Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-06-08
Out of Work.

dts no use, Maria, I've tried every
where"
"But you are not going to give up
Peter ?''
"Give up? How can | help it p
Within four days I've been to ever.
book bindery in the city, and not I
bit of work can I get
"But have you tried anything else ?
"What else can [ try ?"
"Why: anything that you can do."
Eyes; I've tried other things.
have been to more than a dozen of N,
friends and offered to help them il
they would hire me"
"And what did you mean to do fol
them ?"
"I offered to post their accounts
make out bills, or to attend at tht
counter"
Mrs. Stanwood smiled as her hus
band thus spoke.
"What makes you smile ?" HI
asked.
"To think you should have imagin
ed that you would find work in sucl
places. But how is Mark Leeds ?"
"He is worse off than we are"
"How so ?"
He has nothing in the house tt
eat"
1t was a shudder that crept over
the wife's frame now.
"Why do you tremble, wife ?"
Because when we shall have eat
en- our breakfast tomorrow, we shall
have nothing"
"What! cried Peter Stanwood
half starting from his chair. "Do yor
mean that ?"
~ do"
"But our -four ?"
"All gone. baked the last thi;
afternoon"
but we have pork"
"YOu ate the last this noon"
"Then we must starve| groaneC
the stricken man, starting across the
room.
Peter Stanwood was a book-bind
er by trade, and had now been out OF
employment over a month. He was
one of those who generally calculat,
to keep about square with the world
and who consider themselves fortu
nate if they keep out of debt. HI
was now thirty years of age, and haC
been married eight years. He haC
three children to provide for, besides
himself and wife: and this, together
with house rent, was heavy draugh
upon his purse even when work wa
plenty, but nowhere was nothing
maria" he said, stopping and gaz
ing his wife in the face, "we mus
starve. have not single penny il
the world"
"But do not despair, Peter. Tr,
again tomorrow for work. You ma,
find something to do. Anything tha
is honest will be honorable. ShoulC
you make a shilling a day, We shoulC
not starve.
"But our house rent?'
Trust to me for that. The land
lord shall not turn US out. If yo
will engage to find some work to dc
I'll see that we have room"
"I'll make one more trial, uttere
Peter deSpairingly.
=! But you must 60 prepared to d
e anything
! Anything reasonable, Maria
But what do you call reasonable ?
"Why-anything decent
The wife felt almost inclined t
smile; but the matter was too ser
Gus for that, and cloud passed owe
her face. She knew her husband
+ disposition, and she felt sure he woul
find no work. She knew that h
would look about for some sort o
work which would not lower him i
the social scale, as he had once q
twice expressed it. However, sh
knew it would be of no use to sa
anything to him now, and she let th
+! matter pass.
On the following morning, the la:
bit of food in the house was put upo
the table. Stanwood could hardly r
E, alize that he was penniless and wit
) out food. For years he had bee
gay, thoughtless and fortunate, ma
ing the most Of the present, forgettir
the past, and leaving the future
d, look out for itself Yet the trut
g was naked and clear; and when
left the house he said, "Somethir
Is must be DONE"
:! No sooner had the husband gon
than Mrs. Stanwood put on her DO
net and shawl. Her eldest child WI
lg a girl seven years old, and the youn
est four. She asked her next do
u neighbor if she would take care of h
children until noon. The childr,
were known to be good and quit
and they were taken cheerfully. Th,
Mrs. Stanwood locked up her hou
and went away She returned
noon, bringing some dinner for b
s' children. and then went away agai
l' She got home in the evening befo
% her husband, carrying a heavy bask
on her arm.
"Well, Peter" she asked, after b
v husband had entered and sat down.
Ie "What luck p
In Nothing nothingr' he groane
d. 81 made out to squeeze a dinner G
IS of an old chum, but | can't find work
- "And where have you looked I
ne day ?"
y "O!-everywher l have be
"a to hundred places, but it's the sal
Tl-l Al