Connecticut western news., 1875-03-12
DOING HIS DUTY.

-VOfeN SA%Ss T6 LeGt tOItOfs
 --~--- E-7T17 --T-7- 5n5 IS DOING HIS DUTY. ,.-- a.
 It was noon, and close upon the hou1 of twelve. Scattered over large build ing in course of erection were number of workmen-carpenters, imasons, and bricklayers-most of whom kept thei1 eyes upon the stretch in expectation ot the bell ringing to proclaim the dinner hour. Hard by was the river, where q barge was moored, and a number o1 laboorers bringing blanks from it to the building, with the regular step charac 'teristic of all work with method in it.
 l The laborers numbered about twenty in all, and they were headed by one who filled the post of '' runner, that is, a man who regulated the movements of the rest by leading the way to and from the works. The man employed for the office in this case was one Robert Ryan, 8 steady, earnest, sober man.
 Ryan was only a laborer, and it was as much as hecould do to read good print and write his name occasionally when it was required, but he was,a man with a strong sense of what was right and wrong, and with a decided leaning towards the right. It was this feeling which prompted him to abandon drink and join the temperance society. -'a
 Sobriety led to something better; as he had not the public-house to spend his Sundays in, he wisely sought seat in Gods house. .....
 Such man could not long pass un- noticed, and Ryan was soon selected from the mass of laborers and appointed to the post of "runner, for which he obtained an extra sixpence 8 day. It was not much, but it was something; three shillings extra per week is not to be despised by working man, and Ryan found many uses for it. MT. Col thing more for him; but Ryan's educa- tion was very defective, and the post of foreman was for the present out of the question. Ryan, however, was content, and worked on, receiving his weekly wages with thankfulness, and spending them on domestic comforts like prudent man. ..a .E. ... 20. .-Ls...r. The laborers were marching from the barge, each with plank upon his shorll- der, when the bell suddenly rang. The man next to Ryan immediately threw down his plank, but Ryan walked stead fly on. ,i .ta -..--e,s .. 1" Hold hard, Ryan," cried the third man; " did you hear the bell ?''
 I heard,'' said Ryan "but we have only step or two to go; why pitch the stuff about in the mud in that way ?"'t -.5 st@Ia' 7..t #
 The man who had thrown down his plank took it up with surly air, and fell into the ranks again. Ryan walked to the building, put his burden upon the top of pile, and the rest, all more or less sulky, followed his example.
 'i<' There, he said, "look at the clock not quite a minute past, and we have saved ourselves no endo trouble, and the master ten minutes timeby bringing our work to the proper place" ........., ss'But time is time, urged the man who had thrown down his plank "the master expects us to be here at the minute, and we like to leave off at the minute, too. -
 Still, stretching point in his favor now and then does us no harm," re- turned Ryan, ''and I think it the more manly thing to do."
 -l The men did not stay to discuss the subject then, but hurried away to din her. Many of them were far from home, and some had their dinners brought others bought something at the cook shop; but nearly all went to the public. house. There in the tap-room the con duct of Ryan was discussed, and Richard Morgan, the man who had thrown dowr the plank. led the van in tirade of in yectives against the ''runner."
 ''It is bad enough to be nigger- driver by the master" he said s'but for one of our own lot to go against us is more than I can stand"
 't But you must go with the srunner, said one of the listeners.
 't With 8 runner, ;" returned Morgan "but not with Ryan. If headed the gang you should have easy times, I car tell you. n ". -7" ...4:'
 "Until you got the sack" said the previous speaker with a laugh. .. Morgan had a certain power of speech
 "the gift of the gab," his mates called it, and until it was time to return to tho works he continued to hold forth Ryan's base conduct, and found many willing ears. a--4GT .G....t.-f -.....- - s.
 From that time Ryan became marked man; the men followed him as of old but they did all they could to annoy him. Epithets were freely bestowed and often when the days work was oyer several of the men followed him on the road home, challenging him to fight Ryan bore all calmly and bravely. He was @ powerful man, and could have beaten any one of his assailants; but ht steadily refused to fight, and bade then go home and think, and then return tc their work wiser men. '2 -
 Mir. Collins soon heard of this dissen sion, and he nsked Ryan to point ont tht principal offenders; but Ryan refused saying "that it would only be adding l fuel to the fire, andhe would rather the1 were let be- After a time Ryan's pa tience bore fruit, and many of the mer ceased to annoy him; but Morgan, witl the rancor of a little mind, only grey more furious as lie saw the chance o running Ryan slipping away.
 l. The men often laughed at his extrava gant assertions; but some of his idea took root, and feeling of disconten gradually became general. Misunder standings were developed into deliberat assaults upon the liberty and comfort of the men, nasty words magnifed int studied insults, and the train was lai' ! for one of those movements called {"
 strike." +-F =.t1 .' .--.
 While this was impending, Ryan wa
 called to account before committee o the men, who held their meeting in field close to. the works. Morgan at
 tended as an 'accuser, and the 1najorit
 of the men employed played the part Q
 audience. g. It is, unnecessary to giv
 Morgan's accusation in full before ou
 readers, and we will only say that it wa 1 e-1l- I