Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-04-26
TW0PEkcE A DAY AND WHAT IT
ACCOMPLISHED.
BY EDNA BROOK.

"And now, Martha, my lass, I'm as
happy as king!" said Joseph Gurney,
as he carefully held on his knees, for
the first time, what looked like a bundle
of live flannel, but was in reality his
first-bOrn child.
For five years Joseph and Martha
Gurney had lived comfortable mar
ried life, wanting only one thing-the
sunshine of a baby presence-to COM
plete the domestic happiness of their
humble home. Now their fond hopes
were realized; and on this particular
Sunday evening, while the wild March
wind shrieked and howled around their
little dwelling, Joseph, holding the tiny
baby by the cosy fire, looked from il to
the bed where the mother was lying
watching them with happy smile on
her face, to utter the aforementioned
remark: snow Martha, my lass, Pm
as happy as king.' --.--....
'Yes, we've got what we long wanted
little Joseph has come at last" re-
Piled Martha; ''I'm so glad it's boy"
swell, but" said Joseph, medita-
lively. II don't know about the name,
wife. I'd like him called after me, tits
true, but it seems TO me like we ought
10 call him Samuel, for don't you think
Gods given him to us in answer to our
poor prayers, as much as he ever did to
Hannah? That's my mind on it, Mar
tha."
well. I'm agreeable" said Martha,
after a few minutes meditation on the
important matter; sits good name
anyhow. and the name of a good man,
an that's what wen want our baby to
be-bless him"'
s.Just 500 returned her husband,
Sand | tell you what, wife, he must
have a good eddication; it's what L
didn't have myself. but the boy shall, +,
please God. if he lives to grow up"
The next morning, as he was setting
off to his work at the usual early hour,
he peeped under the bed clothes for one
more look at the tiny face sleeping so
placidly by the side of the happy mother.
Goodbye, youngster," he said mer-
rily; you'll be trotting along with me
to work afore very long"
Il hope not. joe" said his wife, as
she held up her face for his parting
kiss.
"Hope not, why?"
because 1 want him to do better
than his father" she replied earnestly !;
''please God he lives, we'll give him a
good trade"
Atrade, Martha. where'll the money
come from?"
ssTime enough for that, my man."
"Av. so there is. :" returned Joe, sand
it's time for me to be off, too; take care
of yourself and the little 'un till l see
YOU again." with which parting injunc-
ton Joseph took himself off to his daily
work at the large leather factory of
Messrs, Baker & Goldsmith, about a
mile and half from his humble home.
He had worked for the same masters
three or four years, and his wages,
though small-not exceeding eighteen
shillings a week-were regularly paid,
summer and winter alike; so, as he
often told his wife, when she was in
clined to grumble at the smallness of
the sum, they were better off than some
of their neighbors, who, receiving
higher wages in one part of the year,
. were thrown out of employment alto
gether when the slack time came.
The dinner-bell sounded at one O'Clock
and Joe had just commenced his simple
meal of bread and cheese and mug of
beer, when the senior partner in the
firm came along, and stopped to say
few kind words TO him.
ewell, Gurney, so you have a son and
heir" he remarked, in the easy, gOOd-
natured manner which had won him a
well-deserved popularity throughout
the factory.
Joseph rose and touched his cap re-
spectfully: Yes, thank you, and a
fine. hearty boy he is too" J..
..I- = ha
grow up TO be a comfort, both TO you
and his mother; we shall find him a
corner here, L dare say, when you'll be
bringing him along to work."
"That's what / thought, sir; but
Martha, my wife, she says, prentice
him TO a good trade;" but then, as
says TO her, sir. where's the money to
come from for that sort of thing?"
.'Save it from that" said the master
good humoredly, yet seriously, pointing
with his walking-stick to the mug of
beer on the table by Joseph's side.
The mans color rose. "I'm not a
drinking man, SIR" he said, somewhat
angrily.-''It's only pint of beer get
with INV dinner; none with supper, nor
vet on Sundays-it's but twopence a
day spend on drink" tEftsE-
i.Stay, my FRIEND" interposed Mr..
Baker kindly. 81 know you are not a
drinking man; for you have not been
with us nearly four years without our
having found out that a workman more
trustworthy than Joseph Gurney is not
employed in our factory; still, could
YOU make up your mind to do without
your daily pint-only 'twopence day
as it must cost you-you would find that
by the time your boy is grown old
enough to learn a trade, the money to
apprentice him would be in your pos
session. L will leave you this to think
about at your leisure; in the meanwhile,
give this trifie to your wife, with my
congratulations and best wishes for the
future prosperity of her son." and, slip
pling five shillings into the mans hand i,
the good master passed on.
Mr.. Baker had only spoken the truth
Then he said that Joseph Gurney was
sober man. He had never been seen
the worse for liquor in his life; the
single pint of beer, which he considered
necessary to keep up his strength on
working-days, was truly all he allowed
himself.
But Mr.. Bakers idea that twopence a
I day would in time grow into a hand
some sum, had never before occurred to
the simple mind of Joe Gurney; and
all that afternoon he pondered on his
masters words, till at last, throwing
down his tools, he seized a piece of