Jack soon found a position with a wholesale house down town, at five dollars a week.
Annie, who was naturally quite expert at fine needlework and embroidery, preferred to take in work to do at home to seeking a place in a factory or in a store as a salesgirl, because she was not very strong.
But home work was not very remunerative, so that the family really was dependent upon Jack, who fortunately was strong and healthy.
Thus they managed to live—exist might perhaps be the better word—in a very humble but contented way until the boy was unexpectedly thrown out of work a few days before.
Fortunately Mrs. Hazard had got her rent together, for the first of the month was at hand and the landlord’s agent was a strict man of business and showed no favors to any of the tenants.
And now at the very last minute, as if to prove that misfortune never comes singly, the money she had saved by many small sacrifices was suddenly found to be missing.
It certainly was hard luck.
“Somebody must have taken it, mother,” said Annie, after a short silence.
“The bills were there this morning after John went out, for I noticed them,” said the little mother, sadly.
“And I’ve been in here all the time except a few minutes when I ran out to the grocer’s. Was anyone here while I was out?”