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

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, carrying
a heavy basket on her arm.
well, Peter" she asked, after her
husband had entered and sat down
''what luck 2"
Nothing, nothing." he groaned. 81
made out to get dinner with an old
chum, but could not find work"
"And where have you looked to-day ?"
80, everywhere. I've been to hun
dred places, but it's the same story in
every place. It's nothing but one eter-
nal no, 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 liquor store down the
street."
lHt Nllt sHlficu-
Now, what shall we do?" uttered
Peter.
"Now, we will eat our supper, and
then talk the matter over"
''Supper? Have you any,"
''Plenty of it,"
'sBut you told me you had none"
''Neither had we this morning, but |
have been after work to-day and found
some"
''Been after work and found some?''
..Yes.''
'.But how-where?
"Why, first | went TO Mrs. Shows.
/ knew her girl was sick, and hoped
she might have work to be done. !
went TO her and told her my story, and
she set me at work at once doing her
washing. She gave me food to bring
home to my children, and paid me three
shillings when got through
''You been washing for our butchers
wife," said Peter, looking very much
surprised.
''Of course have, and have thereby
earned enough TO keep us in food
through tomorrow at any rate; so to-
morrow you may come home to dinner. 3"
'But how about the rent?'
''Oh, have seen Mr.. Simpson. told
him just how we were situated, and Of
fered him my watch in pledge for the
payment ofour rent within two months,
with interest on arrearages up to date.
| told him | did the business because
you were away hunting for work.
$50 he's got your watch? ~
mo, he wouldn't take it. Tie said if
| would become responsible for the
rent he would let it rest
''There, we've got 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 enough engaged
to keep us alive
''Ah, what is that?'
''Mr. Snow has engaged me to carry
small packages, baskets, bundles and
so forth to his rich customers. He has
had to give up one of his horses.'
maria, what do you mean:"
''Just what | say. Mr.. Snow came to
dinner; was there and asked him if
he ever had light articles which he
wished TO send around TO his customers.
Never mind what he said. He did
happen TO want just such work done,
though he had meant to call upon the
idlers that lounge about the market.
He promised to give me all the work he
could, and I'm to be there in good
season in the morning.
''This is a pretty go; my wife turned
butchers boy. You will not do any
such thing"
"And why not?''
"Because."
"Say, because it will lower me in the
social scale"
"Well, so it will
''Then it is more honorable to lie still
and starve too, than to earn honest
bread by honest work. tell you Peter,
if you cannot find work | must. We
should have been without bread to-
night, had | not found work to-day.
You know that all kinds of light agree
able business are seized upon by those
who have particular friends, and engage
i'm them. At such time as this it is
not for us to consider what kind of work
we will do, so long as it is honest. Oh,
give me the liberty of living upon my
own deserts and the independence to
be governed by my own convictions of
right !"
''But, my wife, only think, you car
rying about butchers stuff. Why,
could sooner do it myself
.'If you will GO said the wife with
a smile. Il will stay 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 pain lIllO WHICH his Nilt lldu luuc
ed him. Before he went to bed he
promised that he would go to the
butchers in the morning.
And Peter Stanwood went to his new
business. Mr.. Snow greeted him
warmly, praised his faithful wife, and
then sent him off with two baskets, one
to Mr.. Smiths and another to Mr..
Dixall's. The new carrier worked all
day and when it came night he had
earned ninety-seven cents. 1t had been
a day of trials, but no one sneered at
him, and all of his acquaintances whom
he met greeted him the same as usual.
He was far happier now than he was
when he went home the night before,
for now he was independent.
On the next day he earned over dol
lar, and thus he continued to work for
a week, at the end of which he had five
dollars and seventy-five cents in his
pocket, besides having paid for all the
food for his family, save some few