The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-21
THE TWO TROUBLES.

It was cold, dismal evening in NoYem-
Der that two laborers might have been seen
vending their way along the streets OF
large manufacturing town.
Slowly they proceeded with detected
countenances, not exchanging word until
the one whom we shall call Smith halted
before a neat little house and Unattached the
gate. Then there was such look of ut
ter misery and despair cleaning from his
eyes, that his companion murmured, "We
must trust in God, Smith,"
"Yes," he articulated gloomily, and go
ing to the cradle took up the six weeks
old ,aby, and sorrowfully pressed it to
his heart.
IT do wish you would put that child
down and get ready for SUPPER" exclalm-
cd his wife, after end uring his gloominess
for some time.
He slowly obeyed, and then seated him.
SELF at the table with a sigh.
"What in the world is the matter with
you tonight ?" 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"
"Therelo exclaimed his wife, just
what | 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"
III am very sorry, Lydia, but ! cannot
help it.n
'sSorry! No, you are not sorry at all.
You would Just as leave gee your wife and
children starved as not. It's nothing in
the world but your poor managing"
tflEfpad holm.
ing me to endure my great trouble, which
make it ten times harder for me to bear.
was not the only one discharged. There
was Jim Hawley and ever SO many others.
Business is dull"
"Business is dull ~ she mimcked after
him. always an excuse for worthless
man. To think that you should be dis
charged now, just as your rent is due and
then you are out of wood; and look at my
shoes, won't you? my feet almost on the
ground. wish had never married you,"
and dark look accompanied the last
words. The poor hus band now covered
his face with his hands and groaned aloud.
This seemed to encourage his wife to 60 on;
for she uttered her last words moro 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 thought of the past and
future in the rum cup.
In the meantime James Hawley, his
companion in labor, entered his home with
a very sad countenance. But before he had
stepped over the threshold q loving pair Of
arms were thrown around his neck and q
pair of sweet lips were pressed to his. lie
returned the salutation sadly, and then in
CURED for the baby.
"She is sleeping sweetly iii her cradle.
She has been perfect little darling all day.
Supper IS waiting; SO make haste. Here
is warm water and a towel. Are you not
later than usual, to-night?o
Eyes, Mary. bring bad news to you"
"Bad news !" she exclaimed, turning
pale as, for the first time, she noticed that
something was wrong.
"Yes. was discharged tonight, and |
do not know as | can get anything to do
before spring. Business is 80 dull"
us that all 2" asked his wife with o sigh
of relief. thought it was something ter
rible, the way you looked"
Sand is it not err BILE enough? Whit
will become of us this winter, If ana out
of employment ?"
''The same God who feeds the sparrow
and clothes the lilies in the field will not
let us suffer, dear James,"
seed bless you, dear Mary. There is
sweet comfort in your words.'
Sand now let us have supper" excaim-
ed his wife, cheerfully. ''See have your
fayorlte dish--short cake and toast. Do
not let your troubles impair your appetite,
and then, after tea, we will talk 1t over.
God doeth everything for the best. And
as our day, so shall our strength be-
In the evening it was determined thai
the quarters rent should be paid immedi.
ately, new supply of coal obtained, anC
the remaining portion of the money placed
In the wife's hands to be dealt out as spar
ingly as possible.
Then Mary suggested that all her pretty
parlor furniture should be put away in tbs
garrett and the front room let out. Further
than this they lay no plans, and as the hus
band went out to pay the rent, the future
looked SO dark to the young wife that she
could not altogether restrain from tears
but seeking strength from on high, hel
face bore the same cheerful smiles when he
husband returned, and little did he know
that during all that night long, while h
and his baby were soundly sleeping, hi
wife lay awake planning for the future.
Three months have passed without
days work all that time, and now anothe
quarters rent is due. In vain the lahore
thrusts his hands into his empty pockets
and in vain racks his brain for some solu
ton of the problem how the rent is to b
paid. The lodger had paid his monthly
but that was not enough to meet the sum
if be had it, and Of course his wife hat
spent that as fast as she had received 1t
and it was an everyday wonder to jaime
how Mary managed SO well.
With feelings OF deep despair he entere
the house. The table was spread with SON
favorite dish. There was the short-cah
and toast fanked with golden lump {
butter, plate of honey and deep dish {
roasted apples. to be served with sugar an
cream, while at his wife's plate sat tn
steaming teapot. AS James took it in, 9
at one glance, he greatly wondered at Il
frugal yet comfortable way of living. Ho
his wife had been able to make the sma
amount of money last so long was a my
terry to him, and yet he could not he
wishing inwardly that she had been mo
economical then, perhaps, the rent mig
have been paid, and he felt that it would
better to have subsisted on one crust