The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-02-05

Al
shawl. Her eldest child was girl seven
years old. and her youngest four. She
asked her next door nelghbor If she would
take care OF her children until 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 her children,
and then went away again. She got
home I'm the evening before her husband,
carving heavy basket on her arm.
| We'll, Peter she asked. after her hus-
band had entered and sat down. What
luckg
sNothing! nothlngp he groaned. Il
made out 10 squeeze dinner out of an
old chum, but l can't find work.
| And where have you looked today"
| 'Oh!-eyerywhere have been to n
hundred places. but it's the same In every
place. Il Is nothing but one eternal NO!
No! Nor Pm tired and sick of it,
But what sort Of work have you offer
ed to doy'
why, even went so far as to offer to
tend In liquor store down town.
The wife smiled.
Now what shall we dog' uttered Peter,
spasmodically.
why. we'll eat supper first, and then
talk the matter ovei.'
| supper! Have you got anyT
'Yes-plenty ofit.'
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 after work. uttered
the husband in surprise.
| sBut howl wherel whatp
why, first went to Mrs. Shows. L
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 chill
dren, and paid me three shillings when 1
got through"
What! YOU have been out washing for
our butchers wifer said Peter, looking
very much surprised.
OF course 1 have, and have thereby
earned enough to keep us in food through
tomorrow at any rate; SO tomorrow
you may come home 10 dinner
But how about the renty
'Oh! / have seen Mr.. Simpson, and
told him Just how we are situated, and Of
fcred him my watch rs n pledgc, for PIE
payment of our rent within two months,
i
date. told him / did the business be-
cause you were away hunting for work.
so he's rot your gold watchr
'NO-he wouldn't take Ii. He said IT
would become responsible for the pay
mcnt, he would let II rest
Then we have got Il roof TO cover us,
| and food for tomorrow. But what next!
j Oh! what curse these hard times are"
Don't despair, Peter. for we shall not
starye. I've got work enough engaged to
keep us alive
| 'Ah-ehg What's thatg
| 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, Mariar
Just what l say. When Mr.. Snow
came home to dinner was there, and
asked him II he ever had light articles
which he wished to send around to his
customers. Never mind all that was said.
He did happen to want just such work
done, though he had meant to call upon
some of the idlcrs who lounge about the
market. lie promised to give me all the
work he could, and l am to be there In
good season In the morning.
Well. this Is "A pretty 60! My wife
turned butchers boy! You won't do any
such thing
And why notg'
| 'Why not! Because-because-'
Say because il will lower me In the So
cial scale
| well, and so Il WILL
| Then it Is more honorable to lie still
and starye, aud see ones children starye,
too, than TO earn honest bread by honest
/ ,nrE II tall ynn Detar II Won eannpt
work. must. We should have been with
out bread tonight had not found work
to-day. You know that all kinds OF light,
agreeable business are seized upon by
those who have particular friends or rela-
tiyes engaged In them. At such u time rs
this IL Is not for us to consider what kind
OF work we will do, so long rs IL Is hon
est. Oh! give me the liberty of living
upon my own deserts, and the independ-
cnee to be governed by my own convic-
tlons of right
But. my wife. only think-you carrying
out butchers stuff! Why, would SOON
er go and do IL myself
III you will go,' said the wife with n
smile, Il will stay at home and take care
OF the children.'
IL was hard for Peter Stanwood; but
the more he thought upon the matter the
path into which his wife thus led him.
Before he went To bed he promised that he
would go To the butchers In the morning.
And Peter Stanwood went upon his new
business. Mr.. Snow greeted him warmly,
praised his faithful wife, and then sent
him of with two baskets-one To go 10 a
Mr. Smiths and one To Mrs. DiNaTs.
And the new carrier worked all day, and
when IL came night he had earned just
nlnety-seyen cents. IL had been day of
trials 10 him. but no one had sneercd at
n him, and all his acQuaintances whom he
had met had greeted him the same rs
usual. He was far happier than he was
when he went home the night before, for
now he was independent.
On the next day he earned over dol
lar; and thus he continued To work u
week. and at the end OF that time he had
five dollars and seventy-iive cents In his
!, pocket, besides having paid for all the
food for his family. save some few pieces
7 OF meat Mr.. Snow had given him. On
Saturday evening he met Mark Leeds, an
, other binder who had been discharged
from work with himself. Leeds looked
: careworn and rusty.
I How goes ity asked Peter.
Don't ask me- groaned Mark. MY
family are half-starved.'
but can't you lind anything to do!'
Nothing
: Have you trieds'
, Everywhere; but MS no use. I've
. pawned all my clothes save these have
ON. I've been down TO the blndery to-
day, and what do you suppose the old
man offered mey'
what was IT,
why he offered to let me do his hand
cartlng! He had just turned OF his mig
ger for drunkenness, aud offered me the
J place! The old curmudgeon By the pow
ers, I'D great mind to pitch him into the
-llapd-cart and run him 10 the