The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-06-13
The Dark Hour.

turn up for u.s."
ITS cool night, Robert"
"Cold, yesl But it's not much colder
outside than in. 1t would have been
better for you if you had married John
Tremain,'' he said, bitterly.
"Don't say that, Robert; I've never
regretted my choice"
" Not even now, when there is not
loaf of bread in the house for you and
the children?"
/" Not even now, Robert. Don't be
discouraged. God has not forsaken US.
Perhaps this Christmas eve the tide
will turn and better days may dawn
upon us tomorrow"
Robert Brice shook his head de-
spondingly.
&" You are more hopeful than am.
Day after day | have been in search
of employment; l have called at fifty
places to receive the same answer
everywhere"
Just then little Jimmy, who had been
asleep, woke up.
Mother" he pleaded, won't you
give me piece of bread? 1 am so
hungry"
"There is no bread Jimmy darling"
said the mother, with an aching heart.
When will there be some?" asked
the child, piteously.
Tears came to the mothers eyes.
She knew not what to say.
Jimmy, I'll bring you some bread"
said the father, hoarsely, and he seized
his hat and went to the door,
His wife, alarmed, laid her hand
upon his sleeve. She saw the look in
his eyes and she feared to what step
desperation might lead him.
" Remember, Robert" she said,
solemely, sit is hard to starve, but
there are things that are worse"
He shook off her hand, but not
roughly, and without a word passed
out.
Out in the cold streets! They would
be his only home next he thought.
For brief time longer he had the
shelter of a cherries room in a cold
tenement-house, but the rent would be-
come due at the end of the month and
he had nothing TO meet it.
Robert Brice was a mechanic, COM
petent and skillful. Three years since
he lived in a country village, where his
expenses were moderate, and he found
no difficulty in meeting them. But in
an evil hour he grew tired of his village
home and removed to the city. Here
he vainly hoped to DO better. For
awhile he met with very good success,
but he found his tenement-house in
which he was obliged to live a poor
substitute for the neat cottage which he
had occupied in the country. He saw
his mistake, but was too proud to
60 back.
"Of course | can't have as good &C.
commodations here as in the country
he said, but it is something to live in
and be in the midst of things"
"I'd rather be back again." said his
wife. Somehow the city doesn't seem
like home. There / used to run in and
take tea with neighbor and have q
pleasant social time. Here l know
scarcely anybody"
- You'll get used to it after awhile, y
said her husband.
She did not think so, but did not like
to complain.
But time of great depression came
and with it suspension of business
enterprises. Worked ceased for Robert
his old home he could have turned his
hands to something else, and at the
worst could have borrowed of his neigh
bors till better times. But the friendly
relations arising from neighborhood dc
not exist in the city to the same eXten
as in the country. So day by day hi
went out to seek work, only to find him
self one of large number, all of whom
were doomed to disappointment.
he had been alone he could have go
along somehow, but it was sore tria
to come to a cherries home and pal,
wife and hungry children, with no re
lief to offer them.
When on that Christmas eve Rober
Brice went into the streets he hardl
knew how he was going to redeem tn
promise he had made little Jimmy
He was absolutely penniless and ha
been so for three days. There wa
nothing that he was likely to find to d.
that night.
81 will pawn my coat" he said a
last. a" l can not see my wife and chi
dren starve."
1t was well-worn overcoat, and tina
cold night he needed something NOR
W Keep MN WdIlI, w cuhtucu Wy cl
forced fasting he was more sensitive
the cold, and shivered as he wake
along the pavements.
Eyes" he said, "my coat must g
l know not how | shall get along with
out it, but / can not see the chidre
starye before my eyes"
He was not in general an enviou
man, but when he saw sleek, wei
fed citizens, buttoned up to the throi
in warm overcoats, come out of tn
brilliantly.lighted shops, provided wit
presents for happy children at hom
while his were starving, he su
fered some bitter thoughts upon th
inequality Of fortunes gifts to come
his mind.
Why should they be so happy and /
so miserable?
There was time-he remembered
well-when he too suffered not IL
Christmas eve to pass without buyir
some little gift for Jimmy and Agne
How little he dreamed then they wou
ever want bread.