Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-01-25
4 GOOD BEGINNING.


a. he stood In the door of fourth floor
room anil looked into the face of womar
whose cheeks had grown white as she
''I'm sorry, sir, but"
''Same old story, is iti"
'I've 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 tho doctor says it's touch OF pneu-
monia."
"You owe two months back rent" he
said az he inspected the poor old furni-
ture and wondered il it would pay to at
tach 1t.
"Yes, sir, but il you'll only have a
little patience we'll pay you"
''Patience won't pay taxes nor make
repairs. I'll give you the day to pack
your traps"
''But where will go2'
''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
here, but I've only little coal and have
to use it 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. If Tom was well wouldn't say a
word, but don't set US out with him so
badly of that the doctor -"
"Talk to the constables" shouted the
man, as he turned to 90.
"But, sir, If you would only let US
stay another week, I'm sure you wouldn't
lose by it. There's such a thing as the
Lord raising up friend for the widow
and the fatherless just when they are
ready to give up"
"Can't stop-talk to the constable
two months back. rent or out you
CO."
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 mechanics were out of
work and behind in their rent, and
dealers and manufacturers who generally
had plenty of work to give out were
holding back to watch the business out
look. Tom might have kept his place
at 50 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 to- get the
doctors prescription filled out at drug
store, and it was we'll that the boys fever
blunted his appetite, as loaf of bread
was the only palatable thing in the
house. Neighbors! 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 des-
titution blunts all sentiment.
"But-he's like the mayor, amt he
never noticing anybody but well-off
folks2"
"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 hungering, but If it's our
burden to bear, we must do it. You
must have medicine, Tom. I'm going
out to see il can pawn my shawl"
"And then you can't go out to look
for work."
''But it may save you.'
She went out and walked about for an
hour. but pawnbrokers and secondhand
clothing dealers were taking 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
ill the prescription.
Every sorry, you know, but we
couldn't do it," he replied. Medicines
are cash, and the shawl is old and thin
and not worth anything"
"But my Tom is threatened with
pneumonia, SIR"
ayes. Just the sort of weather for
pneumonia, and most Of the cases seem
to prove fatal"
'And must he die for the want of this
medicinel"
''Good-day, ma'am-good-day. no
tice the thermometer is down to zero,
and shouldn't wonder if it would 60
lower before night"
She had assured Tom that there was
only one God, and that He watched over
the poor as well as the rich, but as she
wendell her way homewards she had to
combat her doubts. His fever was worse,
and he was out of his mind. and all day
long he moaned and tossed about, and
she could do no more than hold cup Of
water to his lips now and then. When
night began to fall she made up bundle
of Toms clothes. They were old. but
of more value than her shawl. IL he
died she would not redeem them; il he
got we'll Well, she had said that the
Lord sometimes raised up friend for the
poor and distressed.
"Humphl Four o'clock D. m, and
New Years Day, and you not out of bed
yeti"
1t was a young man OF 25, who had
gone to bed at 2 o'clock that morning.
His face was pinched and pale, his eyes
hollow and bloodshot, and one looking
at him might have taken him for an old
man.
"Made fool of yourself again last
night, didn't you2" he growled, talking
to himself as he lay looking around.
"Old man, do you know that I'm about
ready to cut your acquaintance A
young man OF decent family-plenty OF
money, good prospects, and yet how are
you using yourself2 Champagne, cards,
dissipation. Going right to the dogs on
the gallop. At 25 you feel like q man
Of so. Health, prospects and the whole
outfit going to the devil, and what are