The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-05-14

to hundred places, but it's tn
same in every place. It is nothing
but one eternal no no I am tiret
and sick of it,
'But what sort of work have 20,
offered to do p
''Why I even went so far as t,
offer to tend in liquor store dcwr
town."
The wife smiled.
"Now what shall we do2" ut,
tered Peter, spasmodically.
"Wby We will eat supper first
and then talk the matter over" "
"Supper-have you got any ?"
eyes, plenty of it. P"
"But you told me you had none. .
"Neither had we this morning,
but I've been after work to-day and
found some.'
you? You been aftcr work p
uttered the husband in surprise.
"But how where -? what 2"
"Why, first I went to Mrs.
Shows knew her girl was sick,
and I hoped she might have work to
bo done. Invent to her and told
her my story, and she set me at
work at once doing her washing.
She gave mo food to bring home for
the children, and paid me three
shillings when l got through.
What you haven't been work
ing out for our butchers wife p
said Peter, looking very much sur
prised.
"Of course I have, and thereby
earned enough to keep us in food
through tomorrow at any rate !; so
tomorrow you may come to dinner.
"But how about the rent -
''Oh ! l have seen Mr.. Stimson,
and told him just how we are situa-
tod, and offered him my watch as a
pledge for the payment of the rent
within two months, with the inter-
est on all arrears up to that date.
I told him I did the business be-
cause you were away hunting for
work"
$50 he's got your gold watch 2"
"No he wouldn't take it. Ho
said if I would become responsible
tor the payment he would let it
rest.'
"Then we have got roof to COW
er US and food for tomorrow. But
what next Oh I! what a curse
these hard times are -
Don't despair, Peter, for we
shall not starve. I've got work to
keep u.s."
"Ah-eh /? What's that 2"
"Why, Mr.. Snow has engaged
me to carry small packages, bun
dies, and 50 forth, to rich custom 5.
rrs. He has had to give up one Of
his horses
"What do you mean, Maria p
Just what ! say. Whom Mr..
Snow came to dinner I was there,
and l asked him if he ever had light
articles which he wished to send
around to his customers. He did
happen to want just such work
lone, though he had meant to call
upon some of the idlers 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, this is a pretty 90 ! My
wife turned butchers boyl You
won't do any such thing"
"And why not 2"
"Why not ? Beoause-bccause. I"
"Say because it will lower me in
The social scale"
"Well and so it will"
"Then it is more honorable to be
'till and starve, and sec ones chill
lren starvs too, than to earn honest
broad by honest work. I tell you,
Peter, if you cannot work I must.
We should have been without bread
;o-night had I not found work to-
lay. You know all kinds Of light,
agreeable business are seized upon
~ those who have particular friends
,r relatives engaged in them. At
'uoh time as this it is not for US
20 consider what kind Of work we
will do 30 long a. it is honest. Oh |!
give me the liberty Of living upon
ny own deserts, and the indcpend-
,nce to be governed by my own CON-
7ictions Of right"
"But my wife, only think-you
carrying out butchers stuff. Why
would sooner 60 and do it myself. "
IF you will Co." said the wife
With . smile, II will stay at home
lno take care Of tho children.
It was hard for Peter Stanwood !;
out the more be thought upon the
natter the more he saw the Justice
md right of the path into which she
lad led him. Before he went to
bod he promised that he would 60
20 the butchers in the morning.
And Peter Stanwood went upon
MS new business. Mr.. Snow greet
ID him warmly, praised his faithful
wife and then sent him off with two
baskets. And so the new carrier
worked all day, and when it came
night he had carried just ninety
seven cents. It had been a day Of
trials to him, but no ono had sneer-
I'd at him, and all his acquaintan-
,es whom he had met had greeted
him as usual. He was far happier
( hon uhon ho wont homo thu nj rht