The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-12-27
800 ITTVIT TTTTD0

" 81 door of a fourth floor room
and looked into the face
OF woman whose cheeks had grown
white as she heard his step on the
landing.
"i'un sorry, sir, but
Same old story, is it?"
1--WE had to tell you for the last two
months--that was out of work and
couldn't pay my rent That was bad
enough, hut now my Tom is out of
work, too. He's there on the bed, sir,
and the doctor says it's a touch of
pneumonia"
You owe two months back rent"
he said as he inspected the poor, old
furniture and wondered if it would
pay TO attach it,
Yes, sir, but if you'll only have a
little patience well pay you"
Patience won't pay taxes nor make
repairs. I'll give you the day to pack
your traps.
But where will I go?'
BEAT some other landlord out of
two months rent"
Il haven't a 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 20 use it more carefully
shan 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
word, but don't set us out with him
so badly off that the doctor
Talk to the consta Dles!" shouted
the man as he turned to go.
But, sir, ii 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
as they are ready to give up"
Cant stop-talll to the constable
two months back rent or out you go"
That was the way the year opened
for 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 outlook. Tom might have
kept his place at three dollars per
week ii the box factory, but the want
of proper food and clothing had made
him susceptible to exposure and
b1 ,ught him low, There wasn't money
enough in the house to get the doc
tors prescription filed at a drug store,
and it was well that the boys fever
blunted his appetite, as a loaf of bread
was the only palatable thing in the
fouse. 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 self
ish.
1t makes people selfish to herd them
together. The sight of each others
restitution blunts all sentiment.
>'But-TIe's like the mayor, amt he
never noticing anybody but well-off
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 bungcring, but
if it's our burden to bear we must do
it. You must have medicine, Tom. I'm
going out to sec if | can pawn my
shawl"
And then you can't go out to look
for work"
"But i may save you
She went out and walked about for
an hour but pawnbrolsers and second
hand clothing dealers were taking a
holiday with the rest of the world.
She f@0l!y entered a drug store, and
Gskc' & JAe urbane proprietor, who