The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-01-26
WOODsFIED OHIO TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 1915

Pcter deSpalrlngly.
"But you must go prepared to do any
thing"
Anything reasonable, Maria? ?"
"Whst do you call reasonable ?"
"Why-anything decent"
She felt inclined to smile, but the mat
ter was too serious for that, and a cloud
passed over his face. She knew her hus.
bands disposition, and she felt sure he
would find no work She knew that he
would look for some kind of work whic,:
would not lower him in the social scale,
as he had once or twice expressed it
However, she knew it would be of no use
to say anything to him now, and 80 she
let the matter pass.
On the following morning the last bit
of food in the house was on the table,
Stanwood could hardly realize that he
was perniless and without food. For
years he bad been gay, thoughtless and
fortunate, making most of the present,
forgetting the past, ,and letting the future
take care of itself. Yet the truth was
NAKED and clear; and when he left the
house he said, something must be done.
No sooner had her husband gone than
Mrs. Stanwoed put on her bonnet and
shawl. Her oldest child was girl about
eleven years old, and her youngest four.
She asked her next door neighbor if she
would take Care of her children until
noon. These children were we'll known
to be good and qniet, and they were ta-
ken cheerfully. Then Mrs. Stanwood
locked up her house and went away
She returned at noon, bringing some din
ner for her children, and then went away
again. She came home in the evening
before her husband, carrying heavy
basket on her arm.
swell, Peter she asked, after her
husband had entered and sat down, what
! luck ?"
"Nothing nothing~ he groaned. 81
made out to get dinner with an old
chum, but could not find work"
"And where have you looked to day !?
"O--everywhere. I've been hundred
places; but it is The same story in every
place. It's nothing but one eternal nc
-no-no! I'm sick and tired Of it."
"And what have you offered to dc"
"Why, have even gone so far as to
offer to tend liqaor store down street.
The wife smiled.
"Now what shall we do ?" uttered Pc
ter.
"Now we will eat our supper, and theu
talk the matter over"
"Supper! Have you any p
"Plenty of it."
s.But you told me you Lad none"
"Neither had we this morning; but
have been after work to-day and found
some"
"Been after work. uttered the bus
band in surprise,
"Yes"
sBut how-where 2"
"Why, first went to Mrs. SHOWS;
knew her girl.was sick, and l hoped she
might have work to be done. I went tt
her and told her my story, and she Sc
me at work at once doing her washing
She gave me some food to bring home
to my children, and paid me three shil
lings when l got through"
"You been washing for our butcher:
wife ?" said Peter, looking very mucl
surprised.
eOf course have, and have thereby
earned enough to keep us in food througl
TO morrow at any rate; so tomorrow
/, f<> linnnrO ~
"But how about the rent
go, have seen Mr. Simpson, ,tolA him
lust how we were situated, and { feret
| him my watch as pledge for the pay
ment of our rent within two months
with interest on arrearages up to date
/ told him 1 did the business bccaus
you were away hunting work"
$50 he got your watch p
! "No-he wouldn't take it. He said
/ would become responsible for the rent
he would let it rest"
"Then we've got a roof to cover us
and food for tomorrow; but what next
Oh, what curse these hard times are |!
sDon't despair, Peter, for we shall no
starve. I've got enough engaged to kee
US alive"
"Ah--what is that ~
"Mr Snow has engaged me. to carr,
small packages, baskets and bundles, t
r his rich customers. He has had to Civ
up one Of his horses"
MARIA, what do you mean ?"
"Just what / say. Mr.. Snow came t
dinner; was there, and asked him if b
ever had light articles which he wishe
to send around to his customers. Meve
mind what he said. He did happen t
t want just such work done, though he ha
: meant to call upon the idlers that loung
about the market. He promised to Civ
me all the work he could, and I'm to b
there in good season in the morning"
"This is pretty go-my wife turne
. butchers boy! You will not do an
such thing
n "And why not?''
e "Bccause-"
'.Say because it will lower me in tt
f social SCALE"
4 swell, SO it will y
"Then it is more honorable to lie sti
and starve, too, than to earn hone
bread by honest work. | tell you, Pete
{. if you cannot !ind work, | must. W
should have been without bread to nigl
had / not found work to day. You kno
that all kinds of light, agreeable bus
G ness ere seized upon by those who ha,
particular friends, and engaged in then
v At such time as this, it is not for us I
t consider what kind Of work We will d,
e so long as tits honest. Ga, give me tt
e liberty of living upon my own desert
and the independence to be governed b
D my own convictions of right"
8 "But, my wife, only think-you carry
ing about butchers stuff! Why,
a would sooner do it myself"
a 'sIf you will Co." said the wife with
d smile, II will stay at home with I'll
5 children"
1t was hard for Peter Stanwood; br
q the more he thought upon the matte
/ the more he saw the justice and right
the path into which his wife had thus lie
n him. Before he went to bed he promise
4 that he would go to the butchers in ii
: morning
e And Peter Sianwood went to his ne