The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-04-28

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fourth floor room and looked into the
face OF woman whose cheeks had
grown white as she heard his step on
the landing.
'Vm sorry, sir, but"
Same old story, is it,"
"Pye had TO tell you for the last
two months that / was out Of work
and couldn't pay my rent. That was
bad enough. but now my Tom is out
Of work. too He's there on the bed,
sir, and the doctor says it's touch
OF pneumonia"
"Yon owe two months back rent"
he said a. he inspected the poor old
furniture and wondered if it would
pay TO attach it,
yes, sir, but il you'll only have
little patience We'll pay you"
patience went pay taxes nor make
repairs. I'll give you the day TO pack
your traps"
But where will l go?"
''Beat some other landlord out OF
two months rent"
II haven't shilling in the house
and there lies my sick boy! Give me
a week anyhow. 1t will be the death
of Tom to be carried out. It's too
cold in the room he e, but I've only
a little Goa and have TO use il more
carefully than you do gold"
"You can talk TO the constables
when they come; I'm sick and tired
Of hearing these yarns"
''Before the week is out / may find
work. II Tom was we 1 wouldn't
say a word, but don't set Us out with
him so badly off that the doctor"
Talk to the constables!" shouted
the man, as lie turned TO 90.
"But, sir, il you would only let us
stay another week, I'm sure you
wouldn't loose by it. There's such a
thing as the Lord raising up a friend
for the widow and the fatherless Just
when they are ready to give up"
Cant stop-talk TO the constable
two months back rent or out you
GO"
That was the way the year opened
for the Widow Flint and her boy
Tom. 1t was hard times all around.
Plenty Of energetic, skillful mechan-
les were out OF work and behind in
their rent and dealers and manu-
facturers who generally had plenty OF
work TO give out were holding back
70 watch the business outkslk. Tom
might have kept his place at SO per
week in the box factory, but the want
OF proper food and clothing had made
him susceptible TO exposure and
brought him low. There wasn't
money enough in the house 10 get
the doctors prescription filed out at
the drug store, and 1t was well that
the boys fever blunted his appetite,
as loaf of bread was the only pal
atable thing in the house. Neigh
bors. Yes, plenty Of them. There
were forty families under that roof,
but most Of them had little else but
bread. When poverty begins TO
hunger their poverty is selfish.
1t makes people selfish TO herd
them together. The sight of each
others destitution blunts all senti-
ment
'But-he's like the mayor, amt he
never noticing anybody but we'll
of folks?"
Tom, the Lord looks down upon
us all-the poor as well as the rich.
We are all in His keeping. Don't
doubt His goodness. It's hard work
to be sick and freezing and hunger
ing, but If it's our burden To bear we
must do it. You must have medi-
cine, Tom. I'm going out to see if
can pawn my shawl"
And then you can't 90 out TO look
for work"
"But it may save you"
She went out and walked about for
an hour but pawn-brokers and second
hand clothing dealers were taking a
holiday with the rest OF the world.
She finally entered drug store, and
asked OF the urbane proprietor. who
came forward rubbing his hands to
take the shawl and fill the prescrlp-
tion.
Very sorry. you know, but we
couldn't do it," he replied. "Medi
cines are cash and the shawl is old
and thin and not worth anything"
But my Tom Is threatened with
pneumonia, sir"
"Y-e $ Just the sort Of weather
for pneumonia, and most OF the cases
seem 10 prove fatal"
"And must he die for the want a.
this medicine?"
Good day, ma'am-good day.
notice the thermometer is down
zero, and shouldn't wonder IL
would 90 lower before night"
She had assured Tom that there
was only one God, and that He
watched over the poor as we'll as the
rich. but as she wended her way
homewards she had 70 combat her
doubts. His fever was worse, and ne
was out of his mind, and al day long
he moaned and tossed about, and she
could do no more than hold cup OF
water 10 his lips now and then.
When night began TO fall she made
up a bundle of Toms clothes They
were old. but OF more value than her
shawl IL he died she would not Re-
deem them. III he got wall Well