The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-06-13
cllancnus.



"Il's no use, Becky" said the little lame
cobblcr dropping his head upon his hands
and looking, MS he felt, the pcrsonificaton OF
despair "pve offended the Lord somehow
and He won't let me have chance to keep a
home over our heads. | know Pm not all !
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 he, for He as knows all
knows how good you are Better times'll
come They are sure to, and you will be re-
warded for all your patience yet. The dark
est hour is just before day"
The cobbler shook his head
"Pve given up hope, Becky" he said.
"What with the rent and the bill for medi.
cine 1t was like me to get sick just at the
worst, and no work coming in and the new
shop with the gilt sign tempting folks from
our shabby basement even for the mending
of their old shoes. Pm crushed down. Why,
you are rs thin and white rs ghost. You
haven't tasted meat this week, Becky"
"No more have you," said Becky "But
la why there is folks thinks meat is unhul-
some. Wegetarians, Nick, they call 'cm.
Where lived out once saw one"
"Did he say bread was unhulsome, too ?"
asked Nick. "Oh, gal, wish I'd left We liy-
ing out at service, rosy and happy; but |
meant to do better, did. i'll was an able
bodied man, I'd work somehow or some
where; but it's the last or nothing with me.
Becky, why didn't you take Tim Rolf the
wheclwright, and send the little lmping
cobbler about his busnessY"
81 don't like Tm," said Becky, land Just
knew how nice and cosy we'd be together.
Never n quarrel, Nick. And how we used 10
go to HoDoken and have lemonade in the
garden, and come home after dark after
noon, and how we used to go to church Sun.
day morning in clothesas good as any ones"
Used" sighed poor Nick.
"Why, it can't be all uphill" said Becky.
81 haven't time to go out gallivanting now,
but In, don't miss it. We're steady mar
ried folks, now, you know"
"Oh, Becky" said the cobbler, "you try to
keep up heart, but you know it's come to
starving"
They looked at each other, and then Becky
put her arms about her husband. She did
not weep upon his bosom; she was so big
and strong and he so small and frail, that it
only seemed natural to reverse matters. She
Rugged him up to her shoulder, and covered
his head over with her apron and put her
check down outside the bundle thus made,
and soothed and patted him rs if he had been
II baby. But she cried, too, and the apron
was wet through in no time.
1t was n bad state of things. No money,
no food, no fire, and winter ut it's coolest.
The children sent to school breakmstlcss for
the sake of the warmth and comfort of the
school house. No work to be had the little
cobblcr rs helpless rs man could well be, ex-
ccpt mt his trade, and Becky's washing stop.
ped for heaven only knew how long by a
great fclon in the palm of her right hand.
But Becky loved the queer little mortal she
had married so well, that she stopped cry
ing fret, and picked up his head and patted
it, and kissing him between the cyes-great,
frightened, light blue eyes, that seemed made
for crying.
you stay at home and mind the place, "
she said. "Pm going out awhile. Perhaps
thcre'll be bit of luck-who knows?"
She put on her bonnet and shawl-such II
thin little shawl-which had been used for
an ironing cloth, and had an iron shaped
scorch between the shoulders-and took up
u basket.
The cobbler looked at her.
Becky" he said. hoarsely Becky"
She knew just what he meant.
"The little children, Nick" she said; 1--WE
could starvc-but them poor little critters.
Nick, it won't seem like begging when it's
for them"
And then the door shut behind her-and
poor Nick limped after her, rs though to
stop her then paused, and fairly flung him
self down upon the floor, wishing he were
under the ground beneath it.
God forgive the man that marries wom-
an to starve her." he sobbed "Why, if I'd
known it would have come to this, I'd never
have courtcd her. It's time was dead"
Perhaps being n strange, impulsive little
fellow, there might have been tragic end to
this little scene, but that the children came
in from school and began to cry-partly at
the sight of their PROSTATE father, partly be.
cause of hunger--and Nick forgot himself to
do what he could for them
He had no dinner, but he had great deal
of love to give them and some pieces of red
kid. Only the youngest chewed the
kid, and the fact that another" and the
basket were gone together impressed them
with hope OF provisions.
Meanwhile Becky had gone begging. 1t
would be horrible, no doubt, she thought to
take food from strangers, but she found there
was one thing even more terrible-not to
take IT,.
Door after door was slammed in her face.
Once dog was set at 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
almsP Men whom they had pitied as pau.
pcrs proved to be owners of real estate
Cripples and blind men whom they had aid
cd were found TO have bound up strong
limbs and glued their eyes together-so they
were hard upon real distress and refused il
broken bread.
AT 6 that evening Becky stood mt a street
| corner with one crust in her basket-no
more.
Beyond lay n pawnbrokers shop, and
Becky looked Mt its golden balls and at heI
wedding ring. She had worn IL fifteen years
and it was thin and frail, but pure gold.
Through all she had kept it until now
Must 1t go2 The thought was worse than
begging.
Becky took a step forward, another back
| Then she began to cry little. Nick's ring
that he put on her hand so long ago--oh
dear oh, dear
Bat she grew brave again and walked into
the shop and pawned the ring. 1t was MOI
much they gave her for it, but il would bu,