Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-04-23
"What do you call reasonable?"
"Why-anything decent"

!! ter was too serious for that, and cloud
passed over her face. She knew her
husbands disposition, and she felt sure
he would find no 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. However, she, knew it would be Of
no use to say anything to him now, and
so she let the matter pass.
Onithe following morning, the last bit
of food in the house was put on the table.
Stanwood could hardly realize that he
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 ofitself Yet the truth was
naked and clear; and when he left the
house, he said, something must be
done" 4,
No soonefh had her husband gone, than
Mrs. Stanwood put OIL her bonnet and
shawl. Her oldest child was girl eleven
years old, and her youngest four. She
asked her next door neighbor if she
would take care of her children until
noon. These children were known to be
good and quiet, ana they were taken
chcerfully. Then Mrs. Stanwood locked
up her house and went away. She re-
turned at noon bringing some dinner for
her children, and then she went away
again. She came homo in the evening
before her husband, carry ing a heavy
basket upon her arm.
"Well, Peter" she asked, after her
husband had entered and sat down. what
luck?'
Nothing! nothing!" he groaned. al
made out to get dinner with an old
chum, but could not find work"
;. "And where have you looked to-day 9'
a"O-everywherc. I've been to hundred
places, but its the same story in every
place. Its nothing but one eternal no {!
no! no! I'm sick and tired ofit,"
"What have you offered to do?"
"Why, [ even went so far a: to tend a
liquor store down town"
The wife smiled.
".Now what shall we COZ" uttered Peter
spasmodical!y.
"Why, VIC will eat our supper first and
talk the matter over"
Supper! Have you got any?"
cs-plenty of it."
.t"But you told me you had none"
"Neither had We this morning, but
I've been after work TO day, and found
some"
lr'Youi been after work?Y uttered the
husband in surprise.
eyes" af ri1,
But -wherc-wlat?
why, first Invent to Mrs. Shows. |
knew her girl WAS sick and hoped she
nigh have work to be done. ] went to
her and told her my story, and she set
me at work at cnce doing her washing.
She gave me food to bring home TO my
children, and paid me three shillings
when l got through.
,'What-you been washing for our
butchers wife? said Peter, looking very
much surprised.
OF course | have, and have thereby
earned enough to keep us in food through
tomorrow, Mt any rate; so tomorrow You
rnayfcome home to dinner ys
But how about the rent?'
%, l have seen Mr.. Simpson, told lin
just how We, were situated, and offered
him my watch as n pledge for the pay
ment of our rent within two months, with
the interest on arearages up to that date.
told him did the business because you
were away hunting cup work.
so he's got your gold watcl?
'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?
Whata curse these hard times are!
Don't despair, Peter, for we shall not
starve. I've got work enough engaged