The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-02-08
THE DARK HOUR,

ats 4 cool night, Robert
''Coed, yes! But it's not much
colder outside than in. 1t would
haTA 'occn much better for YOU if
you had married John Trcmain,"
hc said bitterly.
'"Don't say that, Robert; I've
never regretted my choice"
=. ':Not even now, Robert. Don't
be discouraged. God has not for
saken US. Perhaps this New
Years eve the tide will turn bet
ter days may dawn upon US to-
morrow"
Robert Brice shook his head
despondingly.
"You are more hopeful than I,
Jane. Day after day l have been
in search of employment. I have
called at fifty places, only to re-
cei7e the same answer every
where"
Just then little Jimmy. who had
been asleep, woke up.
s:Mother," he pleaded, ''won;t
you give me piece Of bread? I
am so hungry"
= "Therc is no bread, Jimmy dar-
ling" said the mother, with an
aching heart.
"When will there be some?"
asked the child pitcously.
Tears came to the mothers eyes.
She knew not what to say.
"Jimmy, I'll bring you some
bread" said The father hoarsely,
and seized his hat and went to the
door.
: His wife alarmed, laid her hand
npon his sleeve. She saw the look
in his eyes, and she f:ared to what
step desperation might lead him.
Remember, Robert" she said,
solemnly, "it is hard to starve,
but there are things that are
worse"
liz shook off her hand, but not
roughly, and without q word pass
ed out.
Out in the cold street. There
would be their only home next.
For brief time longer he had the
shelter Of i cherries room in L
cold tenement house, Iut the rent
would come due at the end Of the
month, and he had nothing to meet
it.
Robert Brice was Il mechanic,
competent and skillful. Three
years since he lived in . country
village, where his expenses were
moderate, and he found no diff
Guilty in meeting them. Butin an
evil hour he grew tired Of his VIII
lage bone and removed to the
city. Here he v;sinly hoped to do
better. For i while be met with
very good success, but he found
his tenement house in which he
was obliged to live, q poor substi-
tute for the neat cottage which
he had occupied in the country.
He saw his mistake, but was too
proud to 60 back.
"Of course I can't have as good
accommodations here as in the
country he said, "but it is some
thing to live in. and be in the
midst of things"
AID rather Je back again." said
his wife; "somchow the city
doesn't seem like home; there l
used to run in and take tea with q
neighbor, and have a pleasant So
cial time; here I know scarcely
anybody"
you'll get used to it after a
while" said her husband.
She did not think so, but did not
like to complain.
But o time Of great depression
came, and with it suspension OF
business enterprises. Work ceased
for Robert Bricc and many others.
If he had been in his old home, ne
could have turned bis hands TO
something else, and at the worst
could have borrowed Of his neigh
bors till better times. But the
friendly relations arising from
neishborhood do not exist in the
city to the same extent as in tho
country. So day by day he went
out to seek work only to find him.
self one of large number, all Of
whom we're doomed to disappoint-
ment. Ifhe had been alone, he could
o+ oIonp somehow. but il