Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-08-24
TWO WAYS OF BEARING TROUBLE.

/ 1T was q cold, DISMAL evening III NO
vember, that two Iaborers might have
been seen vending their way along the
streets of large manufacturing Will
age.
Slowly they proceeded, with detected
! eOuntenances, not exchanging word
until the one, whom we shall call Smith,
! halted before a neat little house and un-
/ latched the gate. Then there was such
la look Of utter misery and despair gIeam-
/ ing from his eyes that his companion
murmUred. I'VE must trust in God, ,
| Smith
The words were unheeded, and his
companion passed on, while Smith en-
tered the house.
! A tall, dark-eyed woman was fitting
about getting supper. She gazed up as
he entered, eXclaiming. You are late
| tonight y ....- --
sYesP he articuIated glooming, and
going to the cradle he took up the six
weeks old baby, and sorrOwfully press
ed it to his heart.
4 do wish you would put that child
down and get ready for supper eX-
claimed his wife, after enduring his
gloominess for some time in silence.
He slowly Obeyed, and then seated
himself at the table, with deep sigh.
What in the world is the matter with
you tO-night?' she exclaimed, as she sat
down opposite him.
His voice trembled as he replied, Il
suppose you might as well know first as
last. have been discharged
There = exclaimed his wife, quickly
pushing back her chair. Just what l
might have expected! I'd like to know
what we are going to do now. Winter
coming on, and all. I declare, Smith,
you will torture me to death
4 am. very sorry, Lydia, but cannot
help it,
Sorry! No YOU are not sorry at all.
You would just as lief see your wife and
child starve as not. It's nothing in the
world but your poor managing.
Lydia, you are cruel. Instead of help
ing me to endure my great trouble
which is bearing me down to the very
eaIth, you make it ten times harder for
me to bear. | was not the only one dis
charged. There was Jim Hawly, and
ever so many Others. Business is dullp
business is dullp she mimicked after
him. always an excuse for a worth
less man. To think that you should be
discharged now, just as our rent is due
and we are needing coal; and look at
my shoes, will you? My feet are al
most out on the ground. 1 wish I had
never seen you y and a dark look ac-
cOmpanied the last words.
The poor husband now covered his
face with his hands and groaned aloud.
This seemed to encourage his wife to go
on; for she uttered words more and more
bitter, until at last almost in a state. of
frenzy, the Wretched man rushed from
the house to the nearest public house,
and there sought to bury thoughts of the
past and future in the bottom of q rum
cup.
In the meanwhile James Hawley, his
companion in labor, entered his home
with very sad cOuntenance. But be-
fore he had stepped over thT threshold,
loving pair of arms was thrown around
his neck and a pair of sweet lips were
pressed to his.
He returned the salutatiOn sadly and
then inquired for the baby.
She is sleeping sweetIy in her cradle. !
She has been perfect little darling to-
day. Supper is waiting; so make haste. !
Here is warm water and towels. Are
you not later than usual tO-night?'
Yes, Mary and bring bad news for
yOU.'
Bad news y she exclaimed, turning
pale, as, for the first time, she noticed
that something was wrong.
Yes; I was discharged tonight, and |
do not know as I can get anything more
to do until spring. Business is so dull |
is that all q exclaimed his wife, with |
a sigh of relief. 4 thought it was some |
thing terrible, the way you looked
'Bnt is it not terrible enough? What |
will become of us this winter, if I am !
out of employment"
'The same God. who feeds the sparrow, !
and clothes the lilies of the field, will |
not let us suffer, dear James,
God bless you, Mary! There is. sweet |
comfort in your words.
'And now let us have SUDpern eX- |
claimed his wife, cheerfulIy. See, 1
have your favOTite dish-shortcake and |
toast. Do not let your troubles impair |
your appetite; and then, after tea, we
will talk it all over. God dOeth every
thing for the. best And as our days so |
shall our strength ben
In the evening it was determined that |
the quarters rent should be paid imme- |
diately, new supply of coal obtained, |
and the remaining portion of the money |
placed in the wife's hands, to be dealt |
out as spaTingly as possible. Then Mary |
suggested that all her pretty parlOr fur |
niture should be slowed away in the |
garret, and the front room let. Further |
than this they could lay no plans, and /
as the husband went out to pay his rent, |
the future looked 50 dark TO the young |
wife, that she could not altogether re-
strain her tears; but seeking strength |
from on high, her face wore the same
cheerful smile when her husband re- /
turned; and little did he know that dur |
ing all that long night, while he and his |
baby were so sOundly sleeping, his wife /
lay awake, planning out the future.
Three months have passed, with scarce
ly days work in all that time, and |
now another quarters rent is due. In |
vain the laboTer thrusts his hands away |
down into the empty pockets and in vain |
racks his brain for some solution of the |
problem how that rent is to be paid
The lodger had paid his money month |
ly; but then, that was not enough to /
meet the sum, if he had it, and, of !
course, his wife had spent that as fast as
she received it, aud it was an everyday |
wonder to James how Mary managed |
80 well.