The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-06-15
Our Young People
A Story of Invention.

- StOI u 42NSue4OA.
Stephen Garnett and Aaron Ruby
were fellow workmen in a large iron
works in one of the great manu-
featuring towns of England.
A heavy order had just come
in, and the hands were required to
work on Sunday. Stephen refused.
He had a wife and baby, and it
went sore against him to leave the
factory where he had worked all his
life. But he did not hesitate, and
his wife approved of the sacrifice.
All Monday Stephen went from
factory to factory, but trade was
dull, and although it was beginning
to revive, no new hands were re
quired.
So bitter time of trial began.
For three long weeks stephen wan
dered about constantly, asking for
work. Frequently he walked long
distances on vague rumors of en-
ployment which always turned out
to be false.
Stephen had tried each evening,
as he neared his home. to put on
the cheerful look he did not feel,
but one look at Mary's anxious
face put all his sham brightness to
fight.
Their little stock of savings soon
began to run low, and at the end of
three weeks, Stephen, with heavy
heart, drew his last pound from the
bank.
The week that followed was full
of misery and despair, and the next
Saturday night found them with
but shilling left. Stephen often
wonders now how he got through
that week without yielding to
temptation, and owns that nothing
but the sustaining hand of God and
his patient wife could have saved
him.
When Saturday night came,
Stephen, after much hesitation,
asked the momentous question:
Have we any money left, MaryY'
"a shilling, dear lad; but don't
be low-hearted, we've three big
loaves of bread, and bit of cheese
and some tea and sugar. Keep up
your heart, Stephen; our Lord
sure to make way for u.s.
Stephen groaned as he buried
his face in his hands.
So the fourth week endel.
Another Sunday came around,
and perhaps of all the sorrow-la-
den souls that assembled at the
church none carried a heavier
heart than the workingman who
knelt with a bowed head and pas
sionately clasped hands in the
shadow of the farther pillar
That afternoon Stephen was sit
ting silently by the fire, and Mary,
singing hymn, was trying to quiet
the child, when the door opened
and Aaron Ruby came in.
swell, old chap, are you getting
on middiing?'
mo, not at all; L can't get a
chance to work"
GAY, but that's bad. Have you
tried old Mr.. Wilson? He's of
your old way of thinking"
"Ay, but they've not work for
their own hands"
"Pm sorry for you, Steve. I've
wished many time since I'd been
man enough to do the same"
"Have you been working every
SundayY'
"Ay, that we have. Hanworth
comes down for an hour in the af-
ternoon, looking so clean, and flow
ers in his coat. But what is a man
to doY'
"Obey God rather than man."
said Stephen.
'Ah, its well enough for you,"
Aaron began and then he stopped
suddenly, for he caught sight of
Mary's face and her eyes were full
of tears.
you'll stop, Aaron, and have
cup of tea with ns?
Yes, do, Aaron" echoed Mary.
"Here, Steve, hold baby while l get
it ready"
Stephen took the little creature
carefully, but it suddenly set up a
pitiful cry. He rocked it and tried
to quiet it, but all in vain. The
more he rocked the harder it cried.
What is the matter" said Ste
phen, turning helplessly to his
wife.
you've run a pin into it." said
Mary, taking the baby.
The little one ceased to cry, and
quiet till the meal was
spread. Then, though Mary and
Aaron talked cheerfully, Stephen
became silent, and the rest of the
evening seemed in a brown study
gazing thoughtfully at the child as
it lay in the little cradle. Sud
denly he exclaimed:
Eyes, that's how it could be done"
What done?"
"Why, 1 know how 1 could make
a pin that wouldn't hurt"
"Then do it, lad" cried Aaron.
''Lots of the women folk would buy
them"
but 1 can't do it,
For whyT'
Because our moneys gone and |
we've not got even enough to buy
"Here, I'll lend it to you. Will
ten shillings do?'
AYE, and five shilling will, and |
thank you, mate"
After that cloud seemed lifted |
from the party, and the dawn of
the next day found Stephen on his
way to the wire-seller's.
Very diligently and happily he
and before DINNER he called
TO Mary.
"Wife, come hither; here are
some pins finished. You must
nave the first"
And he held toward her a hand
'ul of the now universally known
safety pins
''will they do?" Stephen asked
Inxiously.
She looked Sat them, this first
Judge of his invention, and then
.ried.
'.Yes, grandlyr' She hastily