Wilmington journal., 1875-02-05
THE TWO PICTURES.

THE TWO PICTURES.
It was a cold, dismal evening in No
| vember that two neighbors might have
been seen vending their way along
the streets of large manufacturing
town.
| Slowly they proceeded, with defect
| ed countnances, not exchanging a
word until one we shall call Smith
halted before a neat little house, and
| unlatched the gate. Then there was
| such look of utter misery and des-
pair cleaning from his eyes that his
companion said;
eve must trust in God, Smith"
! The words were unheeded, and his
| companion passed on, while Smith en-
tered the house.
A tall dark woman was flirting
| about getting supper. She looked up
as he entered. saying
"You are late tonight"
EYES," he said, gloomily.
And going to the cradle he took up
the six weeks old baby, and SORROW
fully pressed it to his heart.
ST do wish you would put that
child down and get ready for supper!'
exclaimed the wife, after enduring his
gloominess for some time in silence.
He slowly obeyed, and then seated
himself at the table with deep sigh.
"What in the world is the matter
with you tonight" she exclaimed as
she sat down opposite him.
His voice trenbled. as he replied:
I" I suppose you might as well know
first as last. have been discharged. 3"
l. T.,
quickly pushing back her chair.
like to know what we are going to do
nowl Winter coming on and all. l
declare, Smith, you will torture me to
death !"
81 am very sorry Lydia, but cant
help it."
"Sorry No, you are not sorry at
and child starve a not. It's nothing
in the world but poor managing"
Lydia, you are cruel. Instead of
helping me to endure nay great trou-
le, which is bearing me down to the
very earth, you make it harder tor me
to bear. l wasn't the only one DIS
charged. There was Jim Hawiey, and
ever so many others. Business is
dull"
"Business is dull |" she mimicked
after him. always an excuse tor Il
worthless man. 10 think that you
should be discharged now, Just as rent
Is due. and when we are needing coal
aud look at my shoes, won't you? My
feet almost on the ground. wish [
had never seen you"
And a dark look accompanied the
last words.
The poor husband now covered BIS
face with his hands ard groahed aloud.
This seemed to. encourage his wife to
60 on, for she uttered words moro anG
more bitter, until, at last, almost IN
state of frenzy. the wretched mae
rushed from the house to the nearest
public house, and there sought TO
bury thoughts of the past and future
in the bottom of the rum cup.
In the meantime, James Hawley,
his companion i'll labor, entered his
home with a very sad countenance.-
But, before he had stepped over the
threshold, loving pair of arms Were
thrown around his neck, and pair ot
sweet lips pressed to his.
He returned the salutation sadly,
and then asked after the baby.
''She is sleeping sweetly in her era
die. She has been perfect little dar
ling to-day. Supper is ready, SO make
haste. Here is warm water and towels.
Are you not later than usual Tonight"
"Yes, Mary, and I bring bad news
to you" - >, .,,o o,o;,a .,pn
ing pale, as, for the first time, she
noticed that something was wrong.
Eyes L was discharged tonight,
and don't know as can get anything
more to do until Spring. Business is
so dull"
els that all ?" exclaimed his wife,
with sigh of relief. sc I thought it
was something terrible, the way you
looked"
"And is it not terrible enough p
What will become of us this Winter, if
7 am out of employment %
"Tbe same God who feeds the spar
row and clothes the lilly of the field
will not let us suffer, dear James ?'
"God bless you, Mary . There is
sweet comfort in your words"
"And now let us have supper" said
his wife cheerfully. "See, have your
favorite dish-short cake and toast.
Don't let your troubles impair your
appetite; and then, alter tea, we will
talk it all over. God doeth everything
for the best. AS our day is SO shall
our strength be p
In the evening it was determined
that quarters rent should be pad
Immediately, new supply of coal OBJ
tanned, and the remainder of the
money put in the wife's hands to be
dealt out as sparingly as possible.
Then Mary suggested that all her
pretty parlor furniture should be
slowed away in the attic, and the front
room let out. Further than this they
could lay no plans, aud when the hus-
band went out to pay the rent, the
future looked SO dark to the young
wife that she could not altogether re-
strain her tears: but seeking strength
from on high, her face wore the same
cheerful smile when her husband re
turned. And little did he know that
during all that long night, when he
and his babe were soundly sleeping,
his wife lay awake planning out the
future.
Three months have passed, with
scarcely days work i'll all that time,
and now another quarters rent IS due.
In vain the laborer thrusts his hands
down into his empty pockets, and IN
vain racks his brain for some solution
of the problem how that rent is to be
paid. The lodger had paid his MOI ey
monthly; but that was not enough to
meet the sum, If he had it, and of
course his wife had spent that as fast
os she had received it, as it was an