Chapter 12
Pity

William turned up George Street. He stopped at number 411, where a sign read:

HAY, COAL, SALT, PAINTS, OILS
AND FISHERY SUPPLIES
FOR SALE HERE

He had been sparing coal. But he needed it badly, for Iris and Alice Maud. His son John had sent him a few dollars from Sydney.

His son John mined coal. John was sick of coal. If John could see him buying coal with that money, he would groan. William swung the door open. He went into the dark store.

He asked Harold, the clerk, the price of a bag of coal. He felt the money in his pocket. He knew how much was there. But he counted it again.

He told Harold, "I'm going to Baird's and McMurdo's for cures. Then I'll stop at Cochrane Street. I'll see if there's work with the snow clearing gang. I'll stop here on my way home if I want the coal."

Harold knew how things were. When you sell the basics, like hay and coal, you see things. You see how people are making out. Harold knew William might have money for coal by the end of the day, and he might not. Harold took his pencil from behind his ear. He pointed it at a notice on the wall.

"You might want to see that there," he told William. The notice read: "WANTED-63 steamers and 57 rollers. We have room for a few to learn. Good wages can be made by steady work. Come in and have your name booked. J. D. Goodwin, Manager, Imperial Tobacco Company, Limited."