Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-06-08
Supper! Have you got any ?"
aVao ,1opfv Of If ~

"Neither had we this morning, but
I've been after work to-day and found
some"
"You? You been after work p
uttered the husband in surprise. But
how ? where -? what ?"
"Why, first | 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 to 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 washing for our
butchers wife p said Peter, looking
very Tuch surprised.
"Of course | have, and have there.
by 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 offered him my watch as pledge
for the payment of our rent within
two months, with the 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
if would become responsible for the
payment, he would let it rest"
Then we have got a roof to cover
US, and food for tomorrow. But
what next? Oh! what a curse these
hard times arer
"Don't despair, Peter, for we shall
not starve. I've got work enough en-
gagged to keep US alive"
"Ah--eh? What's that ?"
"Why, Mr.. Snow has engaged me
to carry small packages, baskets, bun.
dies, aud so forth, to his rich custom
ers. He has had to give up one Of
his horses" j"
"What do you mean, Maria ?"
just what | say. When Mr.. Snow
came home to dinner | was there, and
| asked him if he ever had light arti-
cles which he wished sent 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 idlers
who lounged 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 pretty gol My wife
turned butcher's boy! You won't dc
any SUCH thing
"And why not ?"
"Why not? Because-because-
Say because it will lower me il
the social scale
We'll, and so it will"
Then it is more honorable to liz
still and starve, and see ones chill
dren starve, too, than to earn youl
bread by honest work. | tell you
Peter, if you cannot work, | must
| We should have been without breaC
tonight, had not found work to-day
You know that ali kinds of light
agreeable business are seized upon by
those who have particular friends o.
relatives engaged in them. At Sucl
a time as this, it is not for US to con
slider what kind of work we will do
so long as it is honest. Oh! give me
the liberty of living upon my own des
ertS, and the independence to be gov
erned by my own conviction Of right.
But, my wife, only think-you car
!, rying our butchers stuff! Why,
would sooner go and do it myself"
Gf you will go" said the wife witt
a smile, Il will stay at home and TAX
care Of the children"
1t was hard for Peter Stanwood
but the more he thought upon the mat
, ter the more he saw the justice AM
right Of the path into which his wit
thus led him. Before he went to bee
he promised that he would 60 to th
butchers in the morning.
And Peter StanwOOd went upO
\ his new business. Mr.. Snow greete
!. him warmly, praised his faithful wifi
y and then sent him off with two basil
D ets-oue to a Mr.. Smith, and one t
h a Mrs. DiXal. And the new carrie
e worked all day, and when it cam
o night, he had earned just ninety-seve
cents. 1t had been a day of trials
him, but no one had sneered at hin
= and all his acquaintance whom b
:. had met had greeted him the same a
usual. He was far happier than b
> was when he went home the night b.
- fore, for now he was independent.
On the next day he earned over
:. dollar, and thus he continued to wor
v week, and at the end of that tin
= he had FIVE dollars and seventy-tiy
y. cents in his pocket, besides havin
y " paid for all the food for his famil
!, save some few pieces OF meat M
:" - Snow had given him. On Saturda
evening he met Mark Leeds, anoth'
~ bin Ter who had been discharged fro
- work with himself. Leeds locke
careworn and rusty.
"How goes it ?" asked Peter.
!. "Don't ask me-" groaned Mark
1t any family are starved"
:" ''But can't you find anything
n. do ?"
Nothing"
N "Have you tried p
,e Everywhere; but it's no use. II
1t pawned all my clothes save those
a have on. I've been down to the bin
cry to-day, and what do you suppo
N the old man offered me? ?'
'What was it ?"
If. "Why, he offered to let me do b
N hand-carting. He has just turned Q
his niger for drunkenness, and offe
ed me the place The old curmud
ID con! By the powers, I'd a gre
~,,.DI - -:4-l l.co 1910 +b2 hand 20