Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-26
Out Of Work.

STORY vim coon SorAt.
ats no use, Maria; I've tried every
"But you are not agoing to give it up yet,
Peter ;"
"Give it up? How can help it In four
days / have been 10 every bookbindery in the
city, and not bit of work can find
Have you tried anything else 2"
"What else can try2"
Anything you can do"
ayes, I've tried other things I've been 10
more than dozen of my old friends and Of
fered TO help them"
"And what did you mean 10 do for them p
al offered either TO post their accounts
make out their bills, or attend to their
counters"
Mrs. Stanwood smiled as her husband
spoke thus.
What makes you smile 2" he asked.
"To think that you would have imagined
that YOU would find work in such place.
But how is Marx Leeds 2"
" He's worse OFF than am"
" How so 2"
ale hasn't mouthful in his house to eat"
A shuddercrept over the wife's frame now.
"Why do you tremble, wife p
s Because when we shall have eaten our
breakfast tomorrow morning We shall have
nothing
"Whatl :" cried Peter Stanwood, half
starting from his chair. "Doyou mean that?"
al do"
But our -four p
All gone. baked the last this after
noon"
But we have pork 2"
you ate the last this noon"
"Ihen we must starve - groaned the
stricken man, starting rapidly across the
room.
Peter Stanwood was bookbinder by
trade, and had been out of employment
about n month. lie was one of those who
generally calculate 10 keep about square
with the world and who consider them
selves particularly fortunate if they keep
out of debt. lie was nearly thirty years OF
age and had three children to provide for,
besides himself and wife, aud this, together
with his house rent, was a heavy draught
upon his purse, even when work was plenty !;
| but now there was nothing.
"Maria," said he, stopping and gazing his
wife in the face, we must starye. ] have
not penny in the world"
But do not despair, Peter. Try again
tomorrow for work You may find some
thing TO do. Anything that is honest and
honorable Should you make but shil-
ling a day, we could manage TO live"
But our house rent z"
"Trust me for that. The landlord shall
not turn us out. II you will engage some
thing to do, | will see that we have house
room"
81 win make one more trial" muttered
Peter, despairngly.
But you must go prepared to do any
thing"
Anything reasonable, Maria
"What do you call reasonable p
"Why, anything decent"
She felt inclined TO smile, but the matter
was too serious for that, and a cloud passed
| over her face She knew her husbands dis
position, and she felt sure he would find no
work. She knew that he would look for
some kind of work that would not lower
him in the social scale, as he had once OF
twice expressed it. However she knew il
would he of no use TO say anything 10 him
now, and so she let the matter pass.
On the following morning the last bit OF
food in the house was put on the table
Stanwood could hardly realize that he was
penniless and without food. For years he
had been gay, thoughtless aud fortunate
making the most of the present, forgetting
the past, aud letting the future take care oi
itself. Yet the truth was naked and clear
and when he left the house, he said
" Something must be done -
No sooner had her husband gone, thar
Mrs. Stanwood put on her bonnet and shawl
Her oldest child was girl eleven years old
and her youngest four. She asked her mex
door neighbor if she would take care of he
children until noon. These children wer,
we'll known TO be good and quiet and the,
were taken cheerfully. Then Mrs Stan
wood locked up her house and went away
She returned at noon, bringing some din
ner 10 her children, aud then wont awal
again She came home in the evening be
fore her husband, carrying a heavy baske
on her arm.
"Well, Peter" she asked, after her hus
band entered and sat down, what luck 2"
Nothing, nothing" he groaned g.
made out 10 get dinner of AN old chum, bu
could find no work"
And where have you looked for any to
day 2"
"Oh, everywhere have been TO hun
dred places, but it is the same story i'll ever,
place, It's nothing but one eternal no, no
no | am really sick aud tired of it,
"And what have you offered to do p"
"Why, have even gone so far as 10 oife
10 tend llquof store uoWn street.
The wife smiled.
Now what shall we do 2" muttered Peter
Now we will eat our supper, and theI
talk the matter over"
Support Have you any
"Plenty of it,"
I" 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 Z"
"Why, first | went TO Mrs. Shows.
knew her girl was sick, and ! hoped sh,
might have work 10 be done. | went to her
and told her my story, and she set me u
work doing her washing. She gave m,
food TO bring home 10 the children, and paid
me three shillings when finished my work.
"You've been washing for our butchers
wife :" said Peter, looking very much sur
prised.
"Of course | have, and have thereby
earned enough 10 keep us in food through
tomorrow, at any rate so tomorrow you
may come home To dinner"
"But how about the rent 7"
81 have seen Mr. Simson, told him how
we were situated, aud offered him my watch
as u pledge for the payment of our rent
within two months, with interest on arrear-
ages up 10 date told him did the bust.
ness because you were oil hunting for work.
So he got your watch r
"No he wouldn't take it. lie said il |
would become responsible for the rent he