The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-09-07

busted with her dirty apron before
handing 1t to him.
"Indeod, cir, aud we are miserably
on" replied the woman, in o half
whining tone, "John, there, hasn't
done q stroke OF work now for three
months and -"
"Why not2" interrupted Mr.. Pres
"My health is very poor" said the
man. 81 suffer much from pain in my
side and back, and am so weak most Of
the time, that / can hardly creep
about"
"That is bad, certainly" replied Mr..
Prescott, Every bad" And as he spoke,
he turned his eyes to the woman's face,
aud then scanned the children very
closely.
"Is that boy of yours doing any
thing 2" he inquired.
"No, sir, replied the mother. "He's
too young to be Of any account"
"He's thirteen, il my eyes do not de-
ceivo me-"
"Just q little over thirteen"
"Does he go to schoolp"
"No, sir. He has no clothes ct TO be
seen in at school,"
"Bad-bad," said Mr.. Prescott,
Every bad. The boy might be earning
two dollars o week; instead Of which
he Is growing up in idleness, which
surely leads to vice."
Gardiner looked slightly confused at
this remark, and his wife evidently did
not feel very comfortable under the
steady, obseryant eyes that were on
her.
." You seem to be in good health, !"
said Mr.. Prescott, looking at the
"Yes, sir, thank Godl And II II
wasn't for that, I don't know what we
should all have done. Everything has
fallen upon me since John, here, has
been ailing." w
Mr.. Prescott glanced around the
room, and, then remarked, n little
pleasantly:
al don't see that you make The best
use Of your health and strength"
The woman understood him, for the
color came instantly to her face.
"Thereis no excuse for dirt and dis
order" said the visitor, more seriously.
"I once called to see poor widow, 10
such state OF low health that she had
to lie in bed nearly half Of every day.
She had two small children, and sup.
ported herself and them by 6ne en-
broidery, OF which she worked nearly
all her time. I mover saw a neater
room in my lifo than hers, and her
children, though in very plain and
patched clothing, were perfectly clean.
How different Is all here; and yet,
when I entered, you oil sat idly amid
this disorder, ,and-shall speak plainly
filth"
The woman on whose face the color
had deepened while Mr.. Prescott spoke,
rose up quickly, and commenced bust
ling about the room, which in few
momelts, looked far less in disorder.
That she felt his rebuke, the visitor re-
garded as o good sign.
"Now," said he, as the woman re-
sumed her seat, "let mo give you the
best maxim for the poor in the English
language; one that il lived by, will
soon extinguish poverty, or make 1t a
very light thing,-'God helps those
who help themselves To be very plain
with you, II Is clear TO my eyes, that
you do not try to help yourselves; such
being tho case, you need not expect
gratuitous help from God. Last even
ing you received some coal and basket
OF provisions from q kind-hearted man,
who promised you more efficient aid to-
day. You have not yet heard from him,
and, what Is more, will not hear from
him. Some one to whom he applied
for contribution happened to know
more about you than ho did, and broad.
ly pronounced you q set Of idle vaga.
bonds. Just think Of bearing such
character He dropped the matter at
once, and you will get nothing more
from him. I am one Of those upon
whom he called. Now, il you are at.all
disposed TO help yourselves, I will try
10 stand your friend. II not, I shall
have nothing to do with you. l speak
plainly il Is better; there will be less
danger Of misapprehension. That old.
eat boy OF yours must go TO work and
earn something. And your daughter
can work about the house for you very
well, while you go out TO wash, or
scrub, and thus earn q dollar or two, or
more, every week. There will be no
danger Of starvation on this income,
and you will then eat your bread in in.
dependence. Mr.. Gardiner can help
some, I do not in the least doubt"
And Mr.. Prescott looked inquiringly
OF the man.
at I was only able-bodied," said
Gardiner, in q half.reluctant tone and
manner.
"But. you are not. Still there ore
many things you may do. Ifby a little
exertion you can earn small sum OF
two or three dollars o week, it will be
far better-even for your health-than
idleness. Five dollars earned every
week by your wife, two by your boy,
and FIVE By yourself, would make Sl2
week and, II I am not very much mis-
taken, you don't see half that sum in
week now"
"Indeed, sir, and you speak the truth
there" said the woman.
Every well. It's plain, then, that
work Is better than idleness."
"But we can't get work" The woman
fell back upon this strong assertion.
"Don't believe o word Of IL. / can
tell You how TO earn dollar o day for
the next four or FIVE days at least. So
there is o beginning for you. Put your
self in the way OF useful employment,
and you will have no difficulty beyond"
"what kind Of work, sir9" inquired