The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-05-13

honest work. tell you, Peter, If you
cannot find work, l must. We should
have been without bread to day. You
know that all kinds of light, agreeable
business, are seized upon BY those who
have particular friends, and engaged to
them. AT such times as this, it is not
for us 10 consider what kind Of work we
will do, as long as it is honest Oh. give
me the liberty of living upon my own
deserts, and the independence TO be gov
erned by my own convictions ofright.'
But my wife-only think-you car
rying butchers stuff! Why, 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
1t was hard for Peter Stanwood, but
the more be thought upon the matter the
more he saw the justice and the right Of
the path, into which his wife thus led
him. Before he went to bed he promis.
ed be would go to the butchers in the
morning.
And Peter Stanwood went upon his
new business. Mr.. Snow greeted him
warmly, praised his faithful wife, and
then sent him of with two basket5-one
to Mrs. Smiths and one to Mrs. Dix
ails's. And the new carrier worked all
day, and when night came he had nine
ty-seven cents. 1t had been day Of tr-
ais, but no one sneered at him. and all
his acquaintance whom he met greeted
him the same as usual. He was far hap
pier now than he was at home the night
before, for now he was independent.
On the next day he earned over dol.
lar, and thus he continued to work for
week. at The end oil which time he had
five dollars and seventy-fve cents in his
pocket, besides having paid for all the
food of his family, save some pieces Of
meat which Suow had given him Sat
urday evening lie met Mark Leeds, an.
other binder, who was discharged from
work with himself. Leeds looked care.
worn and rusty.
How goes it . asked Peter.
Don't ask me- groaned Mark. Ny
family are half starving
But can't You fud something to do .
Nothing
Have you tried 2
Everywhere. but it's no use. | have
pawned all my clothes save those | have
on. | have been to the binder 10 dav,
and what do you suppose he offered
me 2
What was it?'
WHY. he offered TO let me do his
hand carting lie had just turned of
his niger for drunkenness, and offered
me the place the old curmudgeon
BY the powers, | had great mind to
pitch him into the hand lear, and run him
to the -
Mark mentioned the name Of an indi
vidual supposed TO dwell somewhere n a
warm region somewhat warmer than our
tropics.
We'll. said Peter, If had been in
your place, | should have taken up with
the Offer
Why resumed Peter. i have been
doing the work of butcher. boy for
whole week
Mark was incredulous, but his com.
panion convinced him, and they separa.
ted, one going home happy and content.
ed. and the other going from home to
find some sort of excitement in which
lie could drown bis misery.
One day P:ter had basket Of provis.
ions TO carry TO Mr.. w. Il was his
former employer--and jus, as lie was
entering the yard of his customer. he me,
him coming out.
All, Slanwood, is lhat you . asked
his employer, kindly.
Yes. sir
What are you at now o.
am butchers boy. sir.
a what?'
You see I've brought your provisions
for you. sir. I'm regular butcher
boy
And how long have you been at
work thus Q
This is the tenth day
But don't il come hard o.
Nothing is hard SO long MS i, is hon
est, and will furnish my family bread
And how much day can YOU earn
at this 2
Sometimes over ffy cents.
Well, look here, Stanwood. there has
not been less than a dozen of nv old
hands hanging around my counting