Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-26

good food for tomorrow, but what next
Oh, what a curse these hard times are
Don't despair, Peter, for we shall not
starye. I've got enough engaged 10 keep MS
alive"
All, what is that -
"Mr Snow has engaged me TO carry small
packages, baskets. bundles, etc, 10 his rich
customers. lie has had to give up one Of
his horses"
"Maria, what do you mean 2"
just what | say" Mr.. Snow came to
dinner; was there and asked him if he
ever had light articles which he wished TO
send around TO his customers. Never mind
what he said. lie did happen TO want just
such work done though he had meant TO call
upon the idlers that lounge about the mar
ket. lie promised TO give me all the work
he could, and am to be there in good sea
son in the morning.
"This is pretty pass; my wife turned
butchers boy You will not do amy such
thing"
And why not -
" Because"
Say, because it will lower me in'the 80
cial scale"
Well, so IL will"
"Then il is more honorable 10 lie still and
slarve, too, than 10 earn honest bread by
honest work. | tell you Peter, if you can
not find work, ! 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 particular friends, aud en-
gage in them. At such a time as this 1t is
not for US 10 consider what kind of work we
will do. so long ~ il is honest. Oh, give me
the liberty of living upon my own deserts
and the Independence 10 be governed 10y my
own convictions of right"
But, my wife, only think, you carrying
about butchers stuff 2 Why would sooner
do it myself"
"If YOU will GO" said the wife, with
smile, 81 will stay at home with the children
Il was hard for Peter Stanwood, but the
more he thought upon the matter the more
he saw the Justice aud right Of the path into
which his wife had thus led him. Before he
went 10 bed he promised that he would go TO
the butchers in the morning.
And Peter Stanwood went to his new
business Mr.. Snow greeted him warmly,
praised his faithful wife, and then sent hun
off with two baskets, one To MIR. Smiths
another TO Mr.. Dixalrs. The new carrier
worked all day, and when 1t came night ne
| had earned ninety-seven cents. IL had been
a day of trials, but no one sueered at nm,
and all his acquaintance whom he met
| greeted him the same as usual. lie was TAR
happier now than he was When he went home
| the night before, for now he was independent.
On the next day he earned over dollar,
and thus ne continued TO work for week,
at the end of which he had five dollars and
seventy-fve cents in his pocket, besides
| having paid for all the food for his family,
/ gt Vkl
had given him. Saturday evening he met
I Mark Leeds. another binder, who had been
discharged with himself. Leeds looked care
worn aud rusty.
How goes it 2" asked Peter.
"Don't ask mel" groaned Mark "my
family are half starved"
But can't you find anything 10 do p
Nothing"
Have you tried ?"
Everywhere but it is no use. have
pawned all my clothes save those have on.
| have been TO the bindery to-day, and what
do you suppose he offered met
What was it ?"
"Whv, he offered TO let me do his hand
carting lie has Just turned OFF his nigger
for drunkenness. and offered me the place.
| The old curmudgeon. | had great mind
10 mitch him into the handcart aud run him
into the
"If had been in your place should have
taken up with the offer.
Mark mentioned the name Of the same in
dividual again.
"Why," resumed Peter, " have been do
ing the work of butchers boy for whole
week"
Mark was incredulous, but his companion
convinced him, aud then they separated, one
going home happy and contented, aud thu
other going away from home to fnd some
sort of excitement III which to drown hl'
misery.
One day Peter had a basket of provisions
TO carry TO his former employer. lie took
the load upon his arm, aud just rs lac wa
entering the yard of the customer he met
him coming out.
" All, Stanwood. is this you ?" asked his
old employer, kindly.
ayes, sir"
"And what are you up to now ?"
81 am butchers boy, sir"
"a what z"
"You see | have brought provisions fol
you, sir. am regular butchers boy
" And how long have you been at work
thus 2"
"This is my tenth day..
" But don't it come hard p
"Nothing comes hard so long as it i,
honest, and will furnish my family witt
bread"
"And how much can you make a day a
this 7"
" Sometimes over dollar aud sometime
not over fifty cents
"Well, look here, Stanwood, there hav'
been no less than dozen of my old hand
hanging around my counting-room for a fort
night whining for work. They are stout, abl
men, and vet they lie still because have II
work for them. Last week | took pity ol
Leeds, and offered him the job OF doinl
nv hand-carting. | told him that ! woul'
: give him dollar and Il quarter a day, bu
; he turned up his nose and asked me not u
, insult him; and yet he owned that his fam
ily were suffering. But do you come to m
place tomorrow morning, and you shall hav
, something 10 do, if it is only TO hold you
bench. | honor You for your manly inde
pendence."
! Peter grasped the old mans hand with
. Joyous, grateful grasp and blessed him fel
, venty.
I That night he gave Mr.. Snow notice tina
T he must quit, and on the following mornin
e went to the bindery. For two days he ha
Y little To do, on the third day heavy 10
came in. aud Peter Stanwood had stead
= work. lie was happy--more happy tina
= ever, for he had learned two things frs
! what a noble wife he had and second, ho'
many resources for good he held within hi
own energies.
Our simple picture has two points TO il
r moral. One is, no man can Ice lowered b
honest labor. The second, while you are Ell
! loving the fruits of the present, forget ne
] Al =