Two Ways Of Bearing Trouble

ït was a cold dtsmalevemngin November, tbat two laborers uiight have boen secn wending their way along the streets of a large manufacturing town. Slowly they proceeded, with dejectod countenances, not exchanging a word until the one whom we shall eall Smith, halted before a neat little house and unlatched the gate. Then thero was such a look of utter misery and despair gleaming from his eyes that bis companicn muruiurod, " wo must trust in God, Smith." "Yes" he artciulated glooraily, and go ing to the eradle took ip the 8ix we ks' old baby, and sorrowfully prees 3d il to his heult. "Ido wish you would put that child down and getieady for supper," excldimed his wife, ai'tcr enduring his gloominess for some tiuie. He slowly obeyed, and then seated himself at the table with a sigh. " What in the world is the matter with you to-nightl-'" she askud, asshe satdown opposite kim. His voice trembled as he replied, " I supxose you might as well know first as ast. I have bern diseharged." " There ! " exclaiined his wife quickly, :u.;hing back herchair; "just what I night have expected ' I'd like to know what we are going to do now. Winter coming on and all. I declare, Smith, you will torture ine to death." " I am vwy sorry, Lydia, but I cannot help it." " Sorry ! No, you are nol sorry at all. You would just as lief see your wife and children starve as not. It's nothing in the world but your poor manacing." ' Lydia, you are cruel. Inste:id of helping me to endure iny graat trouble, whieh Í is hearing me down to tho veiy earch, you makc it ten times harder for mo to bear. I was not the only one dischargcd. There was Jim Hawley and ever so many others. Business is dull." . " Business is dull ! " sho mimickcd after him. " Always an excuse for a worthless man. To think that you should bo diseharged now, just as our rent is duo ; and then we are out of wood, and look at my shoes, won't you ? my feet almost on the ground. I wish I had never manïed -ou," and a dark look accompanied the ast words. The poor husband now cov ered his face with his hands and groaned aloud. This seemed to i-ncourage his wife to go on ; sho uttered words more and more bitter, until, at last, driven almost to a stilte of frenzy, the wretched nan rushcd from tho house to the tavern. and there sought to bury the thoughts of he past and the future in the rum cup. In the meantime, James Hawley, his ompanion in labor, entered his home with i very sad countcnance. But bef ore he jad stepped over tho threshhold a loving air of arms were tlirown around his neck ind a pair ot sweet hps were pressing to lis. He retumed the salutation sadly, and then inquired for the baby. " She is slecping sweetly in her eradlo, ihe has been a perfect little darling all ay. Sapper is waiting ; so hurry. Are you not later than usgal, to-night ': " " Yes, Mary, I bring bad news to you." " Bad news ! " she exclaiuiod, turning ale, as, for thelirst time, shenoticed that something was wrong. " Yes ; I was discharged to-niglit, and do not know as I get anything to o beforo spring. Business is dull." " Is that all 'i " asked his wife, with a igh of relief. I thought it was somebing terrible, the way you looked." " And is it not terrible enough 'i AVhat will beeome of us this winter, if I aiu ut of employment ? " " ïhe saine God who feeds the sparrow md clothes the lilies in tho field, will not et us suífer, dear James." " God bloss you, dear Mary. Th?ro is weet comfort in your words." "And now let us have supper," exlaimsd his wifo, eheerfully. " See, "I ïave your fav;rite dish - shortcake and oast. Do not let your troubles impair 'our appetite, and then, after tea, we vill talk it over. God doeth everything br the best. And as our day, so shall ur strength be." In the evening it wasdeterminod that he quarter's rent should be paid immeditely, a now supply of eoal obtained, and be remaining portion of the ïnoney placed n the wife's hands to be dealt out as paringly as possible. Then Mary suggested that all her pret y parlor funiituro should be put away in be garret, and the front room let out. - i'urther than this thoy couldlay no plans, nd as tho husband went out to pay the ent, the future looked so dark to the young wife that she could not altogethcr estrain her tears ; but seeking strength rom on high, her face wore the samo asect when her husband returned, and litle did ho know that during all that night long, while he and his baby wero leeping, his wife lay awako planning out he futuro. Three months have pnssed away without a day's work all that time, and now anothor quarter's rent is duo. In vain he laborer thrusts his hands into his mpty poekets, and in vain rauks his ii mis for soiur solution of the problem iow the rent is to bo paid. The lodge ïad paid his moncy monthly, but then bat was not enough to meet the sum, if ie had it, and of courso his wifo had pent that as fast as she reuoivod it, and t was an everday wonder to Jamos how Mary managcd so well. With feelings of deep despair ho entcred tho house. The tablo was spread with the same favorite dish. There was tho shortcake and toast, flanked with a golden lnmp of butter, a plato of honey, and a deep dish of roasted apples tö be served with sugar an creaiu, while at his wíIVb píate sat the steuming hot tea-pot. As Jafnes took it in, all at osio glance, ht greatly wondered at tho frugal yot eomfortable wuy of living. How bis wife had been abb to makc the gmall amount of money last so long was a mystery to him, and yot ho could not help wisiiing inwardly that sIkí had boon more eeonomical ; tlien, perhaps, tho rent might have been paid, und ho felt that it would be botter to have subsisted on one crost ot' bread rather than be turned out oí doors, hoinoless. He refused to sit ai tho table, pleading that ho liad no appotite. And a great largo toar aróse in the stroag man's eyes as he informod liis wifo that on tho niorrow they would be tuined froni thsir homo, to 10 he knew not where, as he had not a dollar in his pockot to secure thoiu a room elaewhere. "IsitthatV" exclaimed liis wife, in a soft tonft, and tripped up stairs, and soon retnrned and placed two ten dollar bilis in his hand. " Whero did 3'ou get theni r " h asl;ed eagerly, turning (hem over in his Laúd as if to aseertain whother they wëre i:ally genuino or not. '■I earneJ theni," repliod his wife gaily. " I knit iifghans, shawls, children's hoods. saequos and sooks ; at first only for those whom I providentially heanl wished artieles of tho kiml, and afterwards was eniployed to furnish a trimming establishment with my work." " And kept it a secret froin me ? " " Yes, beeause I thought yon would be worried, for fear I was doing too mach. [ love to knit dearly, and considerit. inore pleasant pastime than labor." " God be ]raised for giving me such a wife ! " exclaimed her husband oarnesfly, and pressing his wife and ehild closoly to lis bosom, said : " Her children rise up and cali her blessed ; her husband also, and ie praiseth her ; for many daughters have done virtuously, but thou exccllest them aU." Twenty years havo passed away, and raraes Hawley is a rich man. But Josph Sniith is a coufirmed drunkard and . lis wife has long since passed front earth, a victim of misery and want. Why will not wives assist their hus , ands to bear their trials with helping ; la-ids and liearts? If they would but do jo, how many families would be saved from ruin, and how swoet wuuld be thoir ( reward, not oi.ly upon earth but in . heaven.