Year: 1862

But our house rent q


Trust nc for that Tho landlord shall
not turn us out. fyou will engage to get
something to do, will sec that we have our
house room


4 will make one more trial uttered Peter
despairngly.


But yon must 60 prepared to do anything.


Anything reasonable, Maria


what do you call reasonable" "
| why anything decent
! The wife felt inclined to smile, but the mat
ter was too serious for that and q cloud
passed over her face. She knew her hus
band's dispositon and she felt sure he would
| find no work. She knew he would look for
some kind Of work that would not lower him
in the social scale, as he had once expressed
it, However she knew it would be of no use
| to speak to him Mow and she let the matter
pass.


! On the following morning. the last bit of
food was put on the table. Stanwood conld
| hardly realize that he was pcnn1ess and
without food For he had been gay thought
less and fortunate, making the most Of the
present, forgetting the past. and leaving the
future to taI.c care Of itscf Yet the truth
was naked and clear. and when be left The
house lie said something must be done
No sooner had the husband gone out than
Mrs. Starwood put on her bonnet and shawl.
Her eldest child was g; girl Of seven years old;
and her Youngest four.
She asked her next door ncighbor if s
would take care of her children until noon.
These children were known to be good and
quiet, and they were taken chccriully. Mrs.
Stangood locked the house and went away
She returned at noon, bringing some dinner
for her children. and then wcnt away. She
came home in the evening before her hus
band, carrying a heavy basket upon her arm


We'll, Peter she asked after her husband
had entered and sat down, what luck z;


NotLing nothing he groancd 4 have
made out to get dinner from an Cd chun,
but could find no work


and where hare you looked to-day 2


oh, every where, | have been to Il humid
rcd places but it is the samo in every place,
It is nothing but one eternal no, no, no : |
am sick and tirad of it, Ievcn went so far
as to offer to tend liquor store down town.


The wife smiled.


Now what shall VIC DO 2 uttered Peter.
spasmodica'iy.


'Why, we VIII cat supper first, and lcn
talk the matter over


Supper have you got any p
Yes, plenty of it,


But yon told me you had nonc.'


Neither had we this merning, bat have
been after work TO- day, and found some


You been after work = uttered the hus-
band IN surprise.
Yes, bc:n after work I an not going to
sit here and starve with my children for fear
of being lowered. Any kind of work is hon
orable when starvation is staring one in the
face


2ut how here-what "


HVhy. first went to Mr.. Shows. knew
her girl was sick, and hoped she might have
yolk to be done went to her and told her
my story, and she sat me at work at once,
doing her washing. She gave me food to
bring lome to my children, and paid me
three shillings when got through


'What--you been out washing for our
butchers wife q said Peter looking very
much surprised.
'Of course have, and have earned there
by enough to keep US in food tomorrow at
home to dinner


But how about the rent q
'Oh, have seen Mr.. Simpson, and told
him how we are situated, and offered him my
watch as pledge for the payment of the rent
within three months, with the interest on
the arrearagcs up to that date told him
| did all the business, while you were away
hunting up work.


$50 he has got your gold watch p


No. he would not take it. He said if
would become responsible for the payment
lie would be at rest


Then we have got a roof to cover us and
food for tomorrow But what next What
curse these hard times are


Do not despair Peter, for we shall not
starve, have work engaged to keep us
alive


'Ah-what is thatp


WHY, Snow engaged me to carry small
packages, baskets bundles, and SO FORTH to
his customers. He had to give up one Of his
horses


What do you mean. Maria 2


Just what say. When Mr.. Snow came
home to dinner, was there, and asked if be
ever had light articles which he wished to
send round to his customers He did hap