The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-11-30


For he had slammed the deadly Sin.
And not grain Of over toll
Had ever popped into his bin,
70 weigh upun his pArsiag soul.
Beneath The hin there staads this MIL
0 wasting sood aud crhmblng stone;
fhs xheel il dripping and clatiering ssiil.
Il Ft ----s-----------
4 Ae Trial Of Faith.
81 am very sorry, Mrs Bond--I would
4 give you work as soon or sooner than any oI
our hands, but now that the press Of the
holiday business is over-really nothing ID
doing" hH
The fashionable upholstsrer might have
tod her that with all her need, he was scarce.
~ less troubled than herself. He knew not
how TO meet his daily engagements, their
sales had been 50 much less than their im-
portations had anticipated. On the door
below them, whole bales of costly damasks
and broc-des were lying unpacked, and in
the saies-room, usually so thronged at this
season Of tire year, the richest fabrics were
untoorhed upon the shelves, and boxes Of
rare lace and embroidery seldom saw the
sunlight they were destined to temper.
The poor woman knew that he spoke the
truth, yet she had cluDg 90 70 this last hope
Of employment H they who had known
ana trpsted her 30 long, could not furnish Il,
wha. hope was there Of chance engagement,
when thousands of her own sex were unable
to earn the bread they ate, and strong active
men roamed the streets idly, whiIo their
wives aud children starved at home
ln all the reverses and scrFogs which
Mary boAt had met with before, she had
been brave and even thankful. She had
been proud and happy vile and mother,
the mistress Of . comfortable homo. One
BY one these blessings had been Withdrawn
by the hand that gave them, and shs had
not mourned sinfuily Her husiand's long
sickness and death, laying her first-born be-
side him the same fatal summer, her noble
boy, so frank and loving, to whom abe had
come to look for love aud sympathy in his
father's stss'1--these were enough 10 shake
the 6rmest faith, yet she had "glorlied God
n the 6res.n
Such blows made il easier for her to give
up her comfortable home, and accept her lot
henceiorth with those whose daily labor sup
piled their daily needs. She had .;rown
almost cheerful again, m this busy life, and
sang at her needle, to quie. the little young
one lying on the floor at her feet, whose
pretty suppIications 1t had been at FIRST so
hard to resist. She took up lovingly the
burdens Of those among whom she was
thrown, and eheered them with sympathy
and hopeful words. But want-actual want
Of food aud fire in this bitter weather, stood
before her now, and temptations to doubt
the goodness aud wisdom of Providence grew
stronger and stronger. She could bear the
cold and hunger herself; she had done so
many night already, wrapping her shawl
more closely around her with benumbed
Rasers, and trying to forget that she was
supperless, as ste WATCHED her children I'd
lheir deep and healthful sleep. She had
even been thankful for the necessity to ean !
lplag every sRewcHt, lest Ia case and pier .s
she should have found time for murmurisg.
This wretched idleness, then, to which she
must look forward, was doubly hard in the
prospect Of suffering through the need Of
her children, and the temptation that came
with il to their lon.iy room.
81 would work at half price, Mr.. Mercer,
willingly" she said, lingering at the stair
case, with her heart chOkinely lull. at the
mornings disappointments- She knew,
when she offered to do 20, that she had
scarcely been able to live thus Gar, even with
the little hoard she had saved frem the sale
Of her furniture to draw upon. That was
all gone now, her last coin was slipped in
bar well-worn, well-mended cotton glove, 10
purchase loaf on her way home.
l--an AAasry," Mr.. Mercer said again,
kindly, Considering the hourly applications
that were made 70 him, and his own Imental
disquiet but every one is willing TO do the
same. We really have no work to give u
any price"
In spite Of her strong ,olutions, tb,
tears nearly blinded Mrs. Bord a. she groped
down the long, dark staircase to the sales
room below. Tue clerks still retained fol
Appearance sake, walked idly backwards and
forwards, watching the weather through tn,
plate glass Of door and windows, measurine
| their strides down the room By the medal
lions OF the velvet carpet She hurried pasi
them into the vet and muddy street, where
the snow was falling. not tbi d and fsst with
| PROMISES Of merry sieigh bella, and gay par,
ties. bat f,ating dreaFily down, ~ 1 slott
70 stain its purity ~ melting inso she mir
below. The store windows made Jest q
being gay with thsir display Of holiday warss
and the carriages Of those still oonsiders,
wealthy splashed the pas.srs-by. Mrs- Bon.
paused before low store, where shs hal
sought occasional empioynsat before be
more pro6table engagement with Mr. Esrcez
~ viii try once more.n she said u bsr
cell, a. she waited for gay carriage part
10 cross he pavemenk Il Vas apr psrsnfly
mother and daughter, the. yau1e giri jns
aout,n radiant With expectation and bsnnty
heightsned By sysry charm OF drsss. Tksr
uaa no engRestion AZ s<hard tiuss.D thou~