The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-04-30

said if l would become responsible
for the payment, he would let it
rest"
"Then we have got roof to GOV.
er US, and food for tomorrow. Blu,
what next? Oh /! what curse these
hard times are -
"Dont despair Peter, for we shall
not starve. I've got work enough
engaged to keep us alive"
"Ah-eh ? What's that?'
"Why, Mr.. Snow has engaged me
to carry small packages, baskets,
bundles, &C., TO rich customers. He
has to give up one of his horses"
"What do you mean, Maria ?"
"Just what say, When Mr.. Snow
came home to dinner I was there,
and asked him if he ever had any
light articles which he wished to
send around to his customers. New.
er mind all that he said. He did
want just such work done, though
he had meant to call upon some OF
the idlers who lounge about the
market. He promised to give me
all the work he could, and I am to
be there in good season in the morn.
ing"
"Well, this is a pretty 60 |! My
wife turned butchers boy You
wont do any such thing.
"And why not ?"
"Why not Because-because-"
"Say because it will lower me in
the social SCALE"
swell, and SO it will"
"Then it is more honorable to lie
still and starve, and see ones chill
dren stsrve too, than to earn honest
bread by honest work. / tell you,
Peter, if you won't work must. We
should be without bread tonight had
I not found work to-day. You know
that all kinds of light, agreeable
business are seized upon by those
who have particular friends or rela-
tives engaged in them. At such a
time as this it is not for us to consid.
er what kind of work we will do, as
long as it is honest. Oh give me
the liberty of living upon my own
deserts, and the independence to be
governed by my own convictions of
right"
"But, my wife, only think-you
carrying out butchers stuff! Why
I would sooner go and do it myself. "
"If you will CO." said the wife,
with smile, 81 will stay at home
and take care of the children"
1t was hard for Peter Stanwood
but the more he thought upon the
matter the more he saw the justice
and right of the path into which bis
wife thus led him. Before he went
to bed he promised that he would go
to the butchers in the morning.
And Peter Stanwood went upon
his new business. Mr.. Snow greet
ed him warmly, praised his faithful
wife, and sent him off with two bssk-
ets-one to 60 to Mr.. Smiths and
one to Mr.. Dixal's. And the new
carrier worked all day, and when it
came night he had earned just 81
cents. 1t had been q day OF trials to
him, but no one had sneered at him,
and all his acquaintances who had
met him gree,ed him the same as
usual. He was far happier than he
was when he went home the night
before, for now he was independent.
On the next day he earned over a
dollar and thus he continued to
work over a week, and at the end OF
that time he had 1915 in his pock.
ct, besides having paid for all the
food for his family, save some few
pieces of meat Mr.. Snow had given
him. On Saturday evening he met
Mark Leeds, another binder, who
had been discharged from work with
himself. Leeds looked care worn and
rusty.
show goes it ?" asked Peter.
"Dont ask me-" groaned Mark.
"My family are half starved"
''But can't you find anything to do !?
"Nothing."
haVe you trleQ
Everywhere but it is no use. ]
have pawned all my clothes save
these have on. I've been down to
the bindery to-day, and what do you
suppose the old man offered me?"
"What was it ?''
"Why he offered to let me do his
hand carting! He had just turned
off his nigger for drunkenness, and Of
fers me the place By the powers
/ had mind to pitch him in the
the cart and run him to the"
Mark mentioned the name of ar
individual who is supposed to dwell
somewhere in region little warm
er than our tropics.
"Well," said Peter, "if had beer
In your place / should have taken W
with the offer"
Mark mentioned the name of tn,
same individual again.
"Why," resumed Peter, 81 hav'
been doing the work of butcher
boy for a whole week."
Mark was incredulous, but hi
companion soon convinced him, ant
then they separated, one going hom'
happy and contented, and the othe
away from home to find some sort o
excitement in which to hide his mis-
cry.
One day Peter had a basket o
provisions to carry to Mr.. w. /
was his former employer. He tool
the load upon his arm and starte'
off, and just as he was entering tn
yard Of the customer he met Mr.
w coming out.
"Ah! Stauwood is that you :?
asked his old employer, kindly.
"Yes, SIR"
"What are you doing now 2"
81 am butchers boy !"
| ga what ?"
"You see I've brought your pre-
visions to you sir; am regula
butchers boy"
"And how long have you been t
work thus ?"
"This is the tenth day, SIR"
"But don't it come hard P"
| "Nothing comes hard 80 long as
is honest, and will furnish my fam