Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-22
OUT OF WORK.

I Thomas Davidson Blackaooad
I
OUT OF WORK.
"It's no use, Maria, have tried every
w:here.''
"But you are not going to give it up yet,
Ptster?"
"Give it up! How can [ help it? In
TO ur days have been to every book bind
cry in the city, and not bit of work can 1
get.''
"Have you tried anything else?''
"What else can 1 try?''
"AnYthing you can do.''
"sYes, I've tried other things. I've have
gone to more than a dozen places of my
friends and offered to help them.'
''And what did you mean to do for
themp''
II offered either to post their accounts,
make out bills, or attend to the counter -
Mrs. Stanwood smiled as her husband
spoke thus.
'sWhat makes you smile?" he asked. ,
ITO think that you could have imagined
that you would find work in such place.
| But how is Mark Leeds?"
"He's worse off than am"
Elbow soY''
HE has nothing in his house to eat.'
! A shudder crept over his wife's frame
now.
"Whv do YOU tremble. wife?"
| because, when we shall have eaten our
/ have nothing"
! "What!'' cried Peter Stanwood, half
starting from his chair. s'Do you mean
4 that?"
Il do.'
'But our four?"
''All gone; baked the last this after
noon"
"But we have pork"
sYou 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 consider them
selves particularly fortunate if they keep
4 out of debt. He was now thirty years OF
age, and had three children to provide
for, besides himself and wife, and this to-
gether with his house rent, was draught
upon his purse even when work was
plenty, but now there was nothing.
s'Maria." said he, stopping and gazing
his wife in the face. eve must starve, I
have not single penny in the world"
"But do not despair Peter. Try again
tomorrow Tor work. You may find some
thing to do. Anything that is honest and
honorable. Should you make but shil-
ling day we should not starve.''
'But our house rent %
"Trust me for that. The landlady shall
not turn us out. If you will engage some
thing to do, will see that we have house
room.''
Il will make one more trial." muttered
Peter despairingly.
"But you must 50 prepared to do any
thing"
''Anything reasonable, Maria.''
"What do you call reasonable 20
'Why, anything decent"
She felt inclined to smile, but the mat
ter was too serious for that, and a cloud
passed over her face. She knew her hus-
bands disposition, and she felt sure he
could find no work. She knew that he
would not lower himself in the social scale,
However, she knew it would be no use to
say anything to him now, and 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 tlrat he was
penniless and without food. For years he
had been gay, thoughtless and fortunate,
making tile most of the present, forgetting
the past, and letting the future take care
of itself. Yet the truth was now naked and
clear, and when he left the house he said,
"Something must be done.''
No sooner had her husband gone,' than
Mrs. Stanwood put on her bonnet and
sshawl. Her Oldest child was girl eleven
years old and her youngest fou-. She ask
led her next door neighbor if she would
take care of her children until noon, These
children were well-known to be good and
quiet, and they were taken cheerfully.
Then Mrs. Stanwood locked up her house
and went away. She returned at noon,
bringing some dinner for her children, and
then went away again. She came home
in the evening before her husband, carry
ing heavy basket on her arm.
swell, Peter" she asked, after her hus-
band had entered and sat down "what
luck ?''
Nothing. nothing!'' he groaned. II
made out to get dinner with an old chum
but could not find work.
''And where have you looked to-day ?''
30, everywhere. I've been to a hum
dred places, but it's the same story in
every place. It's nothing but one eternal
!. no. no, no. I'm sick and tired Of it,
"And what have you offered to dop''
"Why. / have even gone SO far as to Of
fer Co tend liquor shop down the street. .
The wife smiled.
Nov what shall we do ~ uttered Peter
snow we will eat our supper, and then
talk the matter over"
! Supper! have you any 2"
"Plenty Of it,"