The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-08-21
Misfellaneons.
THE DARK HOUR BEFORE DAY.

"IT's no use, Becky" said the little
lame cobbler, dropping his head upon
his hands and looking as he felt, the
personification of despair, "I've Offend
ed the Lord somehow, and he won't let
me have chance to keep home over
your heads. l know I'm not all ought
to be, and Pm punished" '.... e
Becky went across the room and pat
ted her husband on the back.
Snow, don't take on, Nick, DON'T"
she said, "that can't. be, for He that
knows all, knows how good you are.
Better tims'l ome. They're sure to,
and you'll be rewarded for all your
patience yet. The darkest hour is just
before day."
The cobbler shook his head.
"I've gin up hope" he said. "What
with the rent and the bill for the medi-
cine. 1t was like me to get sick just at
the worst, and no work coming inland
the new shop, with the gilt sign, tempt
ing folks from our shabby basement,
even for the mending of their old shoes.
I'm crushed down. Why, you are al
thin and white as ghost. You
haven't tasted meat this week Becky
"No more have you," said Becky.
"But la,why, there is folks thinks meat
unhulsome; vegetarians, Nick, they
call'em where lived out once, l saw
one of them"
"Did you say bread was unhulsOmt
too" asked Nick. "Oh, gal, / wish
I'd left you living out at service. Ro
sy and bright and happy; but 1 mean tt
do better, / said. II ! was an able
bodied man, I'd work somehow ant
somewhere, but its the last or nothing
with me. Becky, why didn' you TAXI
Tim Rolf, the wheelwright, and sent
the little limping cobbler about hi
business ~
81 didn't like Tim," said Becky
land l just knew how nice and coz.
we'd be together. Never aquarrel, Nick
And how we used to go to Hoboken ant
have lem onade in the garden, and COM
home after dark an afternoon, and how
we used to go to church on Sunda.
morning in clothes as good as an,
one."
"Used," sighed poor Nick.
"Why, it can't be all up hill," sait
Becky. 81 haven't time to go out gal
Waiting now, but In, | don't miss II
We're steady married folks now, yol
know.
"Oh, Becky" said the cobbler, "yo'
try to keep up heart, but you know IT.
come to starving"
"They looked at each other, and thel
Becky put her arms about her husband
She did not weep upon his bosom sht
was SO big and SO strong, and he 81
small and frail, that 1t only seemed ma
tural to reverse matters. She huggeC
him up to her shoulder and covered hi
head over with her apron, and put he
cheek down outside the bundle thu
made, and soothed and patted him III
he had been baby. But she cried
too, and the apron was wet through Il
no time.
1t was u bad state of things. NJ
money, no food, no fire, and winter a
its coolest. The children sent to schoo
reakfastless for the sake ofthe wsrmtl
to be had the little cobbler as helples
as man codld be, except at his trade, AN
Becky's washing stopped, for Heave
, only knows how long, by great felol
! in the palm in her right hand. Blu
Becky loved the queer little mortal
she stopped crying first, and kissed hii
between the eyes-great, frightene
blue eyes, that seemed made for CRY
: ing.
"You stay home, and mind the place,
she said, "I'm going out awhile. PEI
haps there'll be bit of luck-wh
knows"
Sheput on her bonnet and shawl-'suc
a thin little shawl.-which had been use
e for an ironing cloth, and had an irol
I scorch between the shoulders and too
up basket.
The cobbler looked at her.
Beck" he said hoarsely !; "Beck
: she knew just what he ment.
!. "rhe little children, Nick, - she sall