Wait and Hope; Or, A Plucky Boy's Luck

CONTENTS

Five o'clock sounded from the church clock, and straightway the streets of Milltown were filled with men, women, and children issuing from the great brick factories huddled together at one end of the town. Among these, two boys waked in company, James Watson and Ben Bradford. They were very nearly of an age, James having just passed his fifteenth birthday, and Ben having nearly attained it.
Both boys looked sober. Why, will appear from their conversation.
It's rather hard to get out of a job just now, said James. Why couldn't the superintendent discharge somebody else?
I suppose it's all right, said Ben. We were taken on last, and we haven't as much claim to remain as those that have been in the mill longer.
I don't believe there was any need of discharging anybody, complained James.
You know business is very dull, said Ben, who was more considerate, and I hear they have been losing money.
Oh, well, they can stand it, said James.
So can you, said Ben. Your father is pretty well off, and you won't suffer.
Oh, I shall have enough to eat, and so on; but I shan't have any spending money, and I can't get a new suit, as I expected to this fall.
I wish that was all I had to fear, said Ben; but you know how it is with me. I don't see how Aunt Jane is going to get along without my earnings.