80 THE POOR WOODCUTTER.

 

py man, in this crisis of his affairs. “T
will saw wood—do any thing for my chil-
dren. How does Gardiner manage to get
bread?” he asked of the neighbour before
mentioned. He spoke of a poor man
living not far off.

“By picking up odd jobs along the
wharves,” replied the man. “He splits
and piles up wood, carries bundles, and
does little turns of one kind and another
for people who may happen to need his
services.”

On this hint Harlan acted. He went
on the next day to the wharf, with an axe
under his arm, and came home at night as
poor as he had gone out in the morning.
Several opportunities had offered for ob-
~ taining work, but more eager seekers for
employment thrust him aside and secured
even the jobs for which he had half bar-
gained. On the day following, he was
more successful, and earned a dollar.
From that time he went to the wharves
regularly in search of work. Sometimes