Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-07-24

"And what have you offered to do ?"
"Why, have even gone 50 far as to
offer to tenda liquor store down street"
The wife smiled.
''Now what shall we do ?" muttered
Peter.
"NOw we will eat our supper, and then
talk the matter over"
"Supper Have you any ?"
"Plenty of it.
"But you told me you had none"
Neither had we but l have been
after work, and found some"
"Been after work! " muttered the
husband, in surprise"
"But how-where 2"
"Why, first l went to Mrs. Shows.
1 knew her girl was sick, and hope
she might have work to be done. l
went to her and told her my story, and
she set me to work doing her washing.
She gave me food to bring home to the
children, and paid me three shillings
when l finished my work"
You been washing for our butchers
wife ?" said Peter, looking very much
surprised
"Of course l have, and have thereby
earned enough to keek us in food to NOR
row, at any rate so tomorrow you may
come home to dinner"
But how about the rent %
81 have seen Mr.. Simson, told him
how we were situated, and offered him
my watch as pledge for the payment
of our rent within two months, with
interest on arrearages up to date. L
told him did the business because you
were away hunting for work"
80 he got your watch ?''
mo, he would't take it. He said if
/ would become responsible for the rent,
he would let it rest.
There, we'v got roof to cover US,
and good food for tomorrow, but what
next ? Oh, what curse these hard times
are"
"DOn't despair, Peter, for We shall
not starve, I've got enough engaged to
keep US alive.
"Ah, what is that p
"Mr. Snow has engaged me to carry
small packages, baskets, bundles, &C., to
his rich customers. He has had to give
up one of his horses"
"Maria, what do you mean ?''
Just what say" Mr.. Snow came
to dinner was there, and l asked him
if he had light articles which he wished
to send around to his customers. Never
mind what he said. He did happen to
want just such work done, though he
had meant to call upon the idlerS that
lounged about the market. He promis.
ed to give me all the work he could
and l am to be there in good season il
the morning"
"This is a pretty pass my wife tnrn-
ed butchers boy You will not do any
such thing
"And why not ?'
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, too, than to earn honest breaC
by honest work. l tell you, Peter, i
you cannot find work must. We shoulC
have been without bread tonight, had
not found work to-day. You know tina
all kinds of light, agreeable business arr
seized upon by those who have particu
lar friends, and engage in them. A
such time as this it is not for US Il
consider what kind of work we will do
so long as it is honest. Oh, give N,
the liberty of living upon my own de
serts, and the independence to be gov
erned by my own convictions of work J
But, my wife, only think, you carry
ing about a butchers stuff +? Why,
would sooner do it myself
"If you will 60, said the wife with
smile, l will stay at home with the chill
dren."
1t was hard for Peter Stanwood, bu
the more he thought upon the matte
the more he saw the justice and right {
the path into which his wife had thu
lead him. Before he went to bed b
promised that be would 90 to the butei
er's in the morning.
And Peter Stanwood went to his ne
business. Mr. Snow greeted him warn
ly, praised his faithful wife, and the
sent him off with two baskets. one
a Mr.. Smiths and another 10 Mr.. Dil
. alrs. The new carrier worked all da,
and when it came night he had earnt
ninety-seven cents 1t has been da
: Of trial. but no one sneered at him al
all his aequaintanees whom he m
greeted him the same as usual He vi
: far happier now than be was when
went home the night before, for now
was independent
4 On the next day be earned over
dollar and thus continued to work +
r a week. at the end of which be had Fl
{ dollars and seventy-fve cents In |