The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-27
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Continued from Page Fourteen)
II, however, until he had canvassed the
last of the forlorn hopes that were
offered. Meanwhile, his family con-
tinued to live in the same comfort
r~.that characterized their happier days
safeed Mrs. Rainor was a woman who
So Nd known a little of everything good
" nre gives, and nothing of want and
4 poverty. The lack of money was an
incomprehensible desideratum-a bug
bear, perhaps, and surely an abstrac-
ton. There must be money in the
family purse because there had al
ways been money there. The two
daughters, Alice and Hoida, had lived
under the same system and were
worthy offspring of their mother.
They were, however, rich in grit, as
later appeared.
Rainor said nothing as the thousands
which came from a mortgage on their
house melted. Indeed according to his
theories, it were shame to admit the
loss of his competency. He must
manage in some other way. Finally,
however, the end came, and when
string of pearls and mask ball had
exhausted the thousands to a few
lISlIlDIlLSs uISd@S uuHuESuS, ne Called
a family council, and in the hour OF
his misery and shame explained mat
ters..
Good women are ever heroic. Mrs.
Rainor and her daughters were so.
Like Mathilde Loisel the women ac-
cepted the situation, meeting it with
few tears, they sold the house, paid
the mortgage, and with few hundred
bought a cheap cottage on a shabby
street away in an questionable
| suburb. Unaccustomed to the exist
ence of the needy, the women at first
A made many mistakes; but before
spring came the absolute lack of dol
lars, and increased skill at coping in
timately with potatoes, cabbage, meat.
soiled clothing. bad plumbing, and
laughty rooms, taught them their
S,A&y. Rainor. for his part, was learn
ing to live in seedy garments and walk
downtown gloveless and caneless. He
seldom used the street-car and often
took solitary luncheon at dairy
restaurant where almost enough could
be bought for ten cents.
With charity at last staring him in
the face Rainor swallowed his pride,
brushed his threadbare coat one day,
and started to see Mr.. Cfaiborn. When
he had recounted his tale of woe, the
old president was much moved. In
day he had him clerking in his broth
er-in-law's grocery-store. A sudden
and terrible fall, but CIaiborn could
do no better, and Rainor made no
complaint.
Side by side with Jacko and others,
older and younger, of the same caste
and caliber, Rainor took his place.
An 1rif -
like ages in purgatory. Accustomed
to refinement and it's essential life
exotic, esthetic-the grocery doors
sickened him; unused to arduous
physical toll, Rainor was worn out
with the constant hustle that over !
taxed his undeveloped muscles. At
middle age it is hard for man to re-
adjust his energies from mental TO
physical labor. 1t was doubly hard :
for Rainor because he had never been /
| taught to work with his hands; and it
was all newt was learning every
Ching from weighing lard to moving
IPgar-barrels Then, although he told
\ tmself he was doing right most COM
mendably he was forced to wait upon
many who had known him in the old
days. That was the most exquisite
torture of all. Sometimes, as he talked
obsequiously with them. their tones
no longer deferential but curt and
ragged, a sick pang shot over him and
he grew faint and dizzy.
Old Graham. proprietor, knowing
something of the man and his battle,
helped him all he could; but being a
businessman, he could not offer Rainor
wages that even a grocery-clerk should
command. In fact, Rainor wasn't
-sor-~h of hi r1cy- md hn
would never be worth any more.
As the weeks stole along Rainor be-
gan to hope for an increase in wages.
1t did not come. He grew nervous and
fell behind in his egg-packing. Under s
the fear that his earnings would not
be increased he grew thin. Some days
he was good for very little, and the
husky clerks about him laughed at his !
hopeless efforts. Always when he got !
home there were bills staring him in
the face. and needs even more serious
than the bills He asked Mrs. Ratnor
finally to keep them till breakfast-time
for him, because, after a hard days
work the additional worry spoiled his
sleep. He noticed, now, that his wife
eAld daughters, although they played I
their parts coura geously enough be- 7
fore him. were thin, pale, cherries,
and poorly dressed. They needed /
things he could not buy-necessities to e
women raised in their station. He a
must have more money. Graham must
pay him more wages
His interview with Mr.. Graham, I
however, was far from being salts r
factory, though the old grocer tried f
to be kind. And somehow. without the G
telling in mere words, Rainor came to i