8 



ingly, the next day, after sending the children to school, I 

 took the train for the city in search of work. Need I tell 

 you the miserable story ? How I went from shop to shop 

 literally " despised and rejected of men." The second day 

 was as the first nothing. The third was still more hope- 

 less. The fourth day I found some work, and took it home. 

 After sitting up part of that night, all the next day, and 

 far into the next evening, I finished the work, and carried 

 it to the city, and received for my eighteen hours' labor, 

 only seventy-nine cents. The price was so out of all pro- 

 portion to the amount of toil, and seemed to me so utterly 

 cruel, that I took the money, found my way to the cars 

 somehow, and finally reached my home, tired and almost 

 broken-hearted. I was awakened the next morning by con- 

 fused noises in the street. Wondering what it could mean, 

 I got up and went down stairs. I found the children 

 already up and trying to make a breakfast of bread and 

 water. "What is the matter? " asked I. 



" Fourth of July, mother. Didn't you know it? I 

 am going to the pond to fish with the boys." The Fourth 

 of July, and everybody happy and making holiday. All 

 happy but me. And then more tears. After a while I 

 busied myself about the house until my brother Joseph 

 came in after dinner. He began at once. 



" Now, Maria, do listen to reason. Sell this house, in- 

 vest the money with the insurance, and live on the interest. 

 It will give you about two hundred a year, and you can 



