Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-13
The Dark Hour,

"Not even now, when there is not loaf of
bread in the house for you and the chdren~
mot even now, Robert. Don't be discouraged.
God has not forsaken us. Perhaps this Christ
mas eve the tide will turn; better days may
dawn upon us Tomorrow"
Robert Brice shook his head despondingly.
You are more hopeful than /, Jane. Day
after day have been in search Of employment.
have called at fifty places, only to receive the
same answer everywhere"
just then little Jimmy, who had been asleep,
woke up.
Mother" he pleaded, won't you give me a
piece of bread2 l am so hungry"
"There is no bread, Jimmy, darling" said the
mother, with an aching heart
when will there be some" asked the child,
pteously.
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, and she
feared to what step desperation might lead him.
Remember, Robert" she said solemnly, cit
is hard to starve but there are things that are
worse"
He shook off her hand, but not roughly, and
without word, passed out.
Out in the cold streets! There would be their
only home next. For brief time longer he
had the shelter of cherries room in a cold
tenement house, but the rent would become due
at the end of the month, and he had nothing to
meet it.
Robert Brce was Il mechanic, competent and
sklllful. Three years since he lived in a coun-
try 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 removed to the city Here he vainIy
hoped to do better. For awhile he met with
very good success, but he found his tenement
house, in which he was obliged to live, poor
substitute for the neat cottage which he had &C.
cupled IN the country. He saw his mistake, but
was too proud to go back.
of course can't have as good accommoda-
tions here as in the. country" he said, "5u, it is
something to live in, and be in the midst of
things"
I'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 neigh.
Dor, and have a pleasant social time: here I
know scarcely anybody"
You'll get used to it after WHILE" said her
husband.
She did not think so, but did not like to COM
plain.
But time of great depression came, and with
it suspension OF business enterprises Work
ceased for Robert Brice and many Others If
he had been in his old home he could have
turned his hand TO something else, and at the
worst could have borrowed of his neighbors till
better times. But the friendly relations arising
from neighborhood do not exist in the city TO
the same extent as in the country. So day bv
day he went out to seek work, only to find him
self one OF a large number, all of whom were
doomed to disappointment. If he had been
alone he could have got along somehow, but il
was sore trial to come to Il cheerless room and
pale wife and hungry children with no relief to
offer them.
When on that Christmas eve Robert Brice
went into the streets, he hardly knew how he
was going to redeem the promise he had made
little Jimmy. He Twas absolutely penniless
and had been so for three days. There was
nothing that he was likely to find to do that
night.
81 will pawn my coat" he said at last 81
cannot see my wife and children starve."
IL was well worn oyercoat, and that cold
winter night he needed something more TO keep
him warm. Weakened by enforced fasting, he
was more sensitive to the cold, and shiYered as
he walked along the pavement.
''Yes," he said, "my coat must 90, | know
not how | shall get along without it. bur |
cannot see the children starYe before my eyes"
He was not i'll general an envious man. but
when he saw Sleek well fed citizens buttoned up
to the throat in warm Overcoats, come out of
the brilliantly lighted shops, provided with nres
ents for children at home, while he was starving,
he suffered some bitter thoughts upon the inc
quality of fortunes gifts, to come TO his mind.
Why. should they be so happy, he so mis-
cradle?
There was a time, he remembered it well,
when he too suffered not the Christmas eve to
pass without buying some little gift for Jimmy
and Agnes. How little he dreamed then that
they would ever want bread.
There was one man, shorter than himself
warmly clad, who passed him with his hands
thrust deep into the pockets of his overcoat.
There was pleasant smile upon his face. He
was doubtless thinking OF the happy circle at
home.
Robert knew him as rich merchant, whose
ample warehouse he had often passed. He had
applied to this man only two days before for
employment and had been refused. 1t was,
perhaps, the thought of the wide difference
between them, so far as the outward circum-
stances went, that led Robert Brice to follow
him.
After while, the merchandise. Grimes
drew his handkerchief from his pocket. 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 sudden
thought entered his mind. He bent quickly
down and picked up the pocket book. He raised
his eyes hastily to see if the movement was no.
ticed. 1t was not. The merchant went On. un-
needing his loss.
"This will buy bread for my wife and chill
dren," thought Robert, instantly.
vision of the comfort which the money
would bring that cherries room, lighted up his
heart for an instant; but then, for he was not
ulouOHcstJ InCIG CitlilC dHOIller thought, The
money was not his, as much as he wanted it,
'But cannot see my wife and children starve,"
he thought again. eff it is wrong to keep the
money, God will pardon the otfense. He will
understand the motive"
All this was sophistry, and he knew it. In
moment he felt it to be so. There were some
things worse than starvation. 1t was his wife
who had said this just before he came out.
Could he meet her gaze, when lie returned with
food so obtained?
GIVE lived honest, so far" he thought, 81
won't turn thief now"
1t was with an effort he came to this decision,
for all the while there was before his eyes that
vision of a cherries home, and he could hear
Jimmy vainly asking for food. Ii was with an
effort that he stepped forward and placed his
hand on the merchants shoulder, and extended
the hand that held the pocket book.
"Thank you," said the merchant, turning
round, 81 hadn't perceived my loss"
'You dropped it where you took out your
handkerchief"
"And you saw it and picked it up. am much
obliged to you"
"You have reason to be" said Robert in a low
voice. 81 came near keeping it."
"That would have been dishonest" said Mr..
Grimes, his tone altering slightly.
eyes, it would; but it is hard on a man to be
honest when he is pennless, and his wife and
children want a crust"
Surely your wife and family are not in that
condition." said the merchant earnestly.
eyes" said Robert at is only too true"
"And you are out of work p
"For two months | have vainly sought for
work. | applied to you two days since"
81 remember you now. thought had seen
your face before. You still want work ?"
81 should feel grateful for it,"
ga porter left me yesterday. Win you take
his place for twelve dollars a week ?"
Thankfully, sir. | would for half that"
"Then come tomorrow morning, or rather, as
tomorrow will be a holiday, the day succeed
ing. Meantime take this for your present neces-
sites"
He drew from his pOcket-book bank note and
put it in Roberts hank.
''l's fifty doarsp said Robert in amaze
men.
81 know it. The pocket book contains a
thousand dollars. But for you should have
lost the whole. | wish you merry Christ
mas"
at will, indeed, be merry Christmas" said
Robert with emotion. Good bless you sir. Good
nightF
Good nightp
Jane waited for her husband, in the cold and
cherries room, which for few days longer she
might call home.
"Do you think father will bring some breadp
said little Jimmy, as he nestled in her lap
81 hope so, darling" she said; but her heart
misgave her. She feared it was deusire hope