poor faith that will not bear
little trouble. Look, Stephen you ar
we'll and strong, and so am [. he chill
dren have nearly recovered from the ef
! fects Of their fever, and we may neve
a~ain have such poor season Tor you
work. / know tha. with little practlc
| can make a very tolerable dress maker
and / mean to try 1t.
"Yes, and have everybody saying tina
Stephen Worcester is maintained by hi
wife. [ would starve first"
"Nay, husband, you look at this atfal
in different light from what L or any on
else will If your work fails, why cannc
try mine You can go to town for nj
and buy my materials, for L shall wan
trimmings. &c, and ] shall want you
fit up the front room with shelves, and d
many other things. By-and-by, perhap
We shall be able to keep shop, whic