The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-10


and shawl. Her oldest child was girl
eleven years old, and her youngest
four. She asked her next door neigh
Dor if she would take care OF her chill
dren until noon. These children were
known to be good and quiet, and they
were taken cheerfully. Then Mrs.
Stanwood locked up her house and
went away. She returned at noon
bringing some dinner for her children,
and then she went away again. She
came home in the evening before her
husband, carrying heavy basket upon
her arm.
"Well, Peter" she asked, after her
husband had entered and sat down,
"what luck ?"
Nothing nothing !" he groaned.
81 made out to get dinner from an
old chum, but could not find work.
And where have you looked to-
day?
hundred 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 ask to
tend liquor store down town."
The wife smiled.
Now what shall we do? uttered
Peter spasmodically.
"Why, we will eat supper first, and
talk the matter over"
Supper Have you got any ?"
Yes-plenty of it. ="
" But you told me you had none"
L L 1
I've been after work to-day, and found
some.
:" You been after work % uttered the
husband in surprise.
Yes"
"But ow-where-what?"
"Why, first / went to Mrs. Shows.
l knew her girl was sick, and l hoped
she might have some work to be done.
1 went to her and told her my story,
and she set me at work at once doing
her washing She gave me food to
bring home to my children, and paid
me three shillings when 1 got through. "
What-you been out washing for
our butchers wife ?" said Peter, look
ing very much surprised.
"Of course l have, and have thereby
earned enough to keep us in food to-
morrow, at any rate; so tomorrow you
may come home TO dinner"
"But how about the rent ?"
go, have seen Mr. Simpson, told
! him Just 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 L told him ] did the
| It,o h1n MT
ing up work.
so he's got your gold watch ?"
"No-he wouldn't take it, He said
if | would become responsible for the
reL t, 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 had to give up one of his horses.
What do you mean, Maria? ?"
"Just what i say. When Mr.. Snow
came home to dinner, | was there and
asked him if he ever had light articles
which he wished to send around to his
rich customers. Never mind all 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
| al,
"Well, this is a pretty go. My wife
turned butchers boy You will not do
any such thing"
And why not p
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,
too. than to earn honest bread byhonest
work L tell you, Peter, if you cannot
find work, L must We should have
been without bread tonight, had not
found work to-day. You know that all
kinds of light, agreeable business are
seized upon by those who have particu-
lar friends, and engaged in them. At
such time as this, it is not for us to
consider what kind of work we will do,
so 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 car
rying out butchers stuff. Why, l
would sooner go and do it myself"
If you will go, said the wife with
a 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 his wife had led
him. Before he went to bed he prom
ised 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 a
Mrs. Dixall's. And the new carrier
worked all day, and when it came night
he had ninety-seven cents. 1t had been
day of trials, but no one sneered at
n