Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-16
The Two Troubles.

Der, that two labOrers might have been
seen wendiug their way along the streets
of a large manufacturing town.
Slowly they proceeded with detected
cOuntenances, not exchanging word I'M
til the one whom we shall call Smith halt
ed before neat little house and Unmatched
the gate. Then there was such look of
utter misery and despair cleaning from his
eyes, that his companion murmured, 1--WE
must trust in God, Smith,
"Yes," he articulated gloomily, and 60
ing to the cradle took up the six weeks
old baby, and sorrowfully pressed it to his
heart.
81 do wish you would put that child
down and get ready for supper" exclaim-
ed his wife, after enduring his glOominess
for some time.
He slowly obeyed, and then seated him
self at the table with q sigh.
"What in the world is the matter with
you to-night?n she asked, as she sat down
opposite him.
His voice trembled as he replied, 81 sup
pose you might as well know first as last
[ have been discharged
"Thereu' exclaimed his wife quickly,
pushing back her chair; 'just what l
might have expected I'd like to know
what we are going to do now. Winter
coming on and all. declare Smith, you
will torture me to DEATH
81 am very sorry, Lydia, but ! cannot
help it,
"Sorry No, you are not sorry at all.
You would Just as lief see your wife and
children starvC as not. Tits nothing Ill
the world but your poor managing"
lydia, YOU are cruel. Instead Of help
ing me to endure my great trouble,
which is bearing me down to the earth,
YOU make it ten times harder to bear. |
was not the only one discharged. There
was Jim Hawley and ever so many others.
Business is dull
Cuisines is dull she mimicked after
him. always an excuse for worthless
man. To think that you should be dis
charged now, just as our rent is due; and
then we are out of wood and look at my
shoes, won't you ? my feet almost on the
ground. | wish l had never married YOU"
and a dark look accompanied the last
words. The poor husband covered his face
with his hands and grOaned aloud. This
seemed to encourage his wife TO go Oh fer
she uttered words more and more bitter,
until at last, driven almost to state of
frenzy, the Wretched man rushed from the
house to the tavern, and there sought to
bury the thoughts Of the past and future
in the rum cup.
In the mean time James Hawley, his
companion to labor, entered his home with
very sad cOuntenance. But before he
had stepped over the threshold a flowing
pair of arms were thrown around his neck
and pair of sweet lips were pressed to
his. He returned the salutation sadly, and
then inquired for the baby.
"She is sleeping sweetly in her cradle.
She has been a perfect little darling all
day. Supper is waiting, so make haste.
Here is warm water and towel. Are
you not later than usual, tonight"
"Yes Alice, | bring bad news to you
Bad news" she exclaimed, turning
pale as, for the first time, she noticed that
something was wrong.
Eyes: [ was discharged tonight, and [
do not know as / can get anything to do
before spring. Business is so dull"
as that all ~ asked his wife with sigh
of relief II thought it was something
terrible, the way you looked"
"And is it not terrible enough" What
will become of us this winter if ] am out
of employment"
1.-The same God who feeds the sparrOws
and clothes the lilies in the field will not
let lis suffer, dear James,"
"GOd bless you, dear Alice. There IS
sweet comfort in your words.
And now let us newspaper, eXclaim-
ed his wife, cheerfully. "See, | have your
favorite dish-shortcake and toast. Do
not let your troubles impair your appetite,
and then after tea, we will talk it over,
God doeth everything for the best. And
as our day is, so shall our strength be-"
In the evening it was determined that a
quarters rent should be paid Immediately,
a new supply of coal obtained, and the re-
naming portion Of the money be placed
in the Wife's hands to be dealt out as spar
ingly as possible.
Then Alice suggested that all her pretty
Darlor furniture be put away in the
parret, and the front room let out. Fur
Their than this they could lay nOplans, and
as the husband went out to pay the rent,
the future looked so dark to the young
wife that she could not altogether restrain
her tears: but seeking strength from on
high, her face wore the same cheerful
/ fuI smile when her husband returned, and
little did he know that all that night long
while he and his baby were sOundly sleep
ing, his wife lay awake planning for the
future.
/ Three months have passed without a
davis work all that time, and now anoth-
! er quarters rent is due. In vain the labor
er thrusts his hands into his empty peck
cts. and in vain racks his brains for some
solution to the problem how the rent is to
be paid. The lOdger has paid his money
monthly, but then that was not enough to
meet the sum, if he had it, and of course
his wife had spent that as fast is she had
received it, and it was an everyday Won
der how Alice managed so well.
With feelings of deep despair he entered
the house. The table was spread with the
same fayorite dish There was the short
cake and toast thanked with q golden lumI