Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-15
The Dark Hour.

| Its no use Becky" said the little lame
cobbler," dropping his head upon his
hands, and looking, as he felt, the person
sication of despair. I've offended the
Lord, somehow, and He won't let me
have chance to keep home over your
heads. know I'm not all l ought to be,
and I'm punished"
Becky went across the room and patted
her husband on the back.
Now, don't take on, Nick, DON'T" she
said. "That can't be, for He, as knows
all, knows how good you are. Better
times Il come. They're sure to; and you'll
be rewarded for all your patience yet.
The darkest hour is just before day."
The cobbler shook his head.
'Ive gin up hope, Becky" he said.
What will the rent and bill for medi-
cine be? 1t was like me to get sick just
at the worst, and no work coming in; and
the new shop with gilt sign tempting
folks from our shabby basement even for
the mending of old shoes. I'm crushed
down. Why, you are as thin and white
as ghost. You haven't tasted meat for
a week, Becky"
No more have you," said Becky. But
la, why there is folks that thinks meat
unhulsome. Wegetarians, Nick, they
call 'em; where l lived out once 1 saw
one"
did he say bread was unwholesome,
too?" asked Nick. "Oh, gal, l wish I'd
left ye living out at service, rosy and
bright and happy; but 1 meant to do
better Il did. If 1 was an able-bodied
man I'd work somehow or somewhere,
but it's the last or nothing with me-
Becky, why didn't you take Tim Rolf,
the wheel-wright, and send the little
limping cobbler about his business?'
q don't like Tim." said Becky" and 1
ust knew how nice and cosy we'd he to-
gether. Never quarrel, Nick. And
how we used to go to Hoboken and have
lemonade in the garden, and come home
after dark, and how we used to go to
church Sunday morning in the clothes as
good as any ones"
used" sighed Nick.
"Why, it can't be all up hill" said
Becky. 81 haven't time to go out gala
wanting now, but la, l don't miss it.
We'er steady married folks now, you
know"
"Oh. Becky" said the cobbler, "you
try to keep up nv heart, but you know
its come to starving"
| They looked at each other, and then
Becky put her arms around her husband.
She did not weep upon his bosom; she
was so big and strong, and he so small
and frall, that 1t only seemed natural to
reverse matters. She hugged him up to
| her shoulder and covered his head over
with her apron, and put her cheek down
outside the bundle thus made, and sooth-
ed and patted him as if he had been ba-
by. But she cried, too, and the apron
was wet through in no time.
1t was sad state of things. No mon
ey, no food, no fire, and winter at its
coldeSt. The children sent to school
breakfastless for the sake of the warmth
and comfort Of the school house. No
work to be had; the little cobbler as
helpless as man well could be, except at
his trade, and Becky's washing stopped
| 1OI I4C6th ClI Oh1N huCH uOm IOuB OJ d
felOn on her hand. But Becky loved the
queer little mortal she had married so
well that she stopped crying first, and
patted and kissed him.
You stay home and mind the place."
she said. I'm going out awhile. Per
haps there will be bit of luck-who
knows?
She put on her bonnet and shawl-such
| Al Il, L l.
for an ironing cloth, and had an iron
shaped scorch between the shoulders
and took up a basket.
| The cobbler looked at her.
Becky" he said, hoarsely; Becky"
She knew just what he meant.
The little children, Nick" she said:
Eve could starve-but them poor little
critters, Nick, it won't seem like begging
when it's for them"
And then the door closed behind her
and poor Nick limped after her as though
to stop her; then paused, and fairly flung
himself down on the floor; wishing he
were under the ground beneath it.
God forgive the man who marries a
woman to starve her. he Sobbed. 'Why,
if I'd known it would have to this, I'd
never courted her. It's time l was dead" ;"
Perhaps being a strange, impulsive lit
tie fellow, there might have been tragic
end to this scene, but that the children
came in from school and began to cry
partly at the sight of their PROSTATE
father, partly because of hunger-and
Nick forgot himself to do what he could
for them.
He had no dinner. but he had a great
deal of love TO give them,and some pieces
of red kid. Only the youngest daughter
chewed the kid. And the fact that
mother and the basket were gone out
together impressed them with with hope
of provisions.
Meanwhile, Becky had gone begging
1t would be horrible, no doubt, she thOt,
to take from strangers; but she found
there was one thing more terrible-not to
take it.
Door after door was slammed in her
face. Once dog was set after her, or
she thought so. Professional beggars
had made themselves nuisances to many
people, and how were they to know real
poverty when it asked alms? Men whom
they had pitied us paupers proved to be
owners of real estate. Cripples and blind
men whom they had aided were found to
have bound up strong limbs and glued
their eyes together so they were hard
on real distress, and refused its broken
, bread.
At six that evening Becky stood at q