, 1892-02-26
THROWN OUTOFAJO OF
HOW A DISCHARGE AFFECTS DIFF
FERENT MEN IN A BIG CITY.

Heroic Struggle of Joe" who Is but n
tunsto Fellow Looking for work-How
Others Take tho Sad News
Joo's envelope said simply:
The house regrets it can no longer
offer you employment, but its reasons
do not hinge upon your competency,
and we take occasion to thank you for
good work for us, wishing you we'll"
Joe thought to hide the message from
John as he passed out-John had worked
at his elbows for months-but he didn't.
John followed him out and said:
Stout heart, old fellow. You'll have
a better job in a week. IL | can do you
a favor, call on me. My turn next, l
imagine"
Joe walked the streets for hours, then
went home to his wife and babies not
less surely years older than when he had
left them in the morning. He has fixed
his purpose, and will hew to it. He
takes the usual trinkets to the children,
a trife of some sort to his wife, and
gives her. as is his rule, the weeks earn
ings. Then he acts for the first time in
his life-he romps and carouse with
Flora until she believes he is as much q
child as herself, and his wife watches it
all from her sewing table and wonders
If she was ever as happy in the old
counting days as she is now.
And Joe's heart is heavy under it all.
for he determines that they shall not
know of his bad luck until he has anoth-
er job. He is hurt, Inundated, repulsed
he feels that the house has clipped him
off because it could spare him more cas-
lily than any one of the hundred odd 9TH
ers that it has retained.
But that little wife sitting there with
her head full of belief in me mustn't
know-she must believe me all | seemed
to be-"
WORN AT LAST.
He looks for work ten hours a day for
a week Inc doesn't lind it. Saturday he
pawns his watch for a weeks wages and
carries it home, telling them that his
watch had been stolen from him, but
that he had a clew to the thief and that
Inspector Byrnes would catch him in a
few days. He says to himself hat fate
stole it from him, but he keeps up the
play bravely and with fortitude answers
the evening queries of the home ones
hbodl ndCbhcl thCJ Hdfo lOulu tI6
watch. The next two weeks are tided
e by selling the Building and Loan
stock. Then he borrows another weeks
pay of a friend.
Every morning he starts Ito work" at
the regular hour; every evening he re-
turns. They go to the theater; they buy
some needed and long promised clothes;
they pay their regular missionary money
and church fees-for Joe is playing a
desperate hand now. but with an insane
sort Of GOODNESS. Something asks him
over and over again every day, Where
will it end?" but Joe just sets his lips q
little harder and don't reply even in
thought.
His encyclopedia goes next. He loans
it to a friend down town at the office, SO
he tells them at home. Joe can't eat
heartily this week. He watches his wife
and children's lightheartedness some
thing like a brute would do-stoically,
unmoved. He tells Amy to drink his cup
of tea; he has no appetite, and don't want
it. Then he is for the first time in his
life affected with satan's specially ok
ported article of disease-insomnia. He
sits for hours watching his family as they
sleep, and he feels a heavy weight slowly
settling upon his brain that he cannot
understand the meaning of.
Next day he finds another position, and
his wife doesn't understand why he gives
way so completely for the first time in
his life and cries like a child while tell
ing her of it.
oTHER TYPES
There are just a few Joes in this world
not too many.
Clarence Harvey tells his wife about
it as soon as he gets home. He is sure
he knew the Internal job wouldn't hold
out long anyhow. Plenty more, though
you just have to have a little gall; and
next day Clarence has another job. A
little less pay. to be sure, but then" he
argues. Its only for n week or so-In
strike a better n the first thing you
know. You don't down me-not this
year"
Jim Burton, the clerk, loses his job.