Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-01

manned dark, Somber, forb1ddlnR
prospect, unrelievcd by Z single ray of
light.
John regretted the loss of his money
now as he had never regretted it before,
and no opinion he could form of him |
self, however low and debasing, was
spared him. With that money all safe
ly at hand he and his family could pass
unpinched through the coming winter,
the farm. But regretting did no good, and
so Mary told her husband, though she
was far from free of it herself.
The Greens were not the only family
that were thus placed in a precarious
position. Nearly all the settlers in that
section were victims of the Paradise
Park boom, and now found themselves
stranded. Very few of them had three
months supply of provisions on hand,
and none of them had money. The
farms were all under mortgage to the
eastern capitalists, so they could not
borrow money, and it was useless to
think of earning anything in that part
of the country, for there was no en-
ployment to be had.
In this state of affairs somebody
called a meeting of the settlers at
Marllham's store, and when the day
came around John Green went over to
see what could be done. There were
twenty-five or thirty other men there,
all with sad, bronzed faces and qualling
hearts. The men spoke together in low,
earnest tones. There was none of the
joking and laughing in which men thus
assembled usually indulge. Not
smile disturbed the gloom that hung
over the meeting. No hopeful light
kindled in the eyes of the poor settlers.
1t was solemn occasion and weighty
matters occupied the thoughts of all
that gathering of stouthearted pioneers.
Before them and their families they
saw nothing but starvation, and it is not
to be wondered that their checks were
blanched and their eyes dull and heavy
with anxiety and fear.
| The situation was discussed in all it's
phases, and innumerable plans of action
suggested. Some favored giving up
the land and moving away, but great
many like Green were too poor to go,
and knew of no place where they could
better their condition, even if they
were able to make the change. After
a great many had given their opinions
some one called on Green to speak.
Men," Green began as he arose, 1--WE
|
hard to find any way out We have
nothing but our claims, and unfortu-
natcly they are in the grasp of the
money Shyloclls of the east. The ma
iority of us are little better than pau
pers. We have no money, we have no
provisions, and our land, the only pos
session we have, is being devOurcd day
by day by that gormand, high interest.
The country in all this part of the state
is in desolation, and there is nothing for
us to do to earn bread for ourselves and
families. Yet we must eat or die, and
we cannot starve. We must find some
way of earning LIVELIHOOD
''That's so,'' said some one, ''but how
is it to be done?'
"That's what am coming to- John
replied; ''but, after ell, my suggestions
may not be worth much. There are
some men here who have friends in the
east who are able and willing to aid
them. Those men can get means to
tide them over the present difficulties,
or, if they prefer, can return east with
their families. Those who are thus
fortunately situated need have no
anxieties and fears. But there are
some of us who are less fortunate and
who have no one to look to for as
sistancc. We who arc in that condition
must have recourse to our own ener-
gies. We must earn a living, and,
since we cannot do that here, VIC must
go where it can be done. In short,
mon, we must leave our families here
and go back east in search of work.
Back in eastern Kansas and in Missouri
employment can be had at some wages,
and even if VIC earn but little we ought
IL E
our families alive
When Green sat down several others
spoke, all in ENDORSEMENT OF his plan,
and at last it was agreed to by the
meeting. 1t seemed hard thing to go
away leaving the wives and the chill
dren out there on the bare, brown
plains, without friends or money; but
there was no alternative. 1t was chat
or worse. So it was agreed that on the
following Monday all those who wished
to go east in search of employment
should meet at Marzham's store and
start from there in body.
After the meeting John went home
and informed his wife of the proposed
plan. Her face paled as he spoke, and
the tears started to her eyes, but with
an effort she controlled her feelings, and
true to her nature attempted to look
cheerfully ON the arrangement.
II regret having to leave you and
Louise thus John said, but l see no
way to avoid it, and besides the separa-
ton will not last long"
'Never mind us, John,' said Mary.
eve shall get along all right We shall
miss you and feel lonely while you are
away, but we shall look forward to the
time when you will come back to us,
and the autumn and the winter will
soon pass. Cheer up, dear John, and
1on't worry on our account
CHAPTER XIII
MISFORTUNEs DO NOT COME sINGIA.
1t was Tuesday that the meeting OF
settlers took place at Markhams store,
and all day Wednesday Mary Green
busted herself arranging Johns cloth