The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-12-04

A@OA 20 AS Noo
careful to make an arrangement by the
month, instead of paying by the piece.
"Mother can't you rest tomorrow,
and keep one holidays" asked boy,
evidently the Widows son.
"Ah, yes, mother" pleaded the girl
from the other side of her mothers iron
ing-table, 4" do rest tomorrow. Let us
have real Thanksgiving Day-church
and games and dinner-as we used to
do"
go children, don't ask me! There
is no coal in the box, and Mary has no
shoes for winter; and you, John, must
have an overcoat, and there's the rent.
No, no. must get through all can,
and try and get more to do, instead of
taking holidays"
"Mother," asked John, els there not
one person to give you a helping hand
just till 1 am through this one year at
SCHOOL, l could pay back the money, if
you could only borrow one hundred dol
lars to help you over this year."
"And I'll be a teacher in three years,
mother,'' said Mary. "Oh, how wish
1 could stop your hard work at once.
Now think, mother, isn't there any one,
as John saysP"
James Waring listened breathlessly;
he longed to hear his name. Surely she
knew he could lend her that much. But
the widow, after moments silence,
only shook her head. stNo, children,
we've no rich friends, and I'd only lose
work if 1 should try to get money from
customers"
"There's that Mr.. Waring," said
Mary, to the listeners great delight.
"He!" exclaimed mother and son, the
first in utter establishment, the second in
scorn.
"Well-isn't he richp' asked Mary,
doubtfully.
H." rather think sol" responded John,
''but he's mean"
"John, my son, Mr.. Waring pays us
promptly-you should not speak So"
He knows nothing about poverty or
the need of money, that is ALL" said the
widow quietly.
Again James seemed seeking the cot
tage, ana again that voice pleaded "Not
yet, not yeti" This time he was led to
the basement of the house where his
own rooms were. Once in while he
had gone down those lower stairs, so
the scene was not altogether unfamiliar.
He had seen before that thin figure ly-
ing on the lounge, had noted the air of
refinement in the cosy sitting-room; but
now he heard them talk, unaware of
his presence.
"Marion, if could but get South,
believe I'd grow strongi The Doctor
said it might set me up. But there! l
must be weak fool to talk of it to you!
1t can't be done-we haven't relation
to help us. Do You know what / dream
about, Marion, when you are up stairs
doing the work in the dodgers roomsp
the work that you should never do if
l were well and strong''
"No, dear; tell me your fancies, if
they are pleasant Ones"
81 dream, wife, that instead of the
people who have our rooms-the Hoff-
mans, who as Germans care nothing
for us, and those four young clerks in
the upper story who can barely pay
their way, and that money-loving War
ing-you had a warm-hearted, whole
souled man, who would take note of
your lovely, unselfsh life, and would
give me, for your sake, dearest, one
more chance of life."
The brave wife's eyes were filed with
tears, but she would not let them over
flow. "Who knows what may happenp"
she answered, gayly. "You little know
what such a day as tomorrow
Thanksgiving Day-may bring forth.
Now stop dreaming, and we'll have a
game of chess, and then I'll sing. Re-
member, if you went South, l could not
go, too, and so it might be worse than
staying
"Not yet-let him see one more lost
opportunity, lest he still refuse" plead
ed the voice, and he was drawn down q
narrow street, and led up to the attic of
a tenement house.
"Did you ask him, Benz" a woman
was saying. "Did you tell him we can't
get on, with six mouths to- feed and six
little bodies to clotheP'
"Ask him! To be sure did, and got
just the answer l expected. There are
plenty of men would be glad of your sit
uation, so, if the wages don't suit you, /
can fill your place."
Yes, those were his own words. James
Warning remembered that the porter
had come to him that very day and
asked for an increase of salary, but sure
ly he had not mentioned his six children
or could it be he did not pay attention
to his pleadingP
"Well, Ben, there'll be one less
mouth to feed soon, and the poor child
eats little enough now" Then Waring
saw them go to a crib in the corner, and
saw child all wasted and worn tossing
YEARLY from side to side.
"It's enough to drive man to drink,
when you think what the firm take in
each day." muttered the poor father,
almost crazed as he looked on his dying
child.
Warning, impatient to recall his cold
refusal, made a mighty effort to speak,
and awoke in the gray dawn of the No
vember day. His dreams had been too
vivid to be shaken off at once, but he
tried his best to call them "mere fam
cies." On first waking he half resolved
to call on Ben, and see if the reality
were any thing like the dream, but by
the time he had bathed and dressed, his
old habits had conquered him, and he
remembered, with a smile at his own
momentary superstition, that he did not
know Ranio addrass Mro nouoc