Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-12-29
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n " /ELL," impudently queried
MN the man as he stood in the
W "a door of fourth floor room
and looked into the face
OF woman whose checks had grown
white as she heard his step on the
landing.
I'm 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 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 go?"
BEAT some other landlord ont of
two months rent"
itANSii Il SillillLtS III bhO iiOuoO
and there lies my sick boy! Give me
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 l may find
work. If Tom was well l wouldn't say
word, but don't set us out with him
SO badly off that the doctor"
Talk to the consta bles!" shouted
the man as he turned to go.
But, sir, if you would only let us
stay another week Pm 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-talk to the consta BILE
two months back rent or out you CO."
That was the way the year opened
for Widow Flint and her boy Tom.
1t was hard times all around. Plenty
of energetic, slsillful 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 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 doc
tors prescription filled at drug store,
and it was well that the boys fever
blunted his appetite, as loaf of bread
was the only palatable thing in the
Eouse. 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 their poverty is self
ish.
1t makes people selfish to herd them
together. The sight of each others
destitution blunts all sentiment.
"But-Ile's like the mayor, amt he
never noticing any body but well-off
folks"
tom, 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 and freezing and hungering, but
If it's our burden to bear we must do
it. You must have medicine, Tom. Pm
going out to sec 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 pawnbrolsers and second
hand clothing dealers were taking a
holiday with the rest of the world.
She lnully entered drug store, and
EskeS es the urbane proprietor, who