Middletown transcript., 1874-06-06

'o.u"rrow ior Work. lou may ma Some-
thing to do. Anything that is honest is
honorable. Should you make but shil-
ling day, we should not starvs." ,
But our house rent?'
Trust to me for that. The landlord
shall not turn us out. If you will engage
to find something to do, l will see that
we have house ROOM
III make one more trial. muttered
Peter dsspairingly.
But you must 60 prepared to do any
thing
Anything reasonable, Maria
What do you call reasonable?
'Why-anything decent
She felt inclined to smile, but the mat
ter was too serious for that, and clsud
passed over her face. She knew her hus-
bands disposition, and she felt sure he
would not find work. She knew that he
would look for some kind of work which
would not lower him in the social scale.
as he had once or twice expressed it. How
ever she knew that it would be no use to
say anything to him now, and SO she let
the matter pass.
On the following morning the last bit
of food in the house was put on the table.
Stanwocd could hardly realize that be was
penniless and without food. For years he
had been gay, thoughtless and fortunate,
making the most Of the present, forgetting
the past, and letting the future take care
of itself Yet the truth was naked and
clear; and when he left the house, he said
something must be done.
No sooner had her husband gone, than
Mrs Stanwood put on her bonnet and
shawl. Her Oldest child was girl eleven
years old, and her youn rest four. She
asked her next door noighbor if she would
take care of the children until noon. These
children were known to be good and quiet
and they were taken cheerfully. Then
Mrs. Stauwood locked up her house and
went away She returned ut noon bring
ing some dinner for her children, and then
went away again She came home in the
evening before her husband, carrying a
heavy basket on her arm
We'll, Peter she asked. after her hus-
band bad entered and sat down, what
luck 2
Nothing nothing.' he groaued, Il
made out to get dinner with an old chum,
but could not find work
Aud where have you looked to-day
O-everywbere I've been to a hun-
dred places, but it's the same story in
every place. It's nothing but one eternal
no, no, no! I'm sick and tired of it,
what have you offered to do
Why, | even went so far as to tend a
liquor store down town.
The wife smiled.
Now what shall we do p muttered Pc
ter spasmodieally.
Why, we will eat our supper first, and
talk the matter over
Supper Have you got any?'
Yes-plcnty of it.
But you told me you had none.'
Neither had we this morning, but
I've been after work to day. and found
some
You been after work.? uttered the
husband in surprise.
Yes
But -where-what 2
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 my story, and she set me
at once doing her washing. She gave me
food to bring home to my children, and
paid me three shhings when | got done.
What, you been washing for our
butchers wife said Peter, looking very
much surprised.
OF course | have, and thereby earned |
enough to keep US in food through to-
upr OF
may come home to dinner
But how about the rent?
20 have seen Mr.. Simpson, told him
just how we we're situated and offered
him my watch as pledge for the payment
of our rent within two months, with the
intrest on all arrearages up to that date. l
told him | did the business because you
were away hunting up work.
So he's got your gold watch p
No-he wouldn't take it. He said if
| would become responsible for the rent,
he would let it rest
Then we've got roof to cover US,
and food for tomorrow. But what next?
what curse these hard times are
Don't despair, Peter, for we shall not
starvs. I've got work enough engaged to
keep us alive
Ah-what is that p
why, Mr.. Snow has engaged me to
carry small packages. baskets, bundles
and so forth to his rich customers. He
has had to give up one of his horses
What do you mean, Maria2
Just what I say. When Mr.. Snow
came home to dinner, I was there, and
asked him if he ever had light articles
which he wished to send around to his
customers. Never mind that, he said
He did happen to want just such work
done. though be had meant to call upon
the idlers that lounge about the market.
He promised to give me all the work he
,ould. and I'm to be there in good season,
n the morning.
Well this is pretty 60 Ny wife
urning butchers boy You shall not do
my such thing