Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-01
Ellen ChnrchiIl1S Secret.

Ellen Churchill'S Secret.
In the ante-room of Meredith & Sons
great cotton factory, in Philadelphia, IL
group of girls were standing engaged in
animated discussion. They were all
young, some pretty and all neatly dressed
though many wore ill-chosen and unbe-
coming jewelry. One of those who had n
mock gold chain and bracelets, and Il pro-
fusion of trimmings on cheap silk dress,
spoke emphatieally: at is the stingiest
proceeding l ever heard off,
"What are you all so excited abou"
asked pretty little blond coming in from
the loom room.
ELLEN Churchillw
Dear me! What has she been doing
now? You are always discussing some
dreadful deed of poor Ellcn's. l like her
myself
Yes, we all know that" said the first
speaker; "you will defend anything Ellen
does"
"But what has she donc?"
Refused to sign the subscription for
the tankard to be presented to Mr. Rod
man."
"And Mr.. Rodman has been such Il
good friend to her," said third voice.
The little blonde, Susan Whiting by
name, looked rather staggered at the new
accusation against her friend. Mr.. Rod
man, manager for Meredith Il Son nearly
fifty years, was about to retire on account
Of the inlrmites of age, and the persons
engaged in the great factory were collect
ny money 10 ooy u GlnNHt" S 10 = l''osen' ~ ="
hl'll nc was u N'no'y oi,. ln'i' i'ii'1 ,t 'Il'
ways re'''y 10 lonu d" holP'ns i''.iI' ~ .n0
sul'il army VI wv, N-pooi,io "'iUoi ,i'a To'
tLGl' so una, thaU Ihe presentation was rc"''y Z"
sIll Oh love-
Ellen Churchill had come to the great
factory two years previous to the date OF
the Indignation meeting in the ante-room'
and had risen to the position OF iorewo-
man in one of the loom-rooms. She was
II handsome girl, about twenty when she
applied for work and by every action and
word betrayed the fact that she had step
ped from II life OF refinement to the
drudgery OF factory hand. l!cr low,
even tone betrayed the lady IN It's wei
chosen words; and her Slim, white hands
bore no trace OF toll on the smooth SKIN.
She was courteous TO all VINO came INTO
intercourse with her, but intimate win
none. She had nursed susie Nhltln9
through Il long period OF contagious lever,
winning the devotion OF that little maiden,
and the manager soon put her INTO the
position of forcwoman. Here her educa-
ton enabled her to keep the books required
in the room thus doubling her salary.
And here was the great ground OF COM
plant by her companions IL was wei
known that the salary of Ellen Churchill
was sufficient to warrant good style OF
living and dressing In the great board
ing house, where seventy OF the girls haC
rooms. she could well afford to pay Tor tho
best, to contribute to the amusement ol
f the house and dress well.
Instead of all this she lived in the attic
poorly furnished with II tiny stove, where
she cooked the cheapest of food. lleI
dress was of the coarsest description
f made by her own hands, and no ornamen
broke its severe simplicity. She nevc
f spent money in any pleasure seeking, no
joined IN any OF the quiet merrlmeht
the mousse. buV Tie cto"hlhS GhorinIly
was the refusal TO contribute 10 the sliVc
lankard.
Inc excited group III tEc ahie-roon ai9
persed lor the day Walklhg nome IN lh
twilight OF the cool september evening
5 and still they talked OF the young lore
S woman.
: me questlon Is. salu mary Lel@h
who had been inc lorem0S- IN the ahtG
| roam dlscusslon' what ooeS slle 90 VIII
1 her money? she never puts any IN TN
$ factory savings bank' she certainly spent
| nothing on her dress Nlere Is 1t Ill
: then?' ,, q,
eLih'l'S sue 1"Pl'u. 70 nea Pa'en.,, @
DUtil UGl, "g"G' n''H A. a0'I, Dn y i'n' 9'S ~,
t -. Neii' t''i' say na' Lon iIo''''i'n i ; "oii
Illl'h rer SuoI ~ l,'t"o, "e'' n1 r''''
. her name iWIl 1To I"o p S"3soaIP',"H i, ''9r ,,
= ana waiter hG''ir'I T.;a f'u.i, WI l'o'"'i
| resent SC, l'o insult ~ n,o i'',nJ,' ~ u,
ielo w''a 't,i IN.''iI'o'' ht ~ ~ YnJ 'o'yI W.
lie I;'SI IelI''rH 'uv In I;II opnGe''G", "%
ler houlnln' tn1 o"'S oHm" W .no e Vl' ,I
ih"naSer' was III .lle oo''nli'S -iGuso VI l'l
, factory WIN every prospect ol Ioon " ~
T. conilnS i'r'neI' ~ ,ll'.n l[''SI .nL,{' Il
liad risen IN ine clnP.oy vi MGIeu'l'l ,t',
ooh rom l"u oi ipul.'eii' nn. ''''u Slte W
= money i!oin " ll''lt.Sollo 9'InIy' "'''' VI
n NoWeu ii'leilIlo', Vi P,lcl''''iS Il P.'o' Il
the ilTm, upon 'ne ahtlcll'len 'G,lIclnen l
v o' olu 1r: ] Mo.?u.'n' WHY ""I Hno%n ,T.I