The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-07-15
OUT OF WORK,
by sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

days have been to every book-bindery in the
city, aud not bit of work can get"
"But have you tried anything else?"
''What else can try 7"
"Why, anything that you can do"
Eyes; l have tried other things. have been
to more than dozen of my friends and offered
to help them if they would hire me-"
"And what did you mean to do for them?"
~ offered either to post their accounts, make
ont bills or attend to the counter"
Mrs. Stanwood smiled as her husband thus
spoke.
what makes you smile ?" he asked her.
ITO think that you should have imagined that
you would find work at such places. But how
is Mark Leeds 2"
He is worse off than am"
"How SO!
He has nothing in his house to eat"
1t was shudder that orept over his wife's
frame now.
"Why do you tremble, wife ?"
Because when we shall have eaten our break
fast tomorrow morning we shall have nothing "
What" cried Peter Stanwood, half starting
from his chair; do you mean that?"
II do"
"But our -four"
"All gone baked the last this afternoon. j."
"But we have pork ?"
"YOu ate the last this noon"
"Then We must starve," groaned the stricken
man, starting across the room.
Peter Stanwood was book binder by trade,
and now had been out OF employment over a
month. He was one of those who generally cal
culated to keep about square with the world,
and who consider themselves particularly fortu.
nate if they keep out of debt. He was now thirty
years of age and had been married eight years
lie had three children to provide for besides
himself and wife, and this, together with house
rent, was a very heavy draught upon his purse,
even when work WAS plenty, but nowhere was
nothing.
Maria" said he stopping and gazing at his
wife In the face, 1--WE must starve. I have not
single penny in the world"
"Do not despair, Peter. Try for work again
Tomorrow. You may find something to do.
Anything that is honest will be honorable
Should you make shilling day we should not
"But our house rent ?"
Trust to me for that. The landlord shall net
turn US out. If you will engage to find some
work to do, l will see that we shall have house
room"
I'LL make one moIe trial." uttered Peter, de.
spairiugly.
But you must 90 prepared to do anything"
Anything reasonable, Maria"
what do you call reasonable"
why. anything decent
The wife felt almost inclined to laugh, but the
matter was too serious for that, and cloud pass.
ed over her face. She knew he would look about
tor some sort of work which would not lower
hun III the social scale as he once or twice OK.
pressed 1t. However, she knew it would be Of
no use to say anything to him now, and she let
the matter pass.
On the following morning the last bit Of food
/" the house Was put upon the table, Stanwood
could srdly realize that he wa. pennless and
without food. For many years he had been gay
ana thoughtiess and fortunate, making the most
OF The present. forgetting the past and leaving
the future to take care of itself Yet the truth
WAS naked and clear, and when he left the house
ne SAID, something must be done"
n" sooner had the husband gone than Mrs
San wood put on hel bonnet and shawl Her
"'d''t child was girl seven years old, and her
1"nnscst four. She asked the next door neigh.
""' II she would take care of the other children
un'i' noon. These children were known to be
sooI aud quiet and they were taken cheerfully.
Then Mrs. Stanwood locked up her house and
w'nt away. She returned at noon, bringing
some dinner for her children, and went back
again. She got home in the evening before her
husband, ana carried a heavy basket upon her
arm.
We'll, Peter" she asked after he had entered
AID sat down, what luck p
=. Nothing! nothing" he groaned, II made out
TO squeeze q dinner out of an old chum, but cam
not find work"
And where have you looked to-day?
"O--everywhere l have been to u hun
dred places, but it's the sane in every place. 1t
Is nothing but one eternal R0-no-no!' I'm
sick and tired of it,"
But what sort of work have you offered to
doy' W
why, even went 80 far as to offer to tend
liquor store down town.
The wife smiled
Now what shall we do ?" uttered Peter, spas.
medically.
"Why, we'll eat supper first, and then talk the
matter over"
supper. have you got any,"
Yes
But YOU told me you had none"
'Nelther had We any this morning. but have
been after work to-day and found some"
"louf lou been after work z" uttered the
husband in surprise.
Yes
"Bnt how whereof what p
why, first went to Mrs. Shows. I knew
her Girl was sick, and hoped she might have
WORK to be done. | went to her and told her nv
story ma she at once set me to doing her wash.
my. She gave me food to bring home To NV
children, and paid me three shillings when rot
through" e0'
What, you been out washing for our butch.
ers wiie = sad Peter, looking very much sur.
prised.
"Oi couise have, and have thereby earnei
enough to keep US in food through Tomorrow NJ
any rate 70 tomorrow you may come home to
dinner"
'But how about the renti"
S.n 4 n