The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-05-08
DISCHARGED



hard day today"
She brought him his carpet slippers as usu-
al; and then as he was washing up at the tiny
kitchen sink, she busted herself in putting the
evening meal on the table. There was baked
potatoes creamed carrots, and new onions.
Bread of course, with-no, not butter; 1t had
been years since either one of them tasted but
ter-Gem Nut: something just as good; and
cup of Postum for drink While they ate she
talked of this and that. OF the old couple on
the floor below Poor Mr.. Grey was still look
ing for employment. Mrs. Grey was so de-
spondent Their money was nearly all gone.
1t must be awful to be out of job.
aren't we lucky you have steady work,
Tom? What would we do if you didn't"
No. he wouldn't tell Sara just yet. Better
wait. wait.
He helped as was his custom, wash the dish
es. Thank God, tomorrow was Sunday He
would have day in which to think things over.
In the morning they went to church. It was
nice church. There was a stained glass win
dow with a picture of Jesus as a shepherd
minding flock of sheep. And below it mem
orial of rich communicate who had died and
left the church some money. All during the
service his eyes brooded on the picture of Jesus
Jesus caring for his flock. With every nerve
and fibre of his being he was praying: Lord,
help me find job. job. :"
Mr.. Grey came in during the evening. 1.-TWO
i
''but things are aWfuly slack"
Tom tried to cheer himself up by remember
ing that Grey was a sufferer from chronic rheu-
matism or something and could only take GER
tain jobs. Perhaps he himself would have bet
ter luck. He would take anything. any
thing.
In the morning he arose as usual and start
ed off as if to work; but once beyond his own
street he loitered uncertainty. 1t had been so
long since he had had RI search for iOh that
he was at loss what to do next. Finally at
downtown newsstand he bought morning
paper and scanned the want ads. His heart
sank as he read them.
Wanted: Old Man to Work for Keep"
WANTED Elderly Man to do Light Chores
for Room and Board"
There were scores of such advertisements as
these, but they were of no use to him. At last
he found one that seemed to hold out some
promise. A department store only two blocks
away was in need of a middle-aged man as
porter. Just the thing the superintendent had
advised him to get! He felt his spirits tighten.
"Oh you'll have to see Mr.. Jewett,' said the
head clerk to whom he applied, che does all
the hiring. He won't be down until ten tho"
Ten o'clock came. Eleven. Eleven-thirty.
He asked the head clerk timidly: "Is Mr.. Jew
EFT in YETI"
'Mr. Jewett has phoned that he won't be
down until after lunch" said the head clerk.
Better call back about two. You'll catch him
then sure"
With his spirits no longer light, Tom sat
down on a bench by the Civic Center and ate
his lunch. At two he went back to the de-
partment store. Mr.. Jewett was a fat, pros
porous looking man of about forty, with two
chins and cigar that jutted aggressively from
a corner Of his pursy mouth.
Sorry. Nothin' doin.' You're too old"
''But I'm pretty strong. If you would give
me a trial. :"
Good day." said Mr.. Jewett politely. CLOSE
the door as you go out"
On heavy feet Tom dragged himself back to
the bench by the Civic Center. He bought an
early evening edition. contractor was ad-
vertising for twelve pick and shovel men for
an excavation job on Broadway. He had to
take street-car to get there. That cost seven
cents. The foreman looked him over scorn-