The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-07-17

I
red shirt TOR a flag. Pat for the second
time called the meeting to order, and fold
ing his arms on his bare breast he looked
like hero.
The boys come to order at once and
Pat began to address them.
Fellow men, says Pat pat s big boy
NANNY; fourteen years old in eleven
months time) we've called this yer meet
ing Walter Ray, you little son of gun
if you do not take that cigar ou. Of your
mouth and bring 1t here this instant, III
put two more noses ON yer face ye dirty
little spalpeen, that ye are to be after II ak
ing such rubbish whilst a gentleman Is
making a speech. As Walter complied
Pat put the stump Of the cigar into his
breeches pocket, and went ON with his
speech.
Fellow men We are met together to vim
dicate our rights. The boys Of this break
er who are under twelve years Of age and
ourselves have been very badly treated by
that most tyranical Of busses, Mr.. Thomas
Gordon Well do / remember my own
suiferings when | Was little boy like one
nf yuu Pat looked over O. the Junior
members II the house As he made this re-
mark. Well ~ remember that particu-
lar time when that Esean, dirty, splinter of
a man spanked me tIll 4 was sore fur a
week after ards black ami blue ali over
NY body. and feel sore M mind % Tins day.
W hat dId do tU deserve all tins Only
dropped AZ IRON wedge into the rollers BY
mistake. The machinery broke 1t is true,
but nov could | help that
n 'FelloS m=n and boys, you have all
had your spankngs, but now the time has
come when You snail All have revenge "
Mamma, the boys shouted hurrah for
five minutes IL required all the efforts vi
us v no are officers t. stop their yelling
and squealling but We succeeded, and
Pat went on with ms speech.
'''Well, boys, that ~ good for yelling
II will suit the next circus very well, but
We have no time 70 waste, the whistle
will 20 in less than ten minutes 50 please
pay attention to what ] say.
.''To morrow there u to arrive in
Minerstown branch OF FOrepaughs cir
Gus Who Is there among tins very hon
norable assembly wise enough 70 propose
a holiday IN honor of the event
Gaps went up into the ar, and every
member of our association yelled out the
proposition.
Pat wanted the proposition to be put
before the meeting In a more regular way,
but every one # the boys wanted to make
the proposition his own, 50 1t was agreed |
to. Tins day, nanny. to be devoted to
circus seeing.
"Well, my boy. what will the world
come to next /" asks Mrs. LOvejoy.
just as Mrs. Lovejoy finishes speaking
the yells Of a hundred boys are heard III
chorus outside The cry for Joinev
Lovejoy fills the air Mrs. LoveJoy LOOKS |
frightened. Johney swallows ms last
mouthful OF coffee, and puts on his shoes,
his Jacket, and his cap, and is at the door
in JItfey.
Good morning. mamma, says Johney, !
As he opens the door.
Johney Is greeted with three times three |
as he emerges from his mothers cottage.
There he is absorbed in the midst Of
motley group. One hundred boys betw zen
the ages Of nine and sixteen, with clothes |
as black and As dirty as coal dust can make
them, which contrasts widely with their
clean faces, shining 80 bright IN the morn
ing sunbeams. They are all dressed IN |
their working clothes except our friend !
Johney LoveJOy, Who gave his mother his |
confidence ON the subject Of the holiday. !
The others. not daring 70 brave the conse
quences 1t such an act, had prudently !
kept their own council took their break /
fasts As # nothing unusual vas III view ;
dressed a. II for work, and they now APP |
pear In full force with their dinner buck |
cts, prepared 10 endure the hardshIps Of a /
days sport. while playing truant.
Nov, boys. for the Woods, 10 give old |
Gordon the slip, sings out President Pat |
Duggan. The boys move OH to the noun |
tain. and the people II MInerstown, not
IN the secret. wonder What the noise IS
about. and Why the boys have formed into |
such an unruly crowd 70 90 to the woods. |
In the meantime the whistle blows, but |
not a boy appears at his post IN the slate
pickers shutes Mr. Gordon is beWildered; |
even his own boy, Master Jack, is not to |
be found about the premises. No boys
are to be seen on the road leading from
the town to the breaker SO Mr.. Gordon
whom Master Jack has not taken into |
his confidence for certain reasons best
known 10 hmself-is at loss to solve the
mystery.
He could not lessen his dignity enough
to think that the boys over whom he had
such complete control, bad actually con
spired against him and gone out by mutual
agreement, on a strike. This was an idea
which entered his head in a very dim and
indistinct manner The men-miners and
laborers are all at their posts but what
can be dome without the boys
The men take the hint and return To
their respective homes, some enjoying the
incident as a good Joke on Gordon, while
others grumble at the prospect Of a lost
days wages, feeling enough Of chagrIn
against the boys to skin them alive. Woe
be t. the little rascals on the mountain
who have such fathers just wait till
hunger forces you home at supper time,
and see II you have not reckoned without
your hosts In the hearts of some Of
those stern parents Just now returning
home, some terrible punishments are
stored up.
"Shoost you wait vOnct You will see
fun NIT mine poy Mine Got, will shkin
dat young rooster
Thus is the savage verdict of Hans.
That's divil of b'hoy q mine. Be
dad an its a refnrmer he'll be one o these
days" Patsy Muligan, the elder, is the
gentleman who speaks 80 feelngly concern
my Patsy MulIigan the younger and its
proud Of him he Is entirely.
In the meantime the boys are halted IN
an open space in the woods, and called TO
order President Pat Duggan is mounted
on a stump, the remains OF giant oak.
Gentlemen and boys, says Pat, I'VE
have two hours to spare before the show
will parade the street, let us use part Of
this time to form plans for future action
and protection We have much to arrange.
In the first place, we have to provide
against an attack from old Gordon. He
will soon be after us with long pole.
"Who cares let the old buffer come II
sings out one cf the members.
TTo h, continued Ie.rt treek