The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-15


offer to tend 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 | have been
after work, and found some
Been after work = muttered the hus.
band in surprise,
Yes
But how-where p
Why, first went to Mrs Shows. l
knew her girl was sick, and l hoped 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 my children, and
paid me three shillings when | finished
my work
You been washing for our butchers
wife p said Peter, looking very much
surprised.
of course have, and have thereby
earned enough to keep us in food through
tomorrow at any rate so to morrow you
may come home to dinner.
But how about the rent 2
%, 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 told him |
did the business because you were away
hunting for work
SO he got your watch ?
No, he wouldn't take it, lie said if
would become responsible for the rent,
he would let it rest
There. we've 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
starvo I've got enough engaged to keep
US alive
'Ah, what is that ?
Mr.. Snow has engaged me to carry
small packages, baskets, bundles, and so
forth, 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 asked him if he
ever 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 lounge
about the market He promised to give
me all the work he could and am to be
there 10 good season in the morning
This is pretty pass my wife turned
butchers boy You will not do any
such thing
And why not :?
Because
Say, because it will lower me in the
social scale.
We'll, so it will.
Then it is more honorable to lie still
aud starve, too, than to earn honest bread
by honest work tell yon, Peter, il
, you cannot find work l must We should
, have been without bread to night, led
not found work to-day, You know tina
: all kinds Of light, agreeable business ar'
seized upon by those who have particular
friends, and engage in them. At such (
time as this it Is not for US to conside
r what kind of work we will do so long a
? it is honest. Oh, give me the liberty o
living upon my own deserts and the in
D dependence to be governed by my owr
!, convictions of right
:. 'But.my wife, only think, you carrying
}, about butchers stuff? Why, | woul'
v sooner do it myself.
IF you will 60, said the wife with
8 smile. Il will stay ct homo with the chill
l dren.'
1t was hard for Peter Stsnwood, bu
D the more he thought upon the matter tn
d more he saw the justice and right of tn
l. path into which his wife had thus lie
It him. Before he went to bed he promi'
o ed that he would 90 to the butchers
the morning.
And Peter Stanwood went to his me-
Il business Mr. Snow greeted him warn
70 ly, praised his faithful wife, ind the
'e sent him of with two baskets, one 10
Mr.. Smith 8 and another to a Mr. Dixali'
ID The new carrier worked all day, on
when it came night he had earned nluetl
T. seven ceuts. 1t had been day Of trial
bat no one sneered at him, aud all h
acquaintances whom he mel greeted hi
the same as usual lie wa- far happi
now than he was when he went homo Il
t night before, for now he Was lndependen
I'D On the next day he earned over do
s- lar and thus he continued to work for
at week, at the end of which he had Ii
at dollars aud seyenty-hve sents in b
rk pocket. besides having paid Tor all II
al food for his family, save some few piec
it. of meat which Snow had given him. Sa
se urday evening he met Mark Leeds, a
he other binder, who had been discharg
with himself Leedp looked carewo
bit and rusty.
lie. How goes it p asked Peter
be Don't ask me = groaned Mark 81
or family are half starved.
nd But can't you lind anything to DO =?
es- Nothing
he Have you tried ?
lth Everywhere but it is no use. ! ha
eft pawncd all my clothes save those | ha
on. have been to the bindery to d'
and what do you suppose be offered me
ian What was itr
md why, he offered to let me do his ha
ev- carting He has just turned of his q
ur ger for drunkenness, and offered me
she place. The old curmudgeon. | had
ntil great mind to pitch him into the hal
'wn cart and run him into the
ia. If had been 10 your place | sho'
bod have taken up with the offer
She Marx mentioned the name Of the sa
ner individual again.
zAQ sWhu rasumad Peier Il haYa b