The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-01-26

ed him the same as usual He was far
happier now than he was when he went
home the night before, for now he was
On the next day he earned over a dol
lar, and thus he continued to work for a
week, at the end Of which he had five
dollars and seventy-ive cents in his
pocket, besides having. paid for all the
food for his family, save some few pieces
of meat Snow had given them. Satur-
day evening he met Mark Leeds, another
binder who had been discharged with
himself Leeds looked careworn and
rusty.
"How goes it2' asked Peter.
"Don't ask me-" groaned Mark "Mv
family are half starved"
"But can't you find anything to do2"
''Nothing'
''Have you tried ?"
"Everywhere; but it's no use.
have Ypawned all my clothes save those
l have on. I've been to the hindery to-
day, and what do you suppose he offer
ed me ?"
What was it?"
"Why, he offered to let me do his
d-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 into the
"If ] had been in your place I should
have taken up with the offer," said Pc
ter. 6
Mark mentioned the name of the
same ipdivitlua} again.
Why Iesnhed Peter, 81 have been
doing the work Of a butchers boy for a
whole week"
Mark was incredulous, but his COM
panion convinced him, and then they
separated one going home happy and
contented, and the other going away
from home to find some sort of. excite
ment in which to drown his misery.
Onesdav Peter had basket Of pro-
visions3to carry to his former employer.
He took the load upon his arm, and
just as he was entering the yard of the
customer he met him coming out
"Ah, Stanwood, is this. you?" asked
his old employer, kindly.
eyes, sir"
Sand what are you up to now?'
"Im q butchers boy, sir"
"a what ?''
"You see I've brought provisions for
you, sir, am a regular butchers boy"
"And how long have you been at
work thus l'
This is the tenth day"
"But don't it come hard?'
"Notfiing comes hard so long as it is
honest, and will furnish my family with
bread. i'r
"And how much can you make day
at this ?"
Sometimes over dollar, and some.
times not over fifty cents"
"Well, look here, Stanwood, there
have been no less than a dozen of my
old hands hanging around my counting
room for fortnight, whining fol
work. They are stout, able men, and
yet they lie still because l have no work
for them. Last Saturday / took pity
on Iced, and offered him the job of Go
] ing my hand-carting. l told him thai
l would give him dollar and quarter
day, but he turned up his nose and
asked me not TO insult him; and yet he
owned that his family were suffering =
But do you come to my place to-mor
row morning, and you shal! have some
thing 20 do, if it is only to hold your
bench. l honor you for your manly in
dependence"
Peter grasped the old mans hant
with a joyous, grateful grip, and blessed
him fervently.
That night he gave Mr.. Snow notice
he must quit, and on the following
morning he went to the bindery. Fo
two days he had little 10 do, but on tn,
third day a heavy job came in, and Pc
ter Stan wood had steady work. HI
was happy-more happy than ever, TO
he had learned two things; first, what
noble wife he had; and second, hoy
much resource for good he held within
his own energies
! Our simple picture has two points t.
its moral One is-no man can be low
cred by any kind Of honest labor Th
second-while you are enjoying tn
fruits of the present, forget not 10 pro
vide for the future, for no man is so sc
cure but that the day may come whe
he will want the squanderings of tb
past.