Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-12-25
MIScELLANE Gus.
THE DARK HOUR.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

SIS CAN'T stand it any longer, Jane; III
60 out, and perhaps something will turn
up tor u.s."
..Its cold night, Robert"
Gold, yes But it's not much colder out
than in. 1t would have been much better
for you if you had married John Tremain," !"
he said, bitterly.
Don't say that Robert; I've never re-
gretted my choice"
Not even when there is not loaf Of
bread in the house for you and the chill
dren2 ?"
Not even now; Robert. Don't be dis.
coursged. God has not forsaken us, Per-
haps this Christmas eve the tide will turn !;
better days may dawn upon us tomorrow"
Robert Brice shook his head despondingly.
lyon are more hopeful than /, Jane.
Day after day have been in search of en-
pIoyment. 1 have called a. fifty places, only
to receive the same answer everywhere"
Just then little Jimmy, who had been
asleep, woke up.
"Mother," he pleaded, "wont you give
me piece of bread? Lam so hungry"
There is no bread, Jimmy, my darling !"
said the mother. with an aching heart.
"When will there be some 2" asked the
little child, piteously.
Tears came to the mothers eyes. 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 his sleeve She saw the look in his
eyes; she feared to what step desperation
might lead him.
"Remembcr, Robert" she said, solemnly,
'it is hard to starve; but there are things
that are worse"
He shook off her hand, but not roughly,
and. without q word, passed out.
Out in the cold streets ! There would be
their only home next. For brief time
longer he had the shelter of cherries
room in a cold lodging house, but the rent
would become due at the end Of the month
and he bad nothing to meet it.
Robert Brice was mechanic, competent
and skilled. Three years since he lived in
a country villsge where his expenses were
moderate and he found no difficulty in meet
ing them. But in an evil hour he got tired
of his village home, and removed 10 the city.
Here he vainly hoped to do better. For q
while he met with very good success; but
he found the lodging house where he had
to live poor substitute for the neat cottage
he occupied in the country. He saw his
mistake, he was too proud to go back, al
though it was his wife's desire that they
should do so.
But time of great depression came, and
with it suspension of business enterprise.
Work ceased for Robert Brjce and many 9TH
ers. If he had been in his old home he
could have turned his hand to something
else, and, at the worst, could have borrowed
of his neighbors till better times.
So day by day he went out to seek work {,
only to return disappointed. IF he had been
alone he could have got on some way; but
it was sore trial to come in the cherries
room and his pale wife and hungry children,
with no relief to offer them.
When on that Christmas eve Robert
Brice went into the streets, he hardly knew
how he was going to redeem the promise re
had made little Jimmy. He was absolutely
peuniless, and had been so for three days:
There was nothing that he was likely to lind
to do that Eight.
al will pawn my coat" he said. 81 can