Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-04

OUT OF WORK.

i
four days have been to every book bindery
In the city, and not bit Of work can get u
But have you tried anything else ,'
What else can try?"
why, anything that you can do" -. ..
"Yes, I've tried other things. have been
TO more than Q dosen Of my friends, and Of
fered to help them If they would hire me-"
And what did you mean to do for them ?"
Il offered to post their accounts, make out
bulls, or attend to the counter"
Mrs. Stanrood smiled a. her husband thus
spoke. .
what makes you smile ,'' he asked.
4" TO think that you should imagins that you
would And work in such place. But how is
Mark Lseds7"
"ae is worse OF than am" ~
How so ~
"Hs has nothing In the house 10 eat"
shudder crept over his wife's frame now
why do you tremble, wife 2"
because when We shall have eaten our
breakfast Tomorrow morning, We shall have
nothing"
WHAT :" cried Peter stanwood, half start
Ing from his chair. DO you mean that7" =
do"
"But our -four"
"All gone. I baked the last this after.
noon"
But we have pork
You ate the last this noon"
"Then we must starve!" groaned the strick.
Peter Stsnwood was q book binder By trade
and had now been out Of employment over q
month. He was one of those who generally
calculated to keep about square with the
world, and who consider themselves Fortunate
If they keep out Of debt. He was now thirty
years Of age, and had three children to pro.
vide for, besides himself and wife, and this
together with the house rent, was q heavy
drsught upon his parse even when work was
plenty, but now there was nothing.
Maris," said he, gazing his wife in the
face, eve must starye. have not q single
penny in the world"
"But do not despair, Peter. Try again TO-
morrow for work. You may fnd something to
do. Anything that is honest is honorable.
Shou1d you make but shilling day, we
should not starye."
"But our house rent?"
"Trust me for that. The landlord shall not
turn US out. If you will engage to find some
thing to do, will see that We have our house
room"
I'm make one more trial." uttered Peter,
dsspairingly.
but you must go prepared to do any
thing"
Anything reasonable, &aris"
What do you call reasons bet"
Why-anything decent"
The wife felt inclined to smile, but the mat
ter was too serious for that, and cloud passed
over her face. She knew her husbands dis
position, and she felt sure be would find no
work. She knew that be would look for some
kind Of work which would not lower him In
the social scale, as he had once or twice ex.
pressed it. However, she knew il would be
OF no use to speak to him now, and she let the
matter pass.
On the following morning, the last bit of
food was put on the table. Stanwood could
hardly realise that he was penniless and with
out food. For years he had been gay, thought
Less and fortunate, making the most Of the
h. nd lao 81,
future to take care Of itself. Yet the truth
was naked and clear; and when he left the
house be said something must be done.'
No sooner had her husband gone than Mrs
BtanHOOd put on her bonnet and shawl. Her
eldest child was q girl seven years old, and
her youngest four. She asked her next door
neighbor if she would take care Of her chill.
dren till noon. These children were known
to be good and quiet, and they were taken
cheerfully. Then Mrs. StanwOod locked MP
her house and went away. She returned at
noon, bringing her children some dinner, and
then went away again. She came home in the
evening before her husband, carrying 9 heavy
basket upon her arms.
"Well, Peter" she asked, after her hus-
band had entered and sat down, "whst luck7''
Nothing nothing" he groaned. 81 have
made out TO get dinner from an old chum,
but oonld find no work"
"And where have you looked to-day,"
"Oh-everyvhere. I have been TO hun
dred places, but IL 10 the same in every place
It's nothing but one eternal 'Ro-noD I'm
sick and tired Of it. I even went 30 far as to
offer TO tend liquor store down town"
The wife smiled.
"Now, what shall We do'" uttered Peter,
spasmodically. -..tE ...-
why. We win eat supper first, and then
"Supper! Have you got anyf"
"Yes-plenty Of it."
"But hoW-where-What7" r
Why, first went to Mrs Shows. knew
her girl was sick, and hoped she might have
work 70 be done. went TO her and told her
my story, and she set me to work at once, do
ing her washing. She gave me food to bring
home to my children, and paid me three shii-
ings when got through"
"Whst-yOu been out washing fer our
Butchers wife % said Peter, looking very
much surprised. 80
"Of course have, and have thereby earned
enough to keep rs In food through to morrow,
at any rate; 90 tomorrow you can come home
to dinner" $3.50. y
"But how about the rsnt7" 2 e. -
"0h, I have seen Mr.. 6imson, told him inst
a. pledge for the payment Of the rent within
three months, with the interest on the arrsar-
ages up to date. I told him did the business,
you we're away hunting up work"
$50 he's got your gold vstsh?' rs
"No-hs vouldnt take It.. He said II I
would let n rest. /" a- - = ~
"Thsn we've got roof 70 cover rs and food
for tomorrow. But what next7 What Q curse
these hard times are. ~ trE
"Don't despair, Peter, Tor We shall nst
.ssr,. star, nv, ~. s0' enough work engaged to
"Ah-what Is thst7' = ea.-.s,
"Why Mr. Snow has engaged ma 10 Garry
small packages, baskets, bundles, and % forth,
10 bis rich customers. He has had to give mp
one Of his horses"
what do you mean, Mariaf" e--
"Just what / say. When Mr.. Snow came
70 bis dinner was there, and asked him If he
ever had light articles which be wished to
send around 10 customers. Never mind all
that uas said. He did happen to want Just
such work done, though he meant to call upon
the idlers who loungea about the market. He
promised 10 give me AL the work he could,