Connecticut western news., 1871-07-21
0UfaOF WORK.

Eff you please, sir, John Yates wants tc
 "John Yates" said to myself "John Yates! What can he want ? thought he was at work for Coombs & Plank.n
 "Show him into the library, Jane; I'll be there directly" '''.
 "WelI," sir, said John, as came in. sspm out of work, that's what it is. and the missis apd two of the little 'uns is down with 'fuenza, or fever, or something ol that sort and truth is, sir, ain't got . penny, let lone a shilling, to bless myself with. l can bear it myself, sir; it ain't for that as Pm come; but they ain't had s bit nor drop this blessed mornings
 "Iiow long have you been out of work |? 1 asked.
 About month, sir; leastways, month come Saturday.
 "A monthp' exclaimed was going to say, Surely you ought not to be SO bad of as this. only month out of work.n
 WI hat wages have you been earning ?''
 "WeI, sir, in reg'lar way, it's five and twenty shillings week; but I'll tell you all, sir, as you say. I made good deal overtime in the Summer, and maybe, then, it was thirty, more or less.n
 About that, take one week with an- other ?n -.
 "sYes, sir"
 Haven't you laid up anything against a rainy day, John anything in the savings bank, now, or building society 2'' 4
 John winced and said, almost surlily, q shouldn't h. come to you if I h; q, sir.n Then, as if. he felt he hadn't been quite po- Hte, he added: .tP'raps ought to have done, but growing family is very expen sive, sir.n
 sIt is" I replied. .sI know that myself still, it's for their sakes after all that we save Suppose now, John, that you had bank F'
 "Well, sir, only wish had but how;s the likes O me to lay by? What with rent being SO high and meat and bread and ever. thing else, and clothes and firing, a mans wages is gone afore he knows what he's about, f.1
 He was beginning to talk more freely now, and Ii tried to encourage his doing so know 1t is SO, .John," I said. "The times have been hard for most of us, know it's been tight work for me, anyhow, this last yer. But there will be bad times as well as good times, and we must make hay when the sun shines. Come, now, tunes haven't always been so bad, have they p
 Well, no, sir, Pve no call to say they have, I've had regular work, thank God Tor good many years and been able to pay my way, mostly, somehow or other, but there wasn't so many in the family
 but l suppose you had something laid by, or how could you have lived this last month p a;2tl S
 knew pretty we'll how it was, and how he had never laid anything by but, for his own sake, I wanted him to tell me.
 Well, Sir, there, the truth must out Most of the things is gone up, sir, and there ain't no more to go. Pm ashamed on it, sir, and it's hard to me to say it. but there's the truth.'
 Thirty shilhngs week-a month ont oi work-no bread in the house-and every tblng of value pawned! We both sat si- lent tor tune. Then got up, and, tell ing him to wait, went out of the room and sent a basket to hi4 house. When I came back-tbere was7no mistake about it John had been crying, but he tired not to let ne see it, and taking my pocket book diary off the library table, pretend ed to be looking at the almanac. 1 was really trying to think how could best put John in the way of helping himself. l knew pretty well how it was with him and good many others like him. Honest, hard working, good fellows, but neither thinking nor carng about the future, SC long as they can meet the demands of the day. and whose money is always burning holes in their pockets. But I wanted to bring this fact home to him.
 'JOhn," said, putting my hand on his arm, ''I want to say word or two to you very plainly. May I do so p
 Certainly, sir. if you please.n
 Well, then, want you to tell me how you have spent your money. don't ask from mere curiosity, but in order to helu you. Yeu are free to tell or not tell but you come to me to help you in your diff entities, and 1 want to do so in the most efectual way"
 Well, don't know as Eve spent if different from others" hereplied Thirty shillings week ain't much for seven of us, come to pay re,t and schooling out.n
 'sIs the rent ali paid p l asked.
 He hesitated, and then said, 'No, sir and that's one thing as troubles me, for the collector says if it ain't paid soon, out we goes" T5z 5iE $ se3
 How much is there owing p 4
 Its two months a'most," he answered