The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-01-02
THE DARK HOUR.

Il
81 can't stand it any longer. Jane
III go out aud perhaps something viii
itarn up for u.s.
Its cool night. Robert"
Gold, yes! Buti'ts not much cold
er outside than in 1t would have
been nnch better for you if Won had
married John Tremain.D he said bit-
| terly -.
s.Don t say that, Robert-Fye never
regretted my choice"
z Not even now, when there ia not q
loaf of bread in the house for you aud
the children pa .ss..@.9. e.
Not even now, Robert Don't be
discouraged. God has forsaken hs.
Perhaps this Christmas eve the tide
will turn, better days may dawn upon
us Tomorrow" ,ss g = {
Robert Brice shook his head de-
spondingiy. - 9
You are more hopeful than /, Jane.
| Day after day have been in search
| Of employment. 1 have called at fif-
~ places, only to receive the same an.
swer everywhere" s;.s f; 8
just then little Jimmy, who had
been asleep, woke up. .-' : +.
"Mother, he pleaded, "won't YOU
give me a piece OF bread !? l am so
hungry" 80
There is no bread, Jimmy, dar-
ling" said the mother with an aching
heart.
"When win there be some 2n asked
the child, piteously. z4isss
Tears came TO the mothers eyes.
She knew not what to say. :.
Jimmy, I'll bring you some bread, :"
said the father hoersely, and he seized
his hat and went 10 the door.
His wife, alarmed, laid her hand up
on his sleeve. She saw the look in
his eyes, and she feared to what step
desperation might lead him.
Remember, Robert, she said sal-
emnly,'.it is hard to starve. but there
are things that are worse"
He shook her hand, but not rough
", and without a word passed out.
Out in the cold streets! That would
be their only home next. For a brief
time longer he had the shelter of
cheerless room in an old tenement
house, but the rent would become due
at the end of the month, and he had
nothing to meetit.
Robert Brice was q mechanic, COM
petent and skilful. Three years since,
he lived in a country village where
his expenses were moderate, and he
found no difficulty in meeting them.
But in an evil hour he grew tired Of
his village home and removed to the
city. Here he vainly hopedto do bet
ter. For 3 while he met with very
good success, but he found his tene-
ment house, in which he was obliged
to live, q very poor substitute for the
neat cottage which he had occupied in
the country. He saw his mistake, but
he was too proud to go back.
OF course, [ can't have as good ac-
comnfodations here as in the country,
he said sbut it is something to live
in, and be in the midst of things
..Pd rather be back again" said his
wife; "somehow the city doesn't
seem like home there j used to run
in and take tea with a neighbor, and
have pleasant social time; here
know scarcely anybody"
''Youll get used to it after while,
said her husband.
She did not think so, but did not
like to complain.
But atime of great depression came
and with it suspension of business
enterprises. Work ceased for Robert
Brice and many others. Ii he had
been in his old home he could have
turned his hand to something else,
and, at the worst, could have borrow
ed of his neighbors untiI-better times.
But the friendly relations arising from
neighborhood do not exist in the city
to the same extent as in the country.
So day by day he went out to seek
work, only to find himself one of
large number, all of whom were
doomed to disappointment. Ii he had
been alone he could have got along
somehow, but it was sore trial to
CO me TO q cherries room, and a pale
wife and hungry children, with no
reli eff to offer them.
w hen, on that Christmas eye, Ro b.
ert A9rice went into the streets, he
hardly knew how he was going to re-
deem the promise he had made his
little Jimmy. He was absolutely
and had been so for three
days. There was nothing that he
was likely to find to do that night.
81 will pawn my coat he said at
last. 81 can not see my wife and chill |
dren starve.
1t was q well worn, over coat, and |
that cold winter night he needed |
to keep him warm. Weak
ened by enforced Tasting he was more
sensitive TO The cold, aud shivered as
he walked along the pavement.
"Yes," he said, my coat must go, III
know not how to get along without !
IL, but cannot see by children starve
before my eyes"
He was not in general an envious