Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-02
How Jack Simpson
Found Promotion.
nnON'T you like meat now. daddy?"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ISAN L you lihC lCdI INV, uouuy
- Jack Simpson smiled YEARLY at
the question of his little daughter,
Beatrice, and she prattled on without
waiting for an answer. "'Cause you
never have any, you know; and there's
hardly ever anythin' in the cupboard
now. I wants some milk for supper;
please, mamma, let me have some
milk"
mo, no, dearie," said Mrs. Simpson,
a very young and Misunderstanding
mother; here, have this piece of bread
and a drink of water. Come, there's a
good girl; l must take you off to bed
now"
Dearie was put to bed, and when they
were left alone in the kitchen together
dearie's father and mother looked ear
nestly into each others eyes. Then
dearie's father pushed a large knife
across the table and held out both his
hands.
"Cut 'em CIT" he said, hoarsely; no
body wants 'em. There's nothing for
EN- to do. Cut 'em off"
Don't, Jack, don't" she pleaded;
work will come ard we shall pill
round all right. For my sake, do moth
ing desperate, Jack. Don't give UP
hope; you will get work"
and where shall l get work." he
retorted, bitterly. 'eThey have done
with me at Fairlow's and I've tried
and tried-Heaven knows how I've
tried! And I'm getting tired of being
told there's nothing for me; I'm tired
of seeing you getting paler and thin
ner"-she moved closer to him and ran
her fingers through his thick brown
hair-''and I'm tired of hearing our lit
tie girl ask for things, little bits O.
things, we can't give to her. Some
thing will have to be done quickly. |
can't understand Holder; he plays RE
on and off, half promises, and then
says he can't start anyone for weeks.
And he smiles when he says it. Smiles
just like he did when he gave me a
weeks notice with profound regrets,
as he put it, at Fairlow's having no
further use for my services. | hate
him when | think of it. Only yester-
day | begged of him to find me some
thing to do, if only for the sake of you
and the little 'un. He shook mis- head
and said he was sorry, and smiled!
Sometimes l think-why, what's the
matter, JESSE"
Nothing, dear; why do you ask"
Your cheeks-they are red as pop
pies. They remind me of the old days.
All, Jess, dear, what a sad mistake you
made to marry a mere workman"
"a very sad mistake indeed" she
said, as she contradicted the words
with a kiss.
"You might have been Mrs. Who
knoWs-who," he went on, half serious,
half chatting.
'Fd rather be Mrs. I-know-who," she
answered, returning his fond look with
interest; and then, timidly, Jack,
dear, | can't bear to see you looking so
wild and reckless as you did a short
time ago. A little patience will surely
bring us into the sunshine again.
Think how you have striven, with my
poor influence, to lift yourself out of
the rut. Why, here's Mr.. Bernaby to
see you. l wonder if he brings good
news"
But Mr.. Bernaby was in no hurry to
disclose news of any kind whilst she
was present, so she left them to them
selves. Her departure was evidently
a relief to the visitor. He nervously
placed four shillings on the corner of
the table and said that he was sorry
he would not be bringing any more re-
lief from the club. 1t had been stopped
at the last meeting. Couldn't say as
to how his mates had voted against
the small weekly subscription they had
been giving. Couldn't say that he liked
the job of carrying such ~disagreeable
news. Could say as how they was all
sorry, and that they hoped he would
soon get another place. Could say as
how it was NO use trying Holder.
Could also say as how Holder was
slow, but he was sure and he was cum
ming, and surely Jack Simpson had not
forgotten that he, a mere sub-foreman,
had carried off the lovely Jessie Reville
from under his very managers nose.
Could say as how it was a very nasty,
raw evening for anyone to be out, and
that he wished him a very goodnight.
And so, when she came in, she found
Jack still brooding we his wrongs,
with a new light Illuminating their
cause, and wandering nearer and
nearer towards the abyss Of despair.
"Jess." he said, eagerly, Il remember