Middletown transcript., 1878-09-14

pale man was busily writing, and a
the same time overlooking a long room
where about seventy girls were a
work before busily-whirling machinery
"Good morning, Mr.. Watkins" th'
old gentleman said. 81 was in hope
that you were taking a holiday"
"Thank you, sir" was the reply, il
detected tone. II can't well quii
work, sir. There's the wife and si1
little ones, you see."
"Have you told Mr.. Ormsby the
doctor says that your life depends up
on few weeks of rest and pure air 2
Eyes, sir. He's not keeping me-
but he says if go he must ell my
place and that means starvation for
my family. l could never get new
situation, as feeble as / am nov"
"How long have you been here,
Mr.. Watkins ?"
Seventeen years, sir. l was with
old Mr.. Ormsby before you came, sir. "
"a faithful servant seventeen years,"
said Mr.. Wilkinson, in a low tone,
"and a few weeks rest may save his
life"
At this moment Mile shrank little
nearer her guardian. Through the
window from which Mr.. Watkins over
looked the loom room she could see
Cyril Ormsby, walking briskly about,
his voice harsh and imperative, find
ing fault here and there, and keenly
scrutinizing every item of the work.
Not face in the long room was
frightened by the presence of the
master. Fingers worked more rapid
ly, eyes were fastened persistently up
on the looms, and every one seemed
aware of stern task-master's gaze.
But Mr.. Wilkinson obeyed the mute
petition expressed in the looks of his
ward, and led Mile out into the wide
passage, again to another work room.
1t were too tedious task to follow
every step of these two as they passed
from room to room, everywhere meet
ing some assurance of Mr.. Wilkinson's
own hold upon the hearts of the hands,
and their terror of Cyril Ormsby's
harshness.
Out again among the squalid homes,
where her guardian had no control,
but bestowed his kindly charity with
out ostentation, and here, more elo-
quently than ever, Mile heard how
cruel a mockery we're all the schemes
of charity and philanthropy that had
been poured into her ears. 1t needed
no spoken words from her guardian
to tell her that the noble words utter
ed to win her were but those of n.y.
pocrisy, which knew how it could best
plead its cause with her.
One and another, turning to Nr.
Wilkinson as to a friend, unaware Of
the torture of their words to the kind
ly lady beside him, told Of cruel exac-
tions of work in sickness or trouble, Of
closest calculation of time, Of small
wages and heavy rents.
"If we don't live here and pay, we
get no work in the factories" one
said, when asked why he did not seek
a more healthy quarter.
II am doing overtime to pay for my
child Il funeral, funeral" said said enc .sfor I lost
the wages for three days. l stayed by
her to see her die, and bury her"
"I'm uneasy about the rent" an
other said, "for I lost week by fall
IN the ice, and it's hard making it up
again"
Not one word Of kindly sympathy
If help, in trouble or sickness. The
hands" under Cyril Ormsby were
simply human machines to do SO much,
,ick or well, and pay the price Of an
hour or day of idleness, no matter how
necessary.
There was no word spoken as Mr..
and Mile walked to the
,fice again. Once there, the old gen.
leman spoke very gravely: GAS your
Mile, I can speak to you
10 word against Cyril Ormsby. He
S a rich man, of good social position,
f irreproachable moral reputation,
nd a man whose standing in business
,ircles is of the highest-a man who
5 a good match in every worldly
ense. So much for your guardian.
Is your friend, my pearl, who loves
,ou as your own dead father might
ave loved you, who knows every no
lie impulse of your pure sOul-as that
riend, I tell you I would rather see
ou lying beside your mother than
he heart-broken wife of such a man
5 Cyril Ormsby."
"I came to you as a friend, as al
lost a father" said Mile, "and I
lank you for keeping me from a life.
ing misery. To know my husband
lcR man as 1 know Cyril Ormsby
, be, would, as you say, break my
cart" |,
II would not have told you," said
er guardian, "for you know I dislike
i'm, aud might have thought dislike
reiudieed me. But Mile, tell me
ou will not let this days work shadow
our life. You did not love Cyril,
illie?'