Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-01-02
Out of Work.

"It's no use, Maria, | have tried
everywhere"
But you are not going TO give it up
yet, Peter?'
.'Give it up, How can help it: In
four days have been to every book
bindery in the city, and not bit of
work can | GET
"Have you tried anything else:"
"What else can L trY?"
Anything you can do"
Eyes, I've tried other things. I've
been 10 more than a dozen places of my
friends and offered to help them?''
And what did you mean TO do for
them?"
II offered either to post their ac-
counts, make out bills or attend to the
counter"
Mrs. Stanwood smiled as her husband
spoke thus.
"What makes you smile 2" he asked.
''TO think that you would have i'm
agined that you would find work in
such a place. But how is Mark Leeds 20
lie WORSE Oh lIidn 4 an.
"How so?"
''He has nothing in his house to eat. "
shudder crept over his wife's frame
now.
"Why do you tremble, wife,"
because when we shall have eaten
our breakfast tomorrow morning, we
shall have nothing"
what" cried Peter Stanwood, half
starting from his chair. ''Do you mean
that?''
81 do"
"But our flOur?"
"All gone, baked the last this after
noon"
''But we have pork,'
"You ate the last this noon."
''Then we must starve?" groaned the
stricken man, starting across the room.
Peter Stanwood was bookbinder by
trade, and had been out of employment
about month. He was one of those
who generally calculate to keep about
square with the world, and who con-
slider themselves particularly fortunate
if they keep out of debt. He was now
thirty years of age, and had three chill
dron to provide for, besides hin. self and
wife, and 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 gaz-
ing his wife i'm the face, ''We must
starve. | have not single penny in
the world.''
''But do not despair, Peter. Try
again tomorrow for work. You may
find something TO do. Anything that is
honest and honorable. Should you
make but shilling a day we should
not starye."
''But our house renty"
"Trust me for that. The landlady
shall not turn us out. If you will en-
gage something to do, / will see that
we have house room"
81 will make one more trial. NUT
tered Peter despairingly.
'But You must go prepared to do
anything"
"Anything reasonable, Maria"
'What do you call reasonable?"
"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 disposition, 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 ex-
pressed it. However, she knew it would
be Of no use to say anything to 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
and fortunate, making the most of the
present, forgetting the past, and letting
the future take care of itself. Yet the
truth was naked and clear. and when
he left the house he said, Something
must be done.r
No sooner had her husband gone than