The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-01

and around the mill who fancied that
they should be the gamers if they
could only persuade Job to keep and
expend, his own money. They knew
he loved his pipe, and they knew how
i well he loved his beer, and they de-
sired that he should join their club.
/ g Long life to the Freemen's Club!"
cried Rooney Pipkin, tipping up his
pewter tankard till the bottom was
directly over his nose. .,S
1t was Friday evening, and a few
kindred spirits had assembled at
Woods store. Job was there, having
got one of the day hands to hold over
| for him until ten O'Clock. ga-.44
IF Them's 'um!' exclaimed Hi judi
kins, another man of Pipkin's own
stamp-both workmen in the mill.
:'Giye me the FREE MEMS cLUBr
bGa"Eggs zactly!' echoed Sebe Wes-
son, raising his beer-potto hislips and
draining it. "Here! Hold on Them
as ant Free Men, and can't keep their
own money, can't be expected to do
uothin' lords this here kind of en-
! lj'yment.: but I amt quite SO poor yet
but what I ken wet a friends whistle
when he's dry. Say, old Boss, four
more O. them mugs of beer" i.~
The beer was brought bright and
foaming, but one of the party, drew.
back. Il, II. Il...is,,..s. Il. ....Fs.,I.. eli -fr
l9qsI Come, Joe, don't let the bead die
off afore We sip it" -. y.
mo, no 1 won't drink no more. =" :,
J.. e e Bah! Why not p ...o,-,o. n
=" Cause / can't pay" III yig9aa tf
"Oh, we understand all that; but
this is a meeting of our club, and
! you've been invited; so don't be back
ward. We know how you're situated
at home; but don't let that make no
odds now. Come on. Ye ken drink
success to our club .ifYou can't iine
us. gs-.g JsJG 5lGa sd gi.lT re
Another mug of strong ale warmed
Jobs blood considerably, and he, be-
gan to feel very much like. becoming
a free and independent man.
But we won't remain longer in that
company. Suffice it to say that before
Job left the store he had come to feel
about as small and mean as it is posi-
BILE for such a man to feel; but he had
resolved to break the chains. He had
joined the FREE MEMS CLUB. -
Saturday night came, and before go
ing into the mill for his watch, Job
came home for his supper. He came
in with faltering step, as though
fearful that something was going
to hurt him, and his head was carried
4 in hang dog way curious to behold
! curious to behold in one whose usual
hadits were so child-like and truth
! full. taH -ED.
whats the matter, Job ?" 3s. o..
"Noth'n!" ] -''-.
g Mercy Why, Job,swhat's got in
to you? Haven't the factory folks
paid you ?" sss af5ssi
"YEs! they hace-a,ad I'm dgoin' to
keep 1T too,"
e /" That's all right, Job, You needn't
worry about that. OF course it's
yours" O..
"I should think it ought to be. I
worked hard enough for it, the Lord
knows! Werkin' here all night-night
after night-while other folks is asleep
-workin' an digging an slavin', and
when the time comes 'at I want to get
a mug of-of-cider, 1 han't got no
money! If
Ruth Gamlit, now five-and-forty,
six-and-twenty years the wife of Job,
had she been mouse in the wall on
every occasion of her husbands meet
ing with the "Club," she could not
have understood the case more thor
oughly. ....5.. .-,f i
"My dear Job, tell you it's all
fright. Now sit right down and eat
your supper, and as faras business is
concerned, you shall have your own
way. You are the man of the house
and l think it rather belongs to you
to keep the money and pay the bills
The girls looked up in wonder. Al
first they had been alarmed, evidently
fearing that their mother would go
into spasms; but when they saw coolly
and good-naturedly she took it, they
only regarded their sterner parent
with that sort of surprise which they
might have manifested upon hearing
a dumb animal speak with human
voice. r
job managed to eat his supper, but
he certainly did not enjoy ii. His
wife regarded him with benign look
neither smiling nor frowning, dut
rather treating him as one who ought
to be honored. As he arose from the
tea-table, his wife followed him .ou
into the porch.
I "Just one word, Job. l wish tc
know exactly how matters are to
stand. IIenceforth you will. kceI
your pay entirely to yourself. 7"f
"I shall not want any, Job. l cal
earn enough to support myself, Bur
you will remember lhenceforth the
business at the, stores is turned ovel
into your hands. You will purchase
the provisions, attend to matters gen
orally of that description p -.4f
i "Sartin. Iexpect to do all that
and it pears to me as though twas ;
mans place to do it."
& $50 it does to me, .Job-so it doe
to me; and l am glad that you hay,
brought yourself to that way o
} thinking"
Job had got off very easily. lie hat
expected u terrific storm; and hat
Ruth raised breeze, he might hav
up helm and put away before it il
: fine style but as it was, he found him