Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-04-09

lings when l got through"
"What-you been washing
butchers wife?' said Peter.
very much surprised.
"Of course I have, and havel
earned enough to keep us in food
through tomorrow, at any rate; so to-
morrow you may come home to dim
ner."
"But how about the rent?"
go, have seen Mr.. Simpson, told
him inst how we were situated, and
offered him my watch as pledge for
the payment of our rent within two
months, with the interest on arrearages
mp to that date. I told him I did the
business because you were away hunt
ing mp work.
$50 he's got your gold watch ?"
"No-he wouldn't take it. He said
if I 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 starve. I've got work enough en-
gagged to keep us alive"
"Ah-what is that ?"
"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, Maria ?"
"Just what 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 he had meant to call upon
the idlers that lounge about the market.
He promised to give me all the work he
could. and I'm to be there in good
season in the morning"
"Well this is q pretty go. My wife
turned butchers boy You will not
do any such thing"
"And why not ?"
"Because-because-"
"Say because it will lower me in the
social SCALE"
"Well, so it will"
"Then it is more honorable to lie still
and starve, and see ones children
starve, toe, than to earn honest bread
by honest work. I tell you, Peter, II
you cannot find work, | must. We
should have been without bread to-
night, had I not found work to-day.
You know that all kinds of light, agree
able business are seized upon by those
who have particular friends, and en-
gagged in them. At such q time as this,
It is not for us to consider what kind
of work we will do, so long as it is hon
est. Oh, give me the liberty of living
upon my own deserts, and the inde-
pendence to be governed by my own
convictions Of right.
"But my wife, only think-you car
ryiug out butchers stuff. Why, would
sooner go do it myself"
eff you will CO." said the wife with
smile, Il 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 his wife had thus
led him. Before lie 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 greeted him
warmly, praised his faithful wife, and
then sent him off with two baskets, one
to Mrs. Smiths and the other to n
Mrs. Dixall's. And the new carrier
worked all day, and when it came night
ne had earned ninety-seven cents. 1t
had been q day of trials, but no one
sneered at him, and all his acquaintances
whom he met greeted him the same as
usual. He was far happier now than
he was when he went homo the night
before, for now he was independent.
On the next day he earned over n
dollar; and thus he continued to work
for week, at the end of which he had
five dollars and seventy-five cents in his
pocket, besides having paid for MI the
food for his family, save some few
pieces of meat Snow had given them.
Saturday evening he met Mark Leeds,
IuOlECI blHNSl, WIN Hoi 'SSh VIZ
with himself. Leeds looked
carcworn and rusty.
Glow goes it ?" asked Peter.
"Don't ask me, groaned Mark. "My
family are half starved"
But can't you find anything to do?'
Nothing"
"Have you tried ?"
Everywhere; but it's no use. have
pawned all my clothes save those have
on. I've been to the bindery to-day,
and what do you suppose he offered
me?"
"What was ii ?"
"Why, he offered to let me do his
hand -carting He has just turned off
his nigger for drunkenness, and offered
me the place The old curmudgeon
I had great mind to pitch him into
the hand cart, and run him to the"
"Well," said Peter, "if l had been
in your place I should have taken up
with the Offer"
Mark mentioned the name of the same
- Individual ooaiJ, -.