The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-11-01
Her WinterCOat
By SAM.

tsAND now I'll get me beautiful
Acoat," Nellie told me, last week,
while telling the story of her life.
She was brought up on farm not
far from Houston, Texas. She was
one of six children working on her
fathers farm when George came
along.
81 hardly had any education, I was
too busy on the farm, and l hardly
knew what was doing outside of our
town"
She is far from being called even
fair looking. And she knows it. She
knew it all the time.
And that's why she was glad when
George came along.
"To be truthful, 1 never cared for
him, but 1 did not want to remain
all my life on the farm"
George was mill worker in the
nearby saw-nill and was sick and
tired of his job. He expected to save
up a sufficient sum of money and
open up a small business place, and
become independent.
And that's why he married Nell.
He knew that the sturdy farm girl
will help him to get thru. She was
no sr2nder.
In q ut a year after they got
MARI. came Bob. A great deal OF
the savings went to the doctor, and
for other expenses.
But now there was a reason to
work much harder. And they did.
Both.
George worked like mule. And
the foreman liked it. He gave him
hope. Nellie did all she could to save.
And then followed a period of sick
ness. First Bobby, then Nellie. 1t
took almost all the savings.
George saw his dreams shattered.
He lost interest in his work. But he
did not quit. Neither did he take to
drink.
But the foreman saw him Stacking
down, and reprimanded him several
! times, then he swore at him. And
that was more than George could
bear. He hit the boss in the face.
Of course he could not go back to
work in the same mill.
"And besides l noticed he did not
really care to find work." she added.
One day last winter he disappeared
altogether.
She waited all winter for him to
return, but he did not. He never even
wrote.
''Then | was sure he deserted me.
But, we'll, never did care for him
anyway. Only, I had to take care of
Bobby"
So she sold everything she had,
and came to Houston. Here she
thought she will find work and bring
up Bob properly.
She arranged with woman in the
neighborhood to take care of Bobby
for $500 week, and began to look
for work.
At the end of three weeks she
found job in tin shop. All her
work consisted of is placing pieces
of tin into a machine, which turned
them into cans.
| She was receiving $1,000 to $1,000
week.
But she could live on little. Three
years with George taught her that.
It was much easier later, when
with the help of the neighbors she
placed Bobby into a home. Some
sort of day nursery.
And after buying some dresses for
herself, and a lot of worthless suits
for Bob she began to save up for a
decent winter coat.
Winter is not severe in Houston,
but an overcoat is necessary.
Then she worked few weeks over
time till 8, 9 p. m. and she really be-
gan to look into the windows of the
department stores for a suitable coat.
"And now I'll get a beautiful
coat" she concluded.
Last Saturday night she woke up
to find Bobby in high fever. She
could hardly wait till morning to
bring doctor.
There is something wrong with
his lungs, and he must have an i'm
mediate operation on his tonsils,"
said the doctor, pocketing the two
dollars.
Of course she had to quit her job
TO take care of the sick child.
Tomorrow she is taking him to the
hospital.
"There goes my overcoat," she told
me.