The Opelousas courier., 1894-05-12
A GOOD BEGINNING.

"Same old story, is itY"
'I've had to tell you Tor the last two
months that / was out Of work and
couldn't pay my rent. That was bad
enough, but now nv Tom is out OF
work, too. He's there on the bed, sir,
and tho doctor says it's a touch OF pneu-
monia."
"You owe two months back rent" he
said as he inspected the poor old furni.
ture and wondered ii it would pay to at
tach it.
"Yes, sir, but if you'll only have q
little patience we'll pay you"
patience won't pay taxes o make
repairs. I'll give you the day to pack
your traps"
"But where will Igow
''Beat some other landlord out Of two
months rent"
II hayen't q shilling in the house and
there lies my sick boy! Give me a week
anyhow. It will be the death of Tom to
be carried out. It's too cold in the room
here, but I've only e 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 I may find
work. If Tom was we'll l wouldn't say a
word, but don't set US out with him so
badly off that the doctor -" q
"Talk to the constables" shouted the
man, as he turned to 60.
"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 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
CO."
That was the way the year opened for
the Widow Flint and her boy Tom. It
was hard times all around. Plenty of
energetic, skillful mechanics were out of
work and behind in their rent, aud
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 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 to get the
doctors prescription filed out at a drug
store, and it was we'll that the boys fever
blunted his appetite, as a loaf Of bread
was the only p~alatable thing in the
house. Neighbors! Yes, plenty of them.
There we're forty families under that roof,
but most of them had little else but
bread. When poverty begins to hunger
poverty is selfish.
It 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-of
stTom, the Lord looks down upon US
all-the poor as we'll as the rich. We
are all in His keeping. Don't doubt His
goodness. It's hard work to be sick aud
and hungering, but if it's our
to bear, we must do it. You
must have medicine, Tom. I'm going
out to see if I can pawn my shawl"
Sand then you can't go out to look
for work."
"But it may ave you"
She went out and walked about for an
hour. but pa%wnbrokers and second hand
clothing dealers were taking a holiday
with rhe rest of the world. She finally
entered a drug store, and asked of the
proprietor, who came forward
rubbing his hands, to take the shawl and
I'LL the prescription.
"Very 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"
"Y-es. just the sort of weather for
pneumonia, and most Of the cases seem
aAnd must he die ffoar the want Of this
"Good-day, ma'am-good-da mo-
ice the Thermometer is down to zero,
md / shouldn't wonder if it would go
before night
She had assured Tom that there was
,nly one God, and that He watched over
he poor as well as the rich, but as she
Rended her way homewards she had to
her doubts. His fever was worse,
md he was ont of bis mind. and all day
ong he moaned and tossed about, and
he could do no more than hold a cup of
to his lips now and then. When
light began to fnll she made up bundle
Toms clothes. They were old. but
# more value than her shawl. If he
lied she would not redeem them; If he
we'll Well, she had saifthat the
lord sometimes raised up o friend for the
and distressed.
"Humphi Four o'clock D. M, and
Jew Years Day, and you not out Of bed
II was Q young man Of 25, who had
ono to bed at 2 o'clock that morning.
lis face was pinched and pale, his eyes
lollow and bloodshot, and one looking
I him might have taken him for an old
nan.
MADE a fool of yourself again last
light, didn't you2n be growled, talking
Q himself as he lay looking around.
old man, do you know that I'm about
to cut your acquaintance A
Dung man Of decent family-plenty Of
loney. good prospects, and yet how are
using yourself2 Champagne, cards,
issipation. Going right to the dogs on
% gallop. At % you feel like q man
( 80. Health, prospects and the whole
utft going to the devil, and what are
gu getting IN exchanged You are the
on Of your father and q high roller
lat's all. When y0u come to figure it
own you are ! champion fool-nothing
=
He lazily turned over, sat up on the