Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-28
AFTER MANY DAYS.

" Cast thy bread upon the waters and thou
shalt find it after many days"
" / wonder what that means ?" said Hami-
ton Brent, half aloud, as he sat gazing into
the bright anthracite, blazing with such a
pleasant light before him. C | am not quite
sure what that man meant when, after he
stopped me, asked for work, and, looking at
his rags, gave him something to do in the
lumber yard, more for humanity's sake than
for the work he took my warmly gloved
hand in his cold one, and repeated the scrip
ture proverb that my mother had so often
taught me. | am sure ! am not casting bread
in the sense | have always thought of it. Had
| given poor child quarter, or poor man
some meat, it would have been parallel case
to this one. Both might have remembered
me for while, bat with numberless changes
the mercy of my charity might have never
returned to bless me. The man may not
come to work, or if he does, only to stay I'M
til he gets little money, and then go to his
friends, if he has any, and that may end
any relation we may at present or for any
time sustain TO each other.n
Thus in the heart of the employer the mat
ter was laid to rest; but in a pair of other
ones the promise of work boding of many
good things yet in store, kept hope from grow
ing feeble and sick, and then diving in despair.
From the home of Giles Davis-a home
rendered cherries now by want and suffering
went up many blessings for him who in the
darkest hour had befrended them, and
doubt whether the intelligence OF a great for
tune would have made that young wife's
heart lighter than did the announcement of
her husband.
Tomorrow, Ellen, l will have work-O,
if to morrow were but here ~
Dreams, pleasanter than those that for
weeks had visited their pillow, came to them
that night, and before half of his fellow labor
crs were thinking of their daily task, Giles
presented himself at the office door of Hamil-
ton Brent, to receive his share of the duties
that fell to the lot of the lumber dealer
Brent met him at the door. His punctuality,
or rather extra punctualty, very pleasantly
impressed his employer, himself man of
hard work, always first and invariably last,
around the yard and in the office.
"Ah my man, I'm glad you have come |
didn't know but you would forget the number
or something of that sort. What is your
name ?"
"Gies Davis"
In a moment it stood on the day-book and
ledger, in the great round letters for which
Hamilton had been praised when a school
boy.
"Now, go with me-"
At this juncture Porter came in, the for
NAL "head of the hands," and to his less ten
der mercies the new conner was given over
After the two had gone into the yard, Giles
set at the task assigned him, and Porter had
returned to the office, Mr. Brent said to him :
"Do not allow Davis to work too hard
guess the poor fellow has seen hard times"
g shouldn't WONDER" was the reply, "but
he works as though he meant to do his duty"
hope he will | like a man thoroughly
in earnest in whatever he undertakes, and
there is an expression in Davis eve that |
like, believe l can RELY on man who owns
such pair of eyes as he ioes," and, as hint
to Porter to busy himself Brent turned to his
books.
During the day his mind did not revert to
the charity hand" as the foreman called Da-
Wis, but when at night he went to look about
the yard, he found him hard at work piling
some oak timber which he h" promised to
have measured and delv, red early next
morning.
" How is this )" said the careful merchant
to himself; should he be waiting to steal or
burn, must see the last of him before |
leave" and so he came up to his new hand
with distrust in the heart where confidence
had reigned in the morning Thus quickly
do the hour and the impulse make sad havoc
sometimes of our natures highest and hottest
qualities
why have you not quit, Davis? The other
men have gone home long time ago"
Mr.. Porter wished me to pile this timber,
and l staid to do it, sir"
Il believe | hired you to work from seven
until six, didn't ?"
Eyes sir"
"Then you have no business here after
that hour, unless bid you. Porter has no
right to impose upon you more than ten hours
labor"
I" He offered me shilling for doing this
job, and-and-" the mans voice grew very
hoarse, I" times have been very hard With me
sickness and no work have kept me pretty
low, and am glad to earn an honest penny
whenever | can, SIR"
"That's all right, but want to shut up,
myself, and can't wait until you get through.
You must 60 home now"
" But then" and the man stopped. His
voice could not trust itself in words.
"But then what?" said Brent, beginninp
to grow cold and impatient.
50 | was going to say, sir that I should have
nothing to eat until tomorrow. l was to go
to Porters house on my way home, and get
the shilling, and would not go and ask for it
before my work was done"
=" Do you do this for money to buy some
thing to eats"
"That is all, sir.'
Here is your days earning" handing him
as he spoke, dollar "Let the lumber 90:
/ will see to that in the morning"
All this for me? l am working, sir, not
begging;" there was a flash of independent
dignity in his eyes that Brent liked to see.
az hired you," was the cool business an
swer, " to pay you as 1 do other men whom l
have to work. would give you more if
could afford it 1 would certainly be heath
en- to give man who has family to support
in city like Boston anything less than six
dollars a week. like you'll believe 1 can
trust you. This is to be your place, and l
your master, until you get better one some
where else. But must lock up and you
must go home"
Who shall describe that home made glad |
BY few comforts TO which it had been long