Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-09-19

"WelI, Peter" she asked, after
her husband had entered and SAT
down, "what luck ?"
Nothing, nothing - he groan'
ed, 81 made out to get dinner
with an old chum, but could not
find work"
"And where have you locked to-
day ?"
"Oh, everywhere, I've been to q
hundred places, but it is the same
story in every place. 1t is nothing
but eternal no, no I'm sick and
tired of it."
"And what have you offered to
do ?"
"Why, l have even gone SO far as
to offer to tend n liquor store down
street. Now what shall we. do ~
uttered Peter.
"Now we will eat our'supper, and
then talk the matter over.''
"Supper Have you any ?"
"PleEty OF it,
"But You told me you had none. .
Neither had we this morning,
but have been after work to-day
and found some"
"Baen after work and found
some."
"YeS."
''BUt how-where ?"
"Why, first went to Mr.. Shows.
| knew her girl was sick, and l hop
ed she might have work to be done.
| went to her and told my story, and
sle set me to work at once doing her
washing. She gave me food to bring
home to my children, and paid me
three shillings when l got through" :"
"You have been washing for our
butchers wife ?" said Peter, look
ing up very much surprised.
"Of course l have, and have
thereby earned enough to keep US in
food through tomorrow, so you
may come home to dinner"
But how about the rent ?"
"Oh, l have seen Mr.. Thompson,
told him just how we were situated,
and offered him my watch as a
pledge for the payment Of our rent
within two months, with interest Oh
arrearages up to date"
so he got your watch ?"
mo, he wouldn't take it. He
said if would be responsible for
the rest, he would let it rest"
There, we've got a roof to cover
us, and good food for tomorrow,
but what next ? Oh, what a curse
these hard times are -
"Don't despair, Peter, for we
shall not starve. I've got work
enough engaged to keep Us alive
''Ah - what is that 20
"SloW has engaged me to carly
small packages, baskets, bundles,
and 50 forth, to his rich customers.
lie has bad to give up one of his
horses.n
"Maria, what do you mean ?"
"Just what l Say. Mr.. Snow
came to dinner 1 was there and
asked him if he ever had light ar
ticles which he wished to send to
his customers. Meyer mind what
he said. He did happen to want
just such work done, though he
meant to call upon the idlers that
lounge about the market. lie
promised to give me all the work he
could, and Pm to be there in good
season in the morning."
"This is pretty go /; my wife
TUNED butchers boy. You will not
do any such thing"
''And why not ?''
"BecaaSe-, -
''Say because it will lower me in
the social scale"
"Well, 50 it will"
''Then it is more honorable TO lie
still and starve, too, than to earn
honest bread by honest work. l
tell you, Peter, if you cannot iud
work 1 must. We should have been
without bread tonight had L not
found work to-day. You know that
all kinds of light, agreeable bust
ness are seized upon by those who
have particular friends engaged in
them. At such a time as this 1t is
not for us to consider what kind of
work we will do 50 long as it is
honest. Oh, give me the liberty OF
living upon my own desert and the
independence to be governed by my
own convictions OF right ~
''But my wife, only think, you
carrying about butchers basket.
Why, [ would sooner do it myself"
eff you viii CO." said his wife,
with smile, Il will stay at home
with the children"
1t was hard for Peter Stanwood !;
but the more he thought upon the
matter the more he saw the justice
and right of the path into which
his wife had thus led him. Before