The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1900-08-31
"THE POOR MANS BURDEN. ,

seven children, says the "Daily Re-
publican, of PhGnixville, Pa, and
does it by day work, is hero and
none dare deny the fact, for no such
denial would be accepted. Last eve
ming the writer met such man, and
he invited him to sit down for a half
hours chat The man had one of his
progeny with him, little girl, we'll
dressed and as hale, hearty and happy
as child could be. "This one," said
the fond parent, sis not the youngest,
as there is baby and five other little
ones at home, and thank God they are
all as hearty as this one, and the old
est is not yet fourteen, think Of that 7"
"Well, tell us about it," said the
writer, anxious for good story, it
was to be about raising and providing
for children. "Well, to begin," said
the fond parent, 81 married while
young, without dollar between me
and the world. Little ones-the poor
mans blessing OF burden which ever
you choose to call it-came to bright
en- our home. All | had in the world
to keep the wolf from the door were
my two hands, and l tell you | made
good use of them, as knew that | dare
not be idle. Good health and plenty
of work blessed me, and l was always
able to carry something home at night
for my wife, She was one who knew
what economy meant, and by our
united efforts we managed to get along
fairly well. Our family kept on in
creasing until now we have seven
mouths to feed. During the dull times
it kept me scratching, as work was
slack and wages poor, but it took just
as much as ever to feed and clothe the
children; and my wife had to have a
new dress or wrap once in while
and it took money, rain or shine. Two
or three years | ran behind hun
dred dollars or so each year but never
lost heart.
FINALLY had the patriarchal num-
Der of seven children to care for, but,
through thick and thin, they have
never missed meal nor wanted for
comfortable clothes And you don't
know how it runs into money to clothe
4 family. A dollar or two will rig one
of the boys out from head to foot, but
not so with a girl. She wants more
and better clothes than boy. Fol-
instance, her shoes will cost three dol.
lars, her hat just as much, and her
dress an equal sum. A fifty-cent hat
a dollar pair of shoes and a dollar suit
will rig a boy out, and he will be hap.
py and look like major general!
But here comes the rub. said the
man. Suppose l get sick and cannot
work, what will become of the good
wife and the seven little folks then
And, suppose again, some of them get
sick and the doctors bills come in,
what then will happen?
"But, thank the Lord, said the
man, my family is healthy and have
nothing to do but feed and clothe
them But look at the awful respon-
sibilty. 1t takes every dollar | can
earn, and then we must live and dress
very plainly. We can't think of lux
uries-of fine clothes. journeys to the
seashore and many other enjoyable
things. 1t means work and save day
in and day out in order to make the
two ends meet. and yet" said the man
with the family, ~ am as happy and
contented as any man in town, and |
would not exchange with the richest
man in Phpnixvillc.
Some day my seven little folks will
be men and women, and then the bur
den will he lifted, and l hope | will
not have to work so hard. 1fmy boys
and girls make good men and women,
l will never regret the years Of toll
and sacrifice l devoted to them, as
they are all have to live for. If
they should not do well, life will then
be a failure for me. Without some
such reward there is indeed little in
life for poor man who raises large
| family, and | am not surprised that
many a man who knows nothing but
toll and privaton gives up in despair
when he sees the children for whom he
has worked so hard doing badly. Then
he has no reward but the rest OF the
grave-a poor reward, indeed, for a
lif, of sclfsacrifce and toll"
Hc-Half past eleven! Gee! Isn't
that clock fast?
She-I think not.
He-Well, guess my watch is
like myself.
She-Why How is that!
Hc-It is slow.
She-But it is not like you.
He-Indeed
She-No. 1t goes.
Lady-"I'm afraid you don't like
work, my good man."
Tramp-"How can | ma'am, as it
killed my wife
Money talks, but some people never
seem to learn the language as well.
The little King of Spain prefers