The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-01-28

years he had been gay, thoughtless and for.
tunate, making the most of the present
forgetting the past, and leaving the future
to take care of itself. Yet the truth was
naked and clear; and when he left the
house he said something must be done.
No sooner had the husband gone than
Mrs. Stanwood put on her hat and shawl
Her eldest child was a girl seven years old
and her youngest four She asked her
next door neighbor if she would take care
of her children till noon. These children
were known to be good and quiet, and
they were taken cheerfully. Then Mrs
Stanwood locked up her house and went
away. She returned at noon, bringing
some dinner for the children, and then
went away again. She got home in the
evening" before her husband, earring a
heavy basket on her arm
"Well, Peter" she asked, after her hus-
band had entered and sat down, "what
! luck?"
Nothing nothing" he groaned. II
made out to squeeze dinner out of an
old chum, but can't find work"
"And where have you looked to-day ?"
"Oh!-everywhere. have been to a
hundred places, but it's the same in every
place. 1t is nothing but one eternal mol
No NO! I'm tired and sick of it."
"But what sort of work have you offer
ed to do?"
"Why, 1 even went so far as to offer to
tend in liquor store down town."
The wife smiled.
"Now, what shall we dor" uttered Pc
ter spasmodically.
"Why, we'll eat supper first, and then
we, II talk the matter over"
Support Have you got any?"
eyes plenty of it.
"But you told me that you had none"
Neither had we this morning, but I've
been after work to-day and found some"
"You You been after work?" exclaim-
ed the husband in surprise.
'fBut how? Where? What?"
"Why, first I went to Mrs Shows. |
knew her girl was sick, and hoped she
might have work to be done. | went to
her and told her my story, and she set me
at work at once doing her washing. She
gave me food to bring home for the
children, and paid me three shillings
when got through.
"What! you been out washing for our
butchers wlfe?" said Peter, looking very
much surprised.
'Of course have, and have thereby
earned enough to keep us in food through
tomorrow, at any rate; so tomorrow you
may come home to dinner"
"But how about the rent?"
ooh! have seen Mr.. Simpson, and told
him Just how we were situated, and otter
ed him my watch as pledge for the pay
ment of the rent within two months, with
interest on all Arrears up to that date. [
told him did the business because you
were away hunting for work"
$50 he's got your gold watch?'
"No-he wouldn't take It, He said il
I would become responsible for the pay
ment he would let 1t rest"
"Then we've got roof to cover us and
food for tomorrow But what next? OH
what curse these hard times are"
"Dont despair, Peter, for we shall not
starve, I've got work enough engaged to
keep us alive"
| ,sAh-eh, what is it,"
"Why, Mr. Snow has engaged me to
carry small packages, baskets, bundles and
so forth, to his rich customers. He has
had to give up one of his horses"
"What do you mean, Maria?"
"Just what say. When Mr.. Snow
came home to dinner, was there, and [
asked him if he ever had any light ar
ticles which he wished to send around to
customers. Never mind all he said. He
did happen to want Just such work done,
though he meant to call upon some of the
1dlers who lounge about the market. He
promised to give me all the work he could
and am to be there in good season In the
morning"
"Well, thlsis pretty'go! my wife turn
ed butchers boy You won't do any such
thing"
"And why not?"
"Why not? Because-because-"
"Say because it will lower you in the
social scale"
"Well, and so it will"
''Then it is more honorable to lie still
and stary e, and see ones children starvetoo,
than to earn honest bread by honest work
l tell you, Peter, if you can not work l
must. We should have had no bread to-
night, had not found work to-day. You
know that all kinds of light, agreeable
bus; ness are siezed upon by those who
} have particular friends and relatives en-
gagged in them At such time as this, it
is not for us to consider the kind of work
we will do, so long as it is honest Oh !
give me the liberty of living upon my
own deserts, and the independence to be
J governed by my own convictions of
: right"
'But, my wife, only think-you carry
ing out butchers stuff! Why, 1 would
sooner go and do it myself"
IF you will CO." said the wife, with a
smile, 81 will stay at home and take care
of the children"
, 1t was hard for Peter Stanwood; but
the more he thought upon the matter, the