Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-07-27
OUT OF WORK.

see you"
"John Yates" I said to myself, "John
Yates! What can he want | thought
he was at work for Coombs & Plank"
"Show him into the library, Jane I'll
be there directly"
"Wcll," sir, said John, as came in, "rm
out of work, that's what it is, and the
mssis and two of the little 'uns is down
with fluenzl, or fever, or something Of
that sort; and truth is, sir, amt got a
penny, let lone shilling, to bless myself
with. can bear it myself sir; it amt
for that as I'm come; but they amt had a
bit nor drop this blessed morning"
GLOW long have you been out of work q
asked.
"About a month, sir; leastways, a month
come Saturday"
"A monthm | exclaimed. | was going
t. say, "Suely ysu ought not to be so bad
oil as this, only a month out Of work"
"What wages have you been Gaming ?"
"Well, sir, in a regular way, it's five and
twenty shillings week but I'll tell you
all, sir, as you say. | made good deal
overtime in tile Summer, and maybe,
then, it was thirty, more or less
"Ahout that, take one week with an
other?"
"Yes, sir"
"IIaven't you laid up anything against a
rainy day, John; anything in the savings
bank, now, or building society N
John WINGED and said, almost surlilv, II
shouldn't h come to you if | had, sir.''
Then, as if he felt he hadn't been quite po-
lite, he added: "P'raps | ought to have
done, but growing family is very cxpen,
sive, sir"
"It is" replied. 81 know that myself
still, it's for their sakes after all that we
save, Suppose now, John, that you had
five, ten or even twenty pounds in the
bank ?"
"Well, sir, only wish had but how's
the likes o me to lay by2 What with
rent being so high and meat and bread and
everything else, and clothes and firing, e
mans wages is gone afore he knows what
he's about
He Was beginning to talk more freely
now, and | tried to encourage his doing so,
81 know it is so, john" | said. 1.-THE
times have been hard for most of us. |
know it's been tight work for me, anyhow,
this last year. But there will be bad
times as well as good times, ard we must
make hay when the sun shines. Come,
now, times haven't always been so bad
have they y
"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
then"
But suppose you had something laid
by, or how could you have lived this last
month";
knew pretty well how it was, and how
he had never laid anything by; but, fol
his own sake, | wanted him to tell me.
"Well, sir, there, the truth must out
Most of the things is gone up, sir and
there amt no more to go. I'm ashamed
on it, sir, and it's hard to me to say it.
but there's the truth"
Thirty shillings a week-a month out Of
work-no bread in the house-and every.
thing OF value pawncd We both sat 81.
lent for time, Then got up, and tell
ing him to wait, went out Of the room
and sent basket.to his house When
came back-there was no mistake about il
John had been crying, but he tried not
to let me see it, and taking my pocket.
book diary Off the library table, pretend
ed to be looking at the almanac. wa:
really trying to think how could best put
John in the way Of helping himself.
knew pretty we'll how it was with him
and a good many others like him. Honest
hard working, good fellows, but neither
thinking nor caring 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 ! wanted tc
bring this fact home to him.
"John;'' ] said, putting my hand on bis
arm, IL want to say word or two to yor
very plainly. May do so 2"
"Certainly, sir. if you please"
"Well, then, want you to tell me how
you have spent your money. | don't ask
from mere curiosity, but in order to helI
you. You are free to tell or not tel! but
you come to me to help you in your diff
culties, and | want to do so in the most
cffectual way" =.
"Well, don't know as I've spent il
different from Others" he replied Thirty
sbillings a week amt much for seven OF us
come to pay rent and schooling out"
is the rent all paid 7" asked.
HE hesitated, and then said, "No, sir
and that's one thing as troubles me, fol
the collector says if it amt paid soon, out
we goes" .,
"It's two months Almost" he answered
b,on;,o, dnpn lie head