The workingman's advocate., 1871-06-24
CHRISTOPHER CABLE, THE COOP
ERATOR.
BY FREDERICK J. WILSON.

D. WILSON.
1t was on one Of those cold, raw. fopry
nights, when you fancy yourself battling
With visible adversary, who will hold bis
hands over your eyes, and make you forci-
bly cling to lamp-post, should one fortu-
nately lay in your path, until you have re
considered the well known geographical
position Of your own home, that Christoper
Cable was scraping bis fingers along the
wall BY the roadway that led to his com
Portable cottage and when be did get there
he had no wish to trust himself out again,
with the uncertainty, Of finding the Green
Griffin, in the private room Of which be
punctually attended the weekly meeting Of
the Social Politicians"
Much has been spoken and written
against clubs meeting at public-houses but
until the leading townsmen shall provide q
convenient room for social assemblies
where no restrictions shall prevent any per
son doing as be pleases, provided he does
not offend against order, sobrety, and pro
Prlety, they waste their breath and their
paper.
Cable was very popular With the 4" So
clals. !" He had ready Wit. good inven-
tive faculties, and steadiness Of character,
which should you view bis conduct apart
from his conversation, gave reality to bis
actions, and visionary, uneommonsensical
reason as bis explanation not that the rea-
son was opposed to common sense, but his
neighbors not understanding the arguments,
denounced the incomprebensl Bile as trivoli-
ty. 50 the saying Of wv here all are fools
tis useless to excel" depressed Cables
readiness to impart information, and also
sIlenced his natural desire to learn, where
no practical advantage could be applied to
hls daily occupation, which, fortunately,
being that OF carpenter, preserved bis
brain from actual ideness, BY the construc-
tive faculties it commanded - 50 when Ca
bic obtained result, be did not apply the
principle disco cred to suit other purposes,
from the Encouragement his efforts bad in-
varlably met with, and from his not being
aware Of others having, in some measure,
pointed out sure method for beneficial re
Election.
Well, Christopher decided on seaying Al
home. And one wishes that every home
could lie like Christophcr's His wife was
one Of those sensible women VITO never say
much, but always act to a purpose; tidy,
without being uncomfortable, and as her
room had place for everything. everything
could be found when wanted You, reader,
Nv tttla aanl1 haUa
house, and just such a wife. All progress
must be systematic: so being bV having one
thing in its place, and one act punctually
performed f; then, after a week or so, have
two things in their places, and two acts
punctually pr ormed /; if they are not done,
do them yourself, and teach the patience
you have learned but this is story on Co
operation, 50 domestic management must
wait for another opportunity.
Christopher Cable sat at home because
the night was foggy CTS an i'll wind that
blows nobody good J, 50 bis wife bad the
benefit instead Of the landlord. And SO
Christopher Cable was at home for the eve
ming, and not having any little after work
job on hand, be, having smoked bis pipe
a quiet pipe at home makes a good hus-
band read Chambers Journal aloud 10
Mrs Gable, while she was busy 10 making
q night shirt for Crissy, who at that moment
was sound asleep, rolled up in his old one
Christopher had heard people talking, and
bad read about Cooperative and Equitable
Associations, but as they were established
at distance, be bad no opportunity Of
learning their details Well, 10 this nun
Der Of the Journal, there was description
Of the Rochdale Association, explaining
toe extraordinary success it had met with,
and the very slight beginning on which
this success bad arisen. Two connections
are required to make discovery and as,
when dong a job in Mrs. Norton kitchen,
ne had observed boy from Mrs. Clifton's
bring in part Of chest of tea and two
loaves Of sugar, saying, that 4 Mrs. Cliff
ton sent her compliments, and that was
Mrs. MOrton's share Of what was sent from
London" Cable reasoned thus, 81 here is
40 equitable association, that has been OF
great benefit to all who belonged to il ; and
here are families combining to buy goods
from London If the rich do il, why
should not the poor? The poor have hal
ext aordlnary success elsewhere, why not
in this village?
Christopher bad now got bold Of an idea,
90 determined to call on Mrs Morton, and
ask for further explanation. On the NOR
row, therefore, instead Of going home to
dinner H. was ever good intention exc
cuted without a sacrifice p, be called OF
Mrs. Morton who, on hearing the object
OF bis visit, was delighted to give him all
the information in her power We will
set aside the exact conversation that took
place, and give Mrs. Morton's connected
statement Of how the undertaking should be
set about.
You see, Christopher, the object o.
which you desire information, is sound in
political economy; beneficial in its social
aspect, and benevolent in its Christian
bearing, as practically carrying out the
Almighty's command TO love your neigh
Dor as yourself No community can be
merely actuated by selfish motives though
most people Join a community for an ex-
Pscted personal advantage. For these rea-