The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-10-27
Select Storp.
THE DIsCHARGED VORKMAN.
OR,
Poverty, GnIIt. Despair. nna nan,n,

-OherIy, GulIts Despair, and Death,
James" said his emplcyer. "James Won
are an excellent workman I am oniie
satisfied with your conduct: durinG the
ten years you have been employed in my
factory, you have gained every ones es-
TEEN and friendship but YOU see how il
IS We have nothing more to do; business
Is at an end. But you must keep up your
courage, my poor James as soon ay any-
thing oilers, l will let you know: at pres
ent have no occasion for your service"
Inc workman, heard these words. which.
although uttered in~ a tom. of feelipgness
and pity, sounded in his ears like a SEN
tence OF want and misery pronounced
upon ms wife and children. His ewes
were mournfully fixed on the ground as
he stretched forth his hand to receive the
amount of his last weeks wages and a
certificate of character.
Unable to answer a single word, he
slowly took the road homeWard. Big
tears dropped from his eyes, and sobbing,
he exclalm,-"My wife, my poor child
ron for he was the father of a family.
son SIX years old, a daughter, Just learn
ing to walk, and nursing in the help
lesSness OF extreme infancy.
James entered his dwelling-the place.
his approach to which had ever been the
signal of great Joy to its poor but happy
inmates, whose little wants he had always
supplied with the twofold delight of a
happiness both impaired and received
he entered, and his wife and children ran
TO embrace him. James clasped them in
his arms, but his sorrowful and desponding
looks evlnced, to the quick discernment Of
MS wlie, that some secret uneasiness was
preying on his mind.
>, Dear husband, what is the matter p
as any misfortune happened to you?
NO more work" " replied James, as he
sank upon his chair.
No more work repeated the mother,
IN voice of agony. "No more work "
echoed little Francis, and the three looked
at each other with an air of stupefaction,
James wept no longer; it was his duty
to give them an example of resionation
but the burning tears of the anxious
mother fell on the little hands of the in
fant she held in her arms. and the innocent
smile of the babe reinvigorated the moth
er and wife.
Don't despair, James, tomorrow YOU
may perchanee find something to do. God
is our father, and while He is rich in love,
we shall not want"
20 yes, wife, Will look for work; here
arc my eighteen dollars for the weeks
work; make them last as long as posi-
ble.p
Francis was soon despatched with two
dollars to pay the baker it was the amount
OF nearly whole weeks consumption,
and the credit of the poor is limited.
Next day James left home very early
to look for work, but all his efforts were
Intellectual. In vain he depicted the dis
tress OF his family; in vain he exhibited
the certificate OF his good character most
OF the factories were idle. He returned,
and his wife asked him no question the
detection of his countenance sufficiently
attested his want of success.
A week passed in the some manner, and
every evening James came home more
wretched than the preceding, while the
intense coldness of the weather still in
creased the sufferings of his family. The
children were kept in bed, for James had
no more wood; the poor little things h ad
no supper; 1t was Saturday night, and the
baker had refused any credit. Already
the mother, deprived as she was of food.
could afford her babe but little nourish-
ment, and the restlessness of the poor. in
nocent betrayed its hunger.
Meantime the two children awoke. and
crying, asked for bread. On hearing this
James became desperate. Shifting his
forehead with his clenched hand, he h.r-
rled to and fro across his chamber. ex-
claiming. There is wealth enough
around us-superfuous wealth; the u1-
feeling rich revel in abundance, and prod
lgally waste more than would suffice TO
keep these poor babes from starving
Why do tLey not search out the dwellings,
Of the needy, and prevent crime, by re-
hevlng those small, but emergent wants.
which too often prompt its perpetration ?''
There was some reason in this madness
but James permitted it TO carry him too
far; and he broOded over it until his dis
ordered mind settled in a desperate and
ruinous determination. He sat down.
looking towards his wife with a vacant
stare.
"You look at me-" said she. "and vet
you appear not to see me James, my dear,
tell me-what ails you2"
"Nothingl nothingl wife.-they weep,
they are famished = they Ihall have
bread |"
So saying, he rushed out of the room,
and disappeared His wife uttered a
piercing cry James where are YOU 90
ingT But James did net hear her; the
slamming of the alley door announced to
her that her husband was already in the
street. Poor wife unhappy mother your
presentiment is just tie idea of crime
had entered his paternal heart