The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-11-18
OFT OF WORK

you are lucky; for l don't care what
your trade is, you'll find this-that
whether from accident, neglect or fool
ishness. you gel out of harness, it is a
terribly hard job to get in again, for the
simOle reason that for every job that
wants doing, there are two fellows that
are really to do it.
/ had a long spell of lOafipg-I called
it loaiing because l couldn't get a job
but at last was in full swing at some
very good works, and after having my
hands quite soft, and my face clean, l
was really delighted to be knocking the
iron about once more, filing and turning,
getting oily, and then not only having a
good appetite, but something to put in
to my mouth to quiet it.
One day, when | was very busy, mad
who had lately been taken on at our
shop, but whose lathe had been more of
ten idle than going, came up to me with
a green baize bag in his hand.
"Want to buy fiddle. mate?' he said.
"Bah! What should d with fid-
dep | asked.
''Play it and enjoy it," he said. 'it's
good one and will keep you home O. nights
when you might go out and spend your
money"
Then you keep it and enjoy it, Abe
Brown" | said, land spend more o. your
nights at home, and your lathe won't be
so often standing still.
He looked at me rather curously and
slowly pushed the fiddle back into its
green bag, went to his lathe, hung up the
fiddle on a nail and began working, and
| thought no more of him till I'd had my
wash for dinner and turned to my jacket
pocket to see what was there. Nice
piece of salt pork and two-penny
crusty, rolled up in clean cloth along
with an old smelling bottle of mustard
and pill box of salt.
AS l tell you, I'd had rather long
spell of work; now was in full swing
and felt ravcnous. I'd just begun my
dinner in the shop-all the other men
had gone, thuught-when l looked up,
and there was Brown, sitting with his ell
bows on his knees, and his chin i'll his
hands.
Hell :! not going to dinner2" 1 asked.
Anything the matter?"
Yes" he said angrily. "How's a
man to go to dinner without penny in
his pocket? Didn't tell you that had
no money!"
Not you"
Didn't ask you to buy that fiddler"
Chow was | to know?" said. Here,
come on. Have cut along with me.
Help yourself, old man; there's plenty.
After some hesitation he cut himself
morsel of pork and about quarter of the
bread, and then ate a bite, but laid it all
down.
Cant eat" he said, in a dull, heavy
way. Must get some money and go
back. She's very bad.
"Who's very had?' asked
"The missus," he said, laying his head
against the wall. 81 was out of work six
months, and it did it for US both, mate.
Couldn't get job, and when at last
got one here, it was too late like, and the
money seemed no good. I've sat up with
her every night for week, and am
about beat out" .
"Why didn't you say so before?' l
said. II thought you'd been on the
drink" ....
"Drink!' he cried. NO; but I've felt
ready to fly to it, only wouldn't for her
sake. She's been bad for six months,
and the few things l got together have
all gone again. I'd come out to try to
raise little money on the fiddle, for I'd
kept it to the last"
''Look here!' l cried. "What do you
mean by coming and spelling fellows
dinner like thisP"
said it banteringly, so as to hide feel
ing bit queer, for couldn't help think
ing of my own bad times, but he turned
his eyes upon me with such dreary,
wistful look that said:
Here, let's look at the fiddle"
He fetched it from where it hung, took
it out, drew the bow across the strings,
and it was wonderful what sweet. sad
tone it had.
Its good one," he said, smiling at
it as if he loved it, Il think it's Italian,
but they only offered me five shillings on
it at the shop and would not let them
have it."
Chow much did you want?' 1 said,
taking the shabby thing in my hand.
II wanted to get two pounds" he said,
"but if you would let me have one for it
/ shOuld-I should"
He choked like and turned away, and
started after him, thinking he was play
acting to humbug me; but it seemed all
real enough, and somehow, from sort
of acknowledging for a chap in despair,
like might be myself, if I'd had five
pounds he might have had it all. AS it
was, pulled out my old leather purse,
where l had got sovereign, half and
eleven shillings in silver. So put back
one of the shillings, and clapping him on
the shoulder, said
Here you are, Brown. l don't want
no fiddles, but there's couple of pounds
hard earnings from one who knows what
it is to be out of work. Catch hold, and
1 shall keep the fiddle till times are bet
ter" ..... . ...
He turned upon me quite fiercely,
clutched at the money and made for the
door, but the next moment he was back
again to get hold of my hand.
"God bless you, mattel" he said, and he
gave me such look with those wild
eyes of his as made me SILVER.
poor old chap" said, beginning to
whistle as put the fiddle in the bag, and
then, trying to forget all about it, went
on with my dinner.
The first mouthful of two wouldn't go
down, but the third would, and feeling
bit light-hearted at having done fellow
good turn, l finished that cold pork and
bread to he last bit, and shook the crumbs
out of the window to the sparrows that
were waiting. / began to wonder what
my wife would say, for I'd promised to
go with her the next day to buy bit of
drugget for our floor, for she said that
now work seemed to be better we might
treat ourselves to bit of carpet for our
feet
''Strikes me I've put my foot in it." 1
said to myself, and then began to won
der what she'd say.