The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-03-07
IN JEOPARDY.

f>~eSASsuse eOV0s AVSHAAs6 a0ACo uASeAACt DO
they are in the great towns. This may be
seen any day in general shop, where, as
one might say, you can get anything, from
half quartern of butter up to horn Ian
tern; and down again to hundred Of short
cut brads-well, down in the country I've
done bit Of job now and then as q ma
son; and not SO badly, neither, should sup
pose, for got pretty well paid considering,
and didn't hear more than the usual amount
of growlin' after it was done-which is
saying deal. Ours aint the most agree
able Of lives, and if it warn for recollecting
little about the dignity Of labor, and SUCH
like, one wonld often grumble more than one
does.
Some time ago, it don't matter to you, nor
me, nor yet anybody else, just when it was,
work was precious slack down our way-all
things considered, amt a-going to tell you
where our wayis. A days work week had
been all I'D been able to get for quite two
month SO Mary, that's my wife used to
pinch and screw, and keep on squeezing
shilling arter shilling out of the long stock
ing, till at last il got SO light, that one morn
ing she lets it fall upon the table, where,
instead Of coming down with good hearty
spang, it fell softly and jest like piece Of
cotton that was empty. And then, poor
lass, she hangs on to my neck, and burst
out a-cryins that ritiful, that I'm blest if 1
didn't want my nose blowing every quarter
Of . minute. hadn't minded the screwing
and pinching, not bit Of it. First week
we went without our buildings. Well, that
wasn't much. Second week we stopped my
half-pints o beer. Third week put my
pipe out. Mary KEEP on saying that things
must look up soon, and then should have
| IS he oc& A. -, e. - d.
things didn't look up; and, in spite Of all
the stocking, as said jest now.
hadn't much cared for the pinching, but
it was my poor lass as got pinched the most,
every day, till couldn't abear to see it. I
run out O. the house, and down to Jenkins's
yard, where I'd been at work last. soon
found jenkins; and says to him, "G,v-
ernor," says, this won't do; man can't
live upon wind"
"True for you, Bill Stock" he says.
"And man can't keep his wife upon
wind" says.
fright you are, Bill" he says; and he
went on and spoke as fair Is man could
speak; and said he hadn't job he could
put me On. or he would have done it in q
minute, Elm VERY sorry, Bill, he says,
"but il times don't mend, tell you what
I'm s-going to do"
whats that :" / says.
$50 up to London" he says; sand if
was young man like you, wouldn't stop
starving down here, when they're giving
frst-class wages up there, and when there's
building going on all round, as thick as
thick, and good big jobs too hotels and
railways, and bridges, and all sorts.'
faces round sharp, and walks off home:
for when feller's hungry and close up, il
lays hold on his temper o. we'll as his stun
mick, more especially when there's some
body belonging to him in the some fx. So
walks of home, where finds Mary a.
lookin' VERY red-eyed; and l makes no
more ado, but gets my pipe, and empties
the bit O dust there was in the bottom O. the
jar into it, lights up, and sits down aside Of
Mary, and puts my arm round her jest as
used in old counting times and then begins
smoking an thinking. Very slow as to
the fust, and VERY fast as to the second;
as smokin' cost money, and the dust was
dry; whereas thinking came cheap jest
then,-and it's surprising how yer can
think on an empty inside. suppose it is
because there's plenty o room for the
thoughts to work in.
Well, hadn't been settin' above minute
like this, whom my lass lays her head on my
shoulder. and though she wouldn't let me
see i, ! knowed she was a-giving way; but
didn't take no notice. Perhaps held her
. little bit tighter; and there sat thinking,
and watching the thin smoke, till l could
SEQ buildings, and scaffolds, and heaps O.
bricks, and blocks o. stone, and could almost
hear the ring o the trowels, and the "sar-
jar " O. the big stone saws; and there was
the men a-running up and down the ladders,
and the CANCERS giving their orders, and
oil seemed SO plain, that | began to grow
warm. And keeps on smoking till it
seemed as though was one Of great crowd
o men standing round little square wood
en- Office place, and being called in one ct
time; and there could see them Q takin'
their six-and-thirty shillings and two pounds
apiece, % fast % tho clerk could book it.
And all 1t once it seemed to fade away like
. fog in the sun and KEEP on drawing;
but nothing come, and found IS my pipe
was out, and there was nothing left to light
agen. So knocks the ashes out,-what
there was on 'em,--and then I breaks the
pipe up. bit by bit, and puts oil the pieces
in my pocket right-hand trowsers- pocket.
What for !! says you.
Nothin' 1t Ill, IS knows on !: but that's
what did; and I am a-telling you what
happened. Perhaps it was because I felt
With nothing to rattle in my
pocket. Howscmever, my mind vas made
upI and Frightening up, and looking %
If I'd six-and-thirty shillings TO take ON
Saturday, says to her % was by my side