Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-06-10
THE DARK HOUR BEFORE DAY.

Its no use Becky" said the little lame
cobbler, dropping his head upon his hands
and looking as he felr, the personifcation OF
despair. I've offended the Lord somehow
and He won't let me have chance to keep
home over your heads know I'm not
at all as ought to be. and L IN punished y
Becky went across the room and patted
her husband on the back
Now d0n't take on, Nick, don t." said
she. ''7Hat can't De, for He knows all,
knows how good you are Better times Il
come They y're sure to; and you'll be re-
Warded tor all your patience yet. The dark
est hour is just before day.
The cobbler shook his head.
We gin up hope, Becky" he said
w hat with the rent, and the bill for med
lcine. 1t was like me to get sick just at the
worst, and no work coming In and the new
shop with the gilt sign tempting folks from
our shabby basement even for the mending
of their old shoes. I'm crushed down. Why
you are as thin and white as a ghost You
haven t tasted meat this week, Becky."
No more have you, said Becky, but
la: why thero IS foll-a thinks r.aa.. LII
some. Wegetariaus, Nick, they call em
where lived out once saw one.
did he say bread wasn't unhulsome
too?'' asked Nick. ''Oh, gal, l wish [ d
left We living out at service. Rosy and
bright and happy; but meant to do better,
/ did. 1t was an able bodied man, d
work somehow and somewhere, but it's the
last or nothing with me- Becky, why didn t
you take Tim Rolf, the wheel wright, and
send the little limping cobbler about his bu-
siness?"
II didn't ike Tim,' said Becky, "and. [
Just knew how nice and cozy We De togeth-
er. Never quarrel Nick. AND how we
used to 60 to Hoboken and have lemonade
in the garden, and come home after dark q
afternoon, and how we used to go to church
on Sunday morning in clothes as good as
any one:
'Why it can't be all up hill, . said Becky.
81 havn't time to 60 out gailivantlng now
but la, don't miss it. We're steady mar
ried folks now you know
'sOh, Becky" said the cobbler, you try
to keep up heart, but you know it's come &c
starving"
They looked at each other, and then
Becky put her arms about her husband
She did not weep upon his bosom she wa:
so big and strong, and he so small and frall
that it only seemed natural to reverse mat
tiers. She hugged him up to her shoulder
and covered his head over with her apron
and put her cheek down outside the bundle
thus made, and soothed and patted him a.
if he had been baby But she cried too
and the apron was wet through IN no time
1t was bad state of things. No money
no food, no fire, and winter at Its coldest.
The children were sent to school break
fastless for the sake OF the warmth ant
comfort of the school-house No work t.
be had the little cobbler as helpless as MAJ \
could be, except at his trade and Becky
washing stopped, for Heaven only knew hoy
long. by a great felon in the palm of he
right hand. But Becky loved the queer lit
lie mortal she had married, SO well that sh
stopped CRYING first, and kissed him betweel
the eyes-great frightened light blue eyes
that seemed made for crying:
''You stay at home aud mind the place,
she said. i'Pm.going out awhile. Perhap
there be bit of luck-who knows.
She put on her bonnet and shawl-sucf
thin little shawl-which had been used 10
an ironing cloth, aud had an irone-shape
scorch between the shoulders-and took u
a basket.
The cobbler locked at her.
Becky" he said hoarsely. Becky
She knew Just what he meant:
saTbe little children, Nick, !" she SAID
I'VE could starve-but them poor hit
critters. Nick, it won seem like beggir
when it s for them.
And then the door shut behind her an
Door Nick limped after her, as though
stop her; then paused, and fairly huI
himself on the floor, wishing ne were on II
ground beneath it.
"God forgive the man that marrles IsS,
woman to starve her" he sobbed. wv I
ifPd known it would have come to this
never have courted her. It's time wi
dead" -.
Perhaps, being a strange, impulsive hit
fellow, there might have been N ;,i tragic &c e
to this scene, but that the children car
from school. and began to cry-partly at t
sight of their PROSTATE father, partly becau
of hunger-and Nick forgot himself to
what he could for them.
He had no dinner, but had great deal
love to give them. and some pieces OF