Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-11-14
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hard" said the thin woman with the
wet apron, busting chair for her
visitor. Wont you please sit down
Certainly he amt workin' now, but q
Job is hard to get, an he's q man who
won't take everything that comes along
1t was too confinin' for him, that last
Job-somethin' fierce; an the man he
was workin' for didn't treat him right
My husbands man that's got sper-
rit, an he won't let nobody run over
him. No, he's not workin' now, but he
would be if he found a job to suit
him."
What Is his trader" asked the Wis
itor.
We'll, ma'am, can't rightly say that
he's got any pertickler trade" replied
the thin woman. Hes what you might
call a handy man. There amt nothin'
that he can't turn his hand to If he's
mind to, but as for workin at any
one trade regular it's somethin' that he
amt never done. One thing, if a man
has trade he most always has to
belong to one O them unions, an YOU
know an | know that union man
has got to do just the way his union
says. My husban's toe independent to
let any union run him."
How long did he work at this last
job he had?" inquired the visitor.
'Three days"
"And how long was he out of work
before he got that job?"
well, it must ha' been close on TO
three months, ma'am Not but what
he tried. He'd go out in the mornin'
an sometimes be gone all day Iookin'
for work. But it's hard to find. 'sne-
cially any work at pays livin' wages.
He might have got somethiI' at a dol
lar an quarter or a dollar an half
a day, but he don't b'lieve in encour-
agfn' low wages. He's man nd sooner
suffer himself than do thae IT'S the
principle of it. If he can't get what his
works worth he won't work at all.
That's what he says, an l say he's
right"
How do you manage to get along.
them" asked the visitor.
WELL" said the thin woman, 81
most ginerally get about all l can do.
with the washin' an the scrubbin'. 1t
amt much for pay, but it's better than
nothin' at all. An then the bow is
a-workin' over in the tannery, an he
brings in So week-an they saw it's
wholesome work in them tapneries
Then the society has been good to me
an helps me out at a pinch One way
an another we get along. though we're
behind with the rent now. In another
year the girl will be able to go out an
bring in a little somethin', though it's
the truth 1 don't know what l will be
doing without her to take care of the
small children. l guess they will have
to kind Of look after one another"
You say your husband is a handy
man?" said the visitor
THAT he is. As | say, there amt
nothin' he can't turn his hand to. I'll
show you the elegant wash bench he
made for me if you'll step into the
kitchen"
do you think he would like to do
the janitor work in small building?
l think l can get him the position"
The thin woman looked a little doubt
full. iii ask him." she said. Il don't
know whether he would fancy that. to
tell you the honest truth. for there's
scrubbin' an window cIeanin' an such
about janitor work, an that's more Of
a womans job. Mebbe / could help
him out on that part Of it, though,
while ne did the rest of it. When he
wakes up I'll ask him. and very much
obliged to you, ma'am."
as he asleep?" asked the visitor.
The thin woman blushed a little.
do you mean that he's been drink
ing?" asked the visitor, severely.
The thin woman bridled. IF he has
taken drop or two don't know but
It's his right" she said III be earns