But there was
nothing to say. Mrs. Hoffman knew very well that no one in the
establishment cared for her necessities. So, with a heavy heart,
she started for home, making up her mind to look elsewhere for
work in the afternoon. She could not help recalling, with
sorrow, the time when her husband was living, and they lived in a
pleasant little home, before the shadow of bereavement and
pecuniary anxiety had come to cloud their happiness. Still, she
was not utterly cast down. Paul had proved himself a manly and a
helpful boy, self-reliant and courageous, and, though they might
be pinched, she knew that as long as he was able to work they
would not actually suffer.
CHAPTER IX
A NEW PATRON
Mrs. Hoffman went out in the afternoon, and visited several large
establishments in the hope of obtaining work. But everywhere she
was met with the stereotyped reply, "Business is so dull that we
are obliged to turn off some who are accustomed to work for us.
We have no room for new hands."
Finally she decided that it would be of no use to make any
further applications, and went home, feeling considerably
disheartened.
"I must find something to do," she said to herself.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81