The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-09-14
THE CRAMM WELL.

LII Is doubtful II MI. ben Bates would
defend strikes, or if he were interested
in the pros and cons of such questions;
but, all the same, he blessed his stars
that strike occurred on the Grand
Right and Left railway on certain day;
that the employees felt imperative need
of an increase of wages; that the man.
ayers didn't see it; and SO, whether or
no the end justified the means, it none
the less conspired to promote his happi-
ness. It was the afternoon train out of
Hamburg, advertised to reach Nova
Zembla at 6. As. Mr.. Bates, being some
what of a stranger in the State. drawn to
Nova Zembla by runlors of oil wells and
fortunes bubbling out of the earth, was
naturally ignorant that the strikers had
publicly given warning that they should
leave their trains at o'clock p. m, until
he overheard a gentleman, leaving at q
way station, say to his friend:
You had better not attempt to go
home tonight, but put up with us; the
engineers strike at 4 p. M, you know"
Strike l' echoed the typical old lady,
with her traditional bandboxes and
bundles to look after. ed like to know
who they're going to strike. Two can
they going to strike for?"
For higher wages, marin. If you
calculated to go beyond Little Bassett,
teered a passenger.
Me walk Haven't paid my fare
through? Walk, indeed I'll have the
law OF 'em first"
But this train won't go through to-
night
None OF your quizzing, young sauce
box Haven't 1 been over this ere road
every year since my hair took to falling
OF, to buy new wig, dating from the
time Eben put the Gabrielle front to the
Old house And I've never knowed them
not to git to Nova Zembla when they'd
oughter-"
But just then the train stopped, and
so did the old lady. 1t was 4 o'clock
exactly
Il suppose there's an inn at hand ?"
asked Mr.. Bates of O native bystander,
whom he found loafing upon the plat
form.
Devil bit Little Bassett's run to
oil, stranger.
We're not expected to put up in an
oil-well?"
You might fare worse. There's the
Travellers Haven, but the landlord he
had 1t clrted of for to bore for oil in the
old cellar; It's on wheels yet, piece up
the lane there. Maybe they'd take you
III; dunno. .r - I'd III
Mr.. Bates strolled up the pretty lane
and into the Travellers Haven-which
had, perhaps, caught the spirit of CAD
ding from its guests-and interrupted
slovenly woman in the act OF scolding.
Didn't tell you, miss, I'd cut the
ears off your head If you cracked another
dish? Ell? How are you going to pay
for it Who do you suppose d put up
with your g9ings on if was to turn you
adrift? Nobody i'll Little Bassett d
give you house-room for week.
L am so sorry" was the soft answer.
iii be more careful again.
And high time, too-you that /
snatched out Of the almshouse, so to
speak, and cid for ever since you was
4. What would you have been but for
me? And pretty return you make, a
breaking all the crockery helter-skelter !
Oh Good-day, sir. Lodgings? ?"
with a decided change of tone. "Rosy
dear, slat yourself, and get the gentle
man a room ready; and you might wiring
the neck of the cropple-crown hen while
you're about it. L dare say he's hun
cry"
YES" said Rosy, lifting pair OF APP
pealing eyes to the strangers.
"No, no." cried Ben, heroically,
- don't kill anything for me. Tea and
toast is a supper for King" 1t panied
him. to add another straw to the burdens
this detected girl was already carrying
this girl in the garments and position
of a mental, yet who bore herself like
one of gentle blood.
"You see," apologized Mr.. Cramm,
the landlord, when he came in, "we
amt had time to settle, owing to the lie
well. Tavern-keeping don't pay in Lit
tie Bassett, but lie does. Maybe you
was thinking of buying, Ell?
Ben was thinking OF it, he explained,
but Little Bassett had not been his des-
tination.
MAYBE you was guided here by
Providence.
Perhaps so" said Ben.
PITY you hadn't been round month
ago. afore Deacon Davis parted with his
place. He got down-hearted, and sold
aut fnr a rood fioger: but it turned out