The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-08-26
Selertso MlstelIanu.
THE DARK HOUR.
A STORY OF CHRISTMAS EVE.

A SIOh1 Of ChhlbIAhS EVE.
Ican't stand it any longer, Jane, III g
out, and perhaps something will turn VI
for us.
''It's cold night, Robert"
''Cold, yesi But it's not much colder
outside than III. 1t would have been bet
ter for you. If you had married John Ire
main, he said bitterly.
Don't say that Robert, I've never re.
gretted my choice"
mot even now, when there is not a LOAF
of bread in the house for you and the chill
dren?"
''Not even now, Robert. Don't be dis.
couraged. God has not forsaken Us. Per.
haps this Christmas eve the tide will turn,
and better days may dawn upon us to-mor.
row.
Robert Brice shook his head despond-
ingly.
''You are more hopeful than I, Jane
Day after day have been in search OF en-
ployment, l have called at fifty places,
only to receive the same answer every
where"
just then little Jimmy, who had been
asleep, woke up.
Mother" he pleaded, won't You give
me piece of bread? 1 am so hungry.
''There is no bread, Jimmy darling, said
the mother with an sching heart.
"When will there be some" asked the
child, piteously.
Tears came to the mothers eyes. She
knew not what to say.
Jimmy, I'll bring you some bread, said
the father hoarsely, and he seized his hat
and went to the door.
His wife, alarmed, laid her hand upon
his sleeve. She saw the look in his eyes,
Oh - \
might lead him.
lit Is hard to st2rve, but there are things
that are worse"
HeshOok off her band, but not roughly,
and without word passed out.
Out IN the cold street, They would be
his only home next, he thought. For
brief time longer he had the shelter of n
cheerless room In a cold tenamenl house,
but the rent would become due at the end
of the month, and he had nothing to meet
it.
Robert Brice was mechanic, competent
and sRillful. Three years since he lived in
a country village, where his expenses were
moderate, and he found no difficulty IN
meeting them. But in an evil hour he
grew tired of his village home, and re-
moved to the city. Here he vainlY hoped
to do better. For a while he met with very
good success, but he found his tenament
house In which he was obliged to live,
poor substitute for the neat little cottage
which he had occupied in the country He
saw his mistake, but was too proud to go
back.
''Of course can't have as good accom-
odations here as in the country" he said,
f'but 1t is something to live IN, and to be
In the midst of things"
'1'd rather be back again, said his wife.
Somehow the city doesn't seem like home.
There used to run in and take tea with a
neighbor, and 1 have pleasant, social
time. Here, know scarcely anybody"
you'll get used to it after while, said
her husband.
She did not think so, but did not like
to complain.
But time ofgreat depression came, and
with 1t q suspension of business enterpris-
es. Work ceased for Robert Brice and
many others. If he had been in his old
home, he could have turned his hands to
something else, and at the worst could have |
borrowed of his neighbors till better times |
But the friendly relations arising from
neighborhOod, do net exist in the city to |
the same extent as in the country, So day |
by day he saw his scanty sum of money |
waste away, and 40 one extended hand |
Day by day he went out to seek work, only |
to find himself one of large number, all |
of whom were doomed to disappointment |
If he had been alone, he could have got |
along somehow, but it was q sore trial to |
come to cheerless room and pale wife |
and hungry children, with no relief to offer
them
When on that Christmas eve. Robert
Brice went iEto the streets. hehardly knew
how he was going to redeem the promise
he had made to little Jimmy. He was alb
solutely penniless and had been SO for three
days, There was nothing that he was like
ly to find to do that night.
81 viii pawn my coat, he said at last
81 cannot see my vile and children starve. "
1t was a well worn overcoat, and that
cold winter night, he needed something
mole to keep him warm. Weakened by
enforced lasting. he was more sensitive to
the cold, and shivered as he walked along
the pavement.
eyes," he said, ''my coat must go.
know not how shall get along without ii,
but 1 can't see the children starve before
my eyes"
He was not in general an enViOus man,
but when he saw sleek, well fed citizens
buttoned up to the throat in warm over
coats come out of the brilliantly lighted
shops, provided with presents for happy
children at home. while his were starving.
he suffered some bitter thoughts upon the
inequality of Fortunate's gifts to come to
his mind.
Why should they be so happy and he SO
miserable?
There was time, he eremembereditwell,
when he too suffered not the Christmas eve
TO pass without buying some little gifts for
Jimmy and Agnes. How little he dreamt
then that they would ever want bread.
There was one man, shorter than him.
self, warmly clad, who passed him with
his hands thrust deep into the pockets of
his oyercoat. There was a pleasant smile
upon his face. He was doubtless thinking
of the happy circle at home,
Robert knew him as a rich merchant,
whose ample warehouse he often passed
He had applied tc this man only two days
before for employment, and been refused
It was, perhaps, the thought of the wide
difference between them, so far as outward
went, that led Robert Brice
to follOw him.
After while, the merchandise Gimes.
drew his handkerchief safely from his poek-
ct. AS he did so, he did not perceive that |
his pocket book came with it and fell to
The sidewalk.
He did not perceive it, but Robert did. {
his heart leaped into his mouth, and j
sudden thought entered his mind. He |
oent quickly down and picked up the |
pocket book. He raised his eyes hastily |
70 see if the movement was noticed. 1t ]
was not.
The merchant went on unheeding his I
loss. Il