Year: 1872

1HE Il "O THO u BAESs


1t was q cold dismal evening in Novem-
ber that two laborers might have been
seen vending their way along the streets
Of large manufacturing town.


Slowly they proceeded with detected
countenances, not exchanging a word until
the one whom we shall call Smith halted
before neat little house and unlatched the
gate. Then there was such look of utter
misery and despair cleaning from his eyes
that his companion murmured, "We must
trust in God, Smith"


eyes," he articulated gloomily, and going
to the cradle took up the six weeks old
baby, and sorrowfully pressed it to his
heart.


81 do wish you would put that child
down and get ready for supper,H exclaimed
his wife, after enduring his gloominess for
some time.


He slowly obeyed, and seated himself at
the table with sigh.


"What in the world is the matter with
you tonight" she asked, as she sat down
opposite him.


His voice trembled as he replied, 81 sup
pose you might as well know first as last.
1 have been discharged.


"There!" exclaimed his wife, quickly
pushing back her chair /; "iust what /
might have expected I'd like to know
what We are going to do now. Winter
coming on and all. 1 declare, Smith, you
you will torture me to death"


g l am very sorry, Lydia, but l cannot
help it,"


"Sorry! No,.yo are not sorry at ALL
You would just as lief see your wife and
children starved as not. It's nothing in the
world but your poor managing"


SO lydia. Won are crI1pk Instead nf holm
ing me to endure my great trouble, which
is bearing me down to the very earth, you
make it ten times harder for me to bear
1 was not the only one discharged. There
was Jim Hawley and ever so many others.
Business is dull"


Cuisines is dull % she mimicked after
him. "Always an excuse for a worthless
man. To think that you should be dis
charged now, just as our rent is due ; and
then We are out of wood and look at my
shoes, won't you ? my feet almost on the
ground. wish had never,married you,"
and dark look accompanied the last
words. The poor husband now covered
his face with his hands and groaned aloud.
This seemed to encourage his wife to 90
on I; for she uttered words more and more
bitter, until at last, driven almost to O state
of frenzy, the wretched man rushed from
the house to the tavern, aud there sought
to bury the thoughts of the past and future
in tie rum cup.


In the meantime James Hawley, his
companion in labor, entered his home with
very sad countenance. But before he
had stepped over the treshold loving pair
Of arms were thrown around his neck and
a pair OF sweet lips were pressing to his.
He returned the salutation sadly and then
inquired for the baby.


GGShn 10 cloapinn erxyaof1Iy in 10
She has been a perfect little darling all
day. Supper is waiting, so make haste.
Here is warm water and a towel. Are you
not later than usual, tonight"


eyes, Mary; l bring bad news to YOU"


"Bad news ~ she exclaimed, turning
pale as, for the first time, she noticed that
something was wrong.


"Yes; was discharged tonight, and l
do not know as I can get anything to do
before spring. Business is SO dull"


els that al? ?' asked his vile with sigh
of relief. II thought it was something ter
rible, the way you looked"


"And is it not terrible enough? What
will become of US this winter if l am out
of employment ?''


"The same God who feeds the sparrow
and clothes the lilies in the field will not let
us suffer, dear James,"


"God bless you, dear Mary. There is
sweet comfort in your words"


"And now let us have supper" exclaimed
his wife, cheerfuIly. "See, / have your
favorite dish-shortcake and toast. Do not
let your troubles impair your appetite, and
then, after tea, we will talk it over. God
doeth everything for the best. And as our
day, so shall our strength be-"


In the evening it was determined that the
quarters rent be paid Immediately, new
1F OI.A
portion of the money placed in the wife's
hands to be dealt out as sparingly as pos
sible.


Then Mary suggested that all her pretty
parlor furniture should be put away in the
garnet, and the front room let out. Further
than this they could lay no plans, and as
the husband went out to pay the rent, the fu-
turc looked so dark to the young wife that
she could not altogether restrain her tears;
but seeking strength from On high, her face
wore the same cheerful smile when her
husband returned /; and little did he know
that during all that night long, while he
and his baby were soundly sleeping, his
wife lay awake planning for the future.


Three months have passed without a
days work all that time, and now another
quarters rent is due. In vain the laborer
thrusts his hands into his empty pockets,
and in vain racks his brain for some solu-
ton of the problem how the rent is TO be
paid. The lodger had paid his money
monthly, and that was enough to meet the
sum, if he had it, and of course his wife
had spent that as fast as she had received
it, and it was an every day wonder to James
how Mary managed so well.


With feelings Of deep despair he entered
the house. The table was spread with the
same favorite dish. There was the short
cake and toast, fanked with golden lump
of butter, plate of honey, and deep dish
of roasted apples, to be served with sugar
and cream, while at his wife's plate sat the
steaming teapot. AS James took it in, all
at one glance, he greatly wondered at the
frugal yet comfortable way of living. How
his wife had been able to make the small
amount of money last so long was mys-
terry to him, and yet he could not help
wishing inwardly that she had been more
economical then, perhaps, the rent might
have been paid, and he felt that it would
be better to have subsisted on the crust OF
bread rather than be turned out of doors
homeless.


He refused to sit at the table. pleading
that he had no appetite. And great large
tear arose in the strong mans eyes as he
informed his wife that on the morrow they
would he turned from their home, to go he
knew not where, as he had not dollar in
bis pocket 10 secure them room else
where.


lis that t?'' exclaimed lis wife, in a
soft tone, and tripped up stairs, and soon
returned and placed two ten dollar bills in
his hand.


"Where did you get them ?" he asked
eagerly. turning them over on his hands as
ohoI.; a to ascertain whether they VIC, re-
ally Genuine or not.


"I earned them," replied his wife, 4y-
ly. 81 knit afghans, shawls, chill. ems
hoods, sacques and socks-at first only for
those whom providentially heard wished