The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-07-15

yon were away hunting up work."
$50 he's got your gold watch ?"
| "No-he wouldn't take it. He said il would
it rest"
"Then we've got a roof to cover rs and food
for tomorrow, But what next? Oh, what a
curse these hard times are!"
"Do not despair, Peter, for We shall not starye.
I've got work enough to keep us alive"
'Ah-eh what's thatP"
'Why, Mr.. Snow has engaged me to carry
small packages, baskets and so forth, to his rich
| customers. lie has had to give up one of his
horses"
"What do you mean. Maria 2"
"Just what say. When Mr.. Snow came home
| to dinner, asked him if he had any articles
which he wished to send around to customers.
he did happen to want Just such work done,
though he had meant to call upon some of the
idIers who lounge about the markets. He prom.
ised to give me all the work he could, and am
to De there early tomorrow morning."
well this is a pretty go. My wife turned
butchers boy. You won't do any such thing"
"And why not ?"
"Why not? Because-because-"
Say because it will lever me in the socisl
scale"
"Then it is more honorable to lie still and
starve, and see ones children starve, than earn
honest bread by honest labor tell you, Peter.
If y0u cannot find work I must. We should
have been without bread to.nigh had not found
work to day. You know that all kinds of light,
agreeable business are seized upon by those who
have particular friends or relatives engaged in
them. AT such time as this it is not proper
for as to consider what kind of work we will do
as long as 1t is honest. y, give me the liberty
upon my own deserts, and the independence to
be governed by my own convictions of right"
but my wife, only think-you carrying out
butchers stuff Why, had sooner go and do
it myself"
"If you will co." said his wife with u smile.
II will stay at homo and take care of the chill.
dreu"
1t was hard for Peter Stanwood, but the more
ne thought upon the subject the more he saw
the justice and right of the path into which his
wife had thus lead him. Before he went to bed
he promised that he would 20 to the butchers
in the morning.
And Peter Ssanwood went upon his new bus,.
ness: Mr.. Snow greeted him warmly, praised
his faithful wife, and sent him off with two has.
kets, one to go to MIR. Smiths and the other TO
Mrs Dixars. And the new carrier worked all
day, when 1T came night he had earned Just 81
cents. 1t had been day of trials to him. but
no one had sneered at him, and all his acqua,nt.
ances whom he met had greeted him the same AZ
usual. He was far happier than he was when
he went home the night before for now no was
Independent.
On the next day he earned over dollar, and
thus ne continued through the week and at the
end OF that time he had five dollars and seventy.
five cents in his pocket, besides having paid for
all the food for his family save some few pieces
OF meat which Snow had given him. Saturday
evening he met Mark Leeds, another book.binder
who had been discharged from work with him.
SELF Leeds looked care worn and rusty.
Show goes it ?" asked Peter.
Don't ask me- groned Mark. my family
are half starved
but can't you find anything to do"
"Have you tried?"
Everywhere; but it's no use. I've pawned
all my clothes save these I've got on. have
been down to the blndery to-day, and what do
you think the old man offered me?
"What was itp"
"Why, he offered to let me do his hand.cart.
ing! he Just turned off his niger for drunk.
enness and offered me the place. The old cur.
mudgeon! BY the powers I'd great mind to
pitch hsm into the cart and run him to the ~
Mark mentioned the name of an individual |
who is supposed to dwell some where in region |
a little warmer than our tropics.
well" said Peter, "if 1 had been in your
place i! should have taken up with the offer"
Mark mentioned the name of that same indi.
vidual again.
Why" said Peter, II have been doing the
work of butchers boy for whole week"
Mark was incrcdulous but his companion |
soon convinced him, and then they separated. |
one going home happy and oontented, and the |
other going away from home to find some kind |
OF excitement in which to drown his misery.
"One day Peter had u basket of provision TO
carry to Mr.. W. 1t was his former employ. |
err. lie took it upon his arm and started off. |
and just as he was entering the yard of the Gus.
toner, he met Mr.. W coming ont.
"Ah, tanwood, is that you = .skcd his err.
ployer, kindly.
eyes, sir"
What are you up to nowT"
"Tm II butchers boy, SIR"
"a what ?"
"4ou see I've brought your provisions to Won
sir. am regular butchers boy"
Glow long have you been at work thusy'
This is the tenth day, SIR"
"But don't it come hard?"
Nothing comes hard so long az it is honest
and will furnish my family with bread"
And how much can you make day at this 2" |
sometimes over dollar. and sometimes not
over fifty cents"
"Well, now, looF here, Stanwood there have
oeen no less than dozen Of my old hands hang.
Ing about my counting room for work. Thew
are stout, able men, and vet thew lie s.ill he. |
cause l have no work for them. Las. Saturday
took pity on Leeds and offered him the lob to |
do my handcarting.
Il told him would give him dollar and
quarter day; but he turned up his nose and |
asked me not to insult him. And vet he owned |
that his family were suffering. But do Won |
come to my place tomorrow morning, and Won
shall have something to do, if it il only to hold
your bench up. lonor your ,n,nlv ;rdo,onJ