Wilmington journal., 1876-02-04
THE DARK HOUR.

Ican't stand it any longer, Jane. I'll
go ont and perhaps something will
turn up for us.
It's cold night, Robert.
Gold, yes; but it's not much colder
out than in. Il would have been much
better for you if you had married John
Tremain, he said bitterly.
Don't say that, Robert; I've never
regretted my choice.
Mt oven when there is not a loaf of
bread i'll the house for you and the
children?
Not even now, Robert; Don't be dis
couraged. God has net forsaken us.
Perhaps this Christmas eve the tide
will turn. Better days may dawn upon
us tomorrow.
Robert Brice shook his head des-
pondingly.
You are more hopeful than l, Jane.
Dsy after day have been in search of
employment. I called at fifty places,
only to receive the SAFE answer every.
where.
Just then little Jimmy, who had
been asleep, woke up.
Mother, he pleaded, w>n't you give
me piece of bread? I'm so hungry.
There is no bread, Jimmy, my dar-
ling! sail his mother with an aching
heart.
When will there be some asked the
Guild. piteously.
Tears came into the mother'e eye.
She knew not what to DO.
Jimmy, I'll bring you some bread.
said the father hoarsely.
And he seized his hat and went to
the door. HIS wife, alarmed, laid her
hand upon ais sleeve. She saw th"
look in his eyes, she feared 20 what
step desperation might lead him.
Rememb Der. Robert; she said solemn.
ly, it is hard to starve, but there are
things that are worse.
He shook her hand off but not
| roughly, and without a word passed
out.
Out on the cold street There
| would be their only home next. Fol
| bries time longer he had the shelter
| of cheerless room in a coll lodging
house, but the rent would become due
at the end of the mouth, and he haC
nothing to meet 1t.
Robert Brice WAS a mechanic. com
peten' and skillful. Three years since
he lived in a country village where hin
expenses were moderate, and he found
no difficulty in meeting them. But il
an evil hour he grew tired Of his vii
lage home, and removed to the city.
Here he vainly hoped to do better
For a while he met with good success
but he found the lodging house il
which he bad to live poor substitute
for the neat cottage he had occupied
in the country He saw his mis- ke
hut be was too prond to go back
although it wss his wise's desire they
should d" 40.
But the time of great depression
came and with suspension of bust.
ness enterprise. Work ceased fol
Robert Brice and many others. If h.
had been in his old home, he coull
have turned his hand to something
else, and, at the worst, could hav
borrowed of his neighbors till bette
times.
So day by day he went out to seel
work, only to return disappointed. L
he had bsen alone he could have go
on some way, but it was sore trial t
come to the cherries room and Pal
wife aud hungry children with no re
lief to offer them.
When on that Christmas Eve Rober
Brice went into the streets, he hardl
| knew now ne was gong I'D Iedeeh bns
promise he had made little Jimmy
He was absolutely penniless, and ha'
been so for three days. There wa
nothing that he was likely to find t
do that night.
( I will pawn my coat, he said. car
not see my wife and children starve.
1t was a well worn coat, and tina
winter night he needed somethin
more to keep him warm. Weakene
by enforced fasting he was more ser