River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-25
4 GENEROUS EMPLOYER.


Sladicker was looking for work, and
hoping against hope, wandering into a
musty shop over in Covington, to make
one more attempt to find something to do
He made his way to a melancholy look
ing old fossil, with an appearance strong
ly suggestive of mildew, who had been
pointed out ss the boss.
What's the prospect OF getting little
work with your" inquired Sladicker, in
tremulous voice, without the slightest
idea that there was any chance whatever.
The old man Strengthened up from his
bench, turned around, and gazed at
Sladicker with watery eyes over his glass
es, with surprised, COMMUNICATING look,
for several seconds, and then, as he mop
ped out his misty optics with the corn
er of his apron, he drew a sigh that
seemed to start from away down the eel.
lar somewhere, and said:
"Heh h-h9',
I'm looking for something to do, sir
I've been out of work since the middle
of winter, and have family at my back
almost starving. If il wasn't for the
little washing and cleaning my wife
manages to pick up. soul and body
couldn't have been kept together this
long. I've walked the town over day
after day, trying to find something to do,
but all the shops are full, and nobody
wants any body for any thing. I'll work
cheap, sir, and do my work well If you'll
only give me show; no matter if it's
only for few days. Can't you give me
lift with little work2' and Sladicker
scarcely breathed till the answer came.
The old man spread moarnful look
over his face, fetched out few more
signs of assorted sizes, took out his knife
and began whiting az stick, and then
finally, with twitching effort that SEEM
to hurt him somewhere, said:
Ah-h-yes, need help; but it just
about breaks me to hire any body and
keep things going. | discharged couple
of p,en last week. an had to sell house
an j lot to pay 'em off. The longer | run
the business the less profit seem TO have.
I'd ike to set you to work, but | don't
see how can afford it, or how can
marage to pay you. My wife has had
bad luck getting her rent, and it does
seem as though times was squeezing
everybody to death. Perhaps yeu don't
know how tight money is; it's mons'ous
hard to get. If you could kind O bear
with me, though, and take your pay as
could spare it, may be could manage
to give you steady job-seems to me
could.
Sladicker jumped at the chance, and
clinched the bargain at once.
He went home that night with light
er heart than he carried for months, and
frightened the eyes of his care worn wife
with the glad news that he had found
work. and the children danced and clapped
their hands when told they would soon
taste meat again. Saturday night came
but no money. During the next week he
managed to secure fifty cents in three
separate instaliments. The week follow
ing was barren of moneyed results Slad-
ECKER began to feel desperate, but his i'm
portunities only brought forth the re-
minder OF the terms of engagement. Ii
he dinn't like the situation, he could quit
at any time. Sad experience had
taught him that he could not well better
himself, and he thought it wiser to retain
the work until something better offered,
feeling sure that he would secure the pay
stipulated at some time. His employer
was mao of much promise, and he
trusted him, not wisely but perhaps,
too we'll.
"If / could manage to get nay board, 7
Sladicker, i" it wouldn't be so bad. It's
hard enough for my wife to feed herself
and the little ones, and feel like thief
in sharing the little she brings int al
most chokes me-
The employer frightened up and rub
bed his hands, while something very like
a smile truck an attitude between his
nose and ears.
" Ah-h-um why, let me see," said he.
" Nav be we can fix that. get my -four
and meat on credit gucas | can board
YOU. What's to hinders"
And so it came about that Sladicker
went TO board with the hypocfitical old
fraud. 4 sorry day it was for him, TOO;
for when he entered there the chance OF
other recompense was lett behind. The
old spider now had him completely IN
his web, and he would take good care to
keep him there by seeing to it that ne
didn't go much as get the wherewltn 10
cross the river. 1t was trick with MN
and he never felt that he could depend
upon his help as steady and permanent
until he had brought matters to such q
pass that they were glad to board with
him.
About the second or third week Sla-
kicker's little girl came over to see her
father, with most pitiable story, which
she sobbed out to him. With raining
tears and choking voice, Sladicker went
to the old fossil and entreated for money
with which to relieve his suffering fam
lily.
.sMr. Bailey" said he, / must have some
money. Ny little girl has just come over
and told me that my wife is down slck
in bed there amt bite of any thing IN
the house to eat. and | haven't even got
SO much as bridge ticket to go over
and see her, and the strong man broke
completely down and wept like child
as he held out bis hand for part OF has
| much. needed back pay.
The appeal was too much. for the mlseT'
| ly employer, and could not be resisted
| With the quickest movement he had ever
made in his life, most likely, his hand
was thrust into his pocket up to the elbow
and the next instant the trenpling pain
of Sladicker closed over bridge tics'et
Only that and nothing more.
We presume the reader will consider
! the above an idle axaggeration OF fancy
bur we have positive and reliable lnfor
nation that it was q real occurrence. ano
happened in Covington, as stated IN
esaaatt Breakfast Table.