The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-05-24

my time and attention and could not aid
Herbert at all, and that made me feel
wretched, for we needed so many things
while Fife was sick. did get
a little copying, but she would beg so hard
for me to hold her that had to give It up,
for her father would be out in the city
bunting work. He has been to the stores
begging for anything to do, but has never
succeed, In obtaining employment, tor
whenever there was a situation vacant |
there would be twenty men waiting, and
some one would have influential friends
and would be hired. o! it Is not because
he is lazy or pfoud; it is because, go where
he will, there is no place for him, and then |
there would be such long nights of watch |
ing with our baby. She has suffered so
much, and we have not had money to buy
her the neces sary medicines, le: alone the
proper food. We do not blame your hus-
band for trying to get along with as little
expense as possible, but If it had only been
possible for him to have kept Herber'
we would not have had such hard
times. 1 have taken such severe cold;
when Herbert was taken sick one day L
"
went for the doctor, and my shoes were so
old that when got home my feet were
nearly frozen, and have never been able
TO get rid of the cough that commenced
then; and that grieves my husband so
much. He never thought that would
have to pass through such an ordeal, but II
Efie's lie is only spared l will be coz
tented. can not give her up. Often she
has cried for hours when / knew she
wanted food, and we have sold everything
to buy things for her, but despite 1t all
God has been very good to us, for we have
never been real hungry or cold but once or
twice. and then we had neither food nor
fuel, and we went to bed to keep from suf-
fering. All can do now is to pray for my
loved ones"
At this moment Herbert came in, look
ing weary and sorrowful. In answer to
his wife's inquiries. he said: IL have been
out about a mile from the city to a mill
where heard that maybe could get work.
but they are discharging instead of hiring
men. l have walked up and down the
streets, almost getting on my knees before
men begging for work, but they all had the
same reply; they were cutting down wages
aud discharging men. There are hum
dreds of men to-day without work and
without money, and yet the ranks are
swelling every day. There seems to be
trouble in store for thoss who are anxious
to labor long and hard for a mere
pittance. 1 do not bother any man.
simply ask him to give me work, and he
need not spurn ma as If were dog. o!
had 1t not bsen for my vile and baby l
would have tried my fortune at tie gam
bling table and drowned my troubles IN
drink; but the memory of their pure love
and affection has kept me from yielding II
the temptation. Don't cry, Gerty, darling
i'll starye will do no wrong, but am
afraid our baby will die. The doctor told
me to-day 1 must get her away from tho
civ for the summer. If God, in his ten
der mercy, ever forgives the sin OF theft, il
Seams to me it must be when husband
/, and father would save wife and child from
! diving. I am not alone in my trouble
, Mechanics. laborers, clerks, men OF aDll
r itv and education, men of muscle and mer
3 of brains are hers needing food, needing
8 clothes, needing everything that is neces
{ sary to life, and there is no work. Yes
! madam, was raised in the church ant
I Sunday school, and yet 1 have almo s
l Welded in the last forty-eight hours t
I temptations on every hand. / would al
Q most sell my soul to-day for the means t.
send my baby away from the city thi
y summer, AMI yet ! must see her die be
Q fore my eyes," saw he was growing reck
less. and could not wonder as he l1fte'
q Fife in his arms, she was little more thar
! a skeleton. She tried to put her face clos
: to his and lau Oh, but her lips were so no
-? that the smile faded away. / could no
D blame him for his wild talk when saw
i how helpless were his wife and child, AM
t remembered how lsvishly was the none.
, used when my Bertha lay sick in m.
o arms. Grace had watched them all, play
q ing with the baby, looking sffrighted whel
J, Herbert was talking and hiding her fac
I on my breast when Mrs. Mason commence
, crying. But she stole softly to his sid
o when he began rocking Efie, and SAID
Il "Mr. Mason, papa told mamma to do a
g she could for you, and she will make 20
Q clerk again; won't you mamma2 And /.
u get Bsrtha's little carriage and come &c
10 Efie and take her to ride; now pleas
don't look sorry any longer" repeate
1 Grscs's promise, that he should have hi
II old place again, and left them great DEF
Ie happier than when 1 saw them first. Nd
10 husband listened to the story from Grace
le lips, and promised her he would attend
RS sending the baby and her mother to tt
70 country, and would secure Herberss plat
Is at much better salary than before.
N But last Sunday we laid baby Eff
p among the violets. She faded away like
le lily, the white checks getting psler, IL
"a hlna ares growing softer and briphtar. ar