The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-10-12
Only a Poor Workingran.

GrCy'S QlScOnS0late remark, as ne
uouned overcoat and hat, then stopped
to kiss the pale-taced child that lay on
| It's low coucn.
John Grey had spoken the truth,
| "Only poor workingman" he was; but
man with aspirations for something
beyond the usual routine Of his daily
| life. Fitting tor physician when his
| lather died, and, instead of the gOOdly
heritage the family had expected, cred
| itors came forward, unjust men settled
| the estate, and in three months from the
time John Grey was written fatherlesS
he was tolling for daily bread for hlm-
| self and two Others; tolling as many
Others have-going forth in the morning
with tin pail III hand, not to return till
| late at night.
| lie had known Jennie Grey from early
childhood. IL was The rare boy and girl
Londness that had rlpened into truest,
purest love. A weary waiting of five
years. John's sister was married; but
there seemed no hope OF anything better
coming to John, for, with his tastes and
aspirations, lie could not hope TO rise in
the mechanical world; and then, etoos-
ing the working-day world with one she
loved, against pleasure trips, silks and
velyels with one she didn't, at the altar
John Grey and Jennie Ware were pro-
nOunced man and wife.
Patiently he toiled, and cheerfully she
wrought. In time, four bright children
came to their home. Healthy bodies, as
well as sound lntellects, were YOuCh-
sated all but one.
Bertha, the second, the brightest of
all, whose large dark eyes were ever
studying something atar of, was now
| urOOping.
ga warm climate" the tat man said,
who had grown 80 rich on deaLh-Ded
scenes tnat he had forgotten, If he ever
knew. what light purse and a heavy
heart meant. "a warm climate, ana all
delicacles to tempt her appetite" How
An invalid mother, hard working Wife,
three rosy children, aud one sick one.
All these to care Ior on the slender
wages Of q working man. Bitter mock
cry seemed such talk to John and JeA-
ME, and this was the feeling that
prompted his opening remark.
| "Better an honest WOrkIngman than
dishonest gentleman Of leisure;" and
Jennie called up smile of wiiely en-
| cOuragement, for, vita all their narQ-
| ships and disapp ppointments, love had not
been crushed out of the hearts of these
| two.
alt isn't for me, Jennie. l have
gotten bravely over my hopes and aspir-
atlOne;" but tear came TO the strong
mans eyes even as he spoke. "lve
gotlen bravely over it all for myself. 1t
| ISN'T for you, Jennie, though birth, edu-
catlon and worth have fitted you to rank
| with any lady in the laud. You might
have married where all comforts would
have been yours"
! mot all, JOnn, dear. l might have
married land, wealth and Idleness; in-
stead, | chose heart. Was it tool lish ?
| | thought it outWeIghed them ALL"
| "a poor workingman may be rich in
a wife Jennie" and John Grey brushed
the tear from his eye, 'but l would like
TO see you better clad. L would Ike tu
surround you with luXuries; but it ISM t
all you, dear. l would Ike to educate
uar children as tneY ought to be euu.
Gated. Nature has been most beuetcent
to them, but their father can't do much.
There is Harry, eager and Interested IN
insect lie; Win proper opportunities he
might become great naturalist. Will.
poor boy, has all my old .ove tor anato.
my and SO iorth. Perhaps, with no
| drag on him, he can work his way I'd
alone, though the struggle will be Lard
but Harry hasn't selt-reliance or perse-
yerance sufficient. He needs help,
Then, little Annie, she might be finely
educated, accomplished lady, If her
father could only do his DUTY by her.
But it isn't that alone, Jennie, it is for
this, our tirst-born daughter. 1t seems
as though it would kill me, Jennie, A
little pAltry gold would save her-Dring
back health anu strength-aye, life It.
self"
John" his wife said, "wait minute.
God holds iu his hand our cnlld's lie, as
he has held our destiny"
Yes, and what a destiny ~ he inter-
rup ed with bitterness.
| 1--WE Will see what a destiny, John,
He took from you father, surely, but
YOU know IL is well with him. He per.
mlLted you TO give up your chosen lies
J work. and why? Because he mad chosen
some thing different for you, anu what
Tue Master chooses is sanCJitied, John,
| lie permitted you to watch over and
care for your sister Ellen. You saved
her from a sad pltlall. lie has allowed
you to be stay and comfort to your be.
tlue-nearted, loving vile, not rich iu
worldly goods, to be sure, but then
YOU know that, poor folks
value love. Mrs. Barlow was in here
Yesterday. She told me of her boy. Her
W. alth mas not saved him from The con-
tamlnation that assOclatlng with Jack
| Potter and his set Almost brought upon
our Harry. What saved Harry? Your
judlcious counsels and tatherIy love.
| And yet you say that you can't do any
thing tor your children. Mis-. Barlow
wept when she saw Annie-just the age
her little Winnie would have been had
| she lived. But her others wealth on
abled her to leave her child to the care
OF nlrelings, and she now ieels that VIM
ME m ght Iave been spared had proper
attention been given me child. Her son
no comfort and her daughter dead"
Sadly John Grey pointed TO Bertha.
mo, John, Bertha is yet alive, and,
please God, she shall live in spite of the
doctor. Good nursing is worth more
tuan anything else, and that she has.
'rAe Great PAyslclan can heal now as
we'll as i'll the days when they whispered
The tidings that Jesus OF Nazareth
passeth by."
'Jennie, l am rich, though only poor
working man." And john Grey took up
The lit lie tin pail, aud with II Kiss tor the
pale-faced cuild and one for the brave
hearted Christian wife, started forth TO
his daily toll "A lew steps from MS door he
encountered Frank Barlow. The mans
heart warmed towards him, and with
sympathetic feeling, he stopped lmpuI-
slyely aud laid his hand ou the boys
shoulder.
Frank, laddie, Pm only poor work
Ing man, but You are just the age of my
| boy, ana Pm sorry Tor you. Where have
you been? Mt fresh from home this
morning in this plIghL?" and he looked