The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-12-12

JUDGE NOT.

JUDGE NOT.
In the ante.room of Meredith & Sons
great cotton factory in Philadelphia
group Of girls were standing engsged
in an animated discussion. They were
all young, some pretty, all dressed neat
", though many wore ill-chosenand un-
becoming inery One of these, who
had mock goldt chain and bracelets
and profusion of jet trimmings upon
cheap silk dress, spoke very emphat
ically: sit is the siingiest proceeding l
ever heard off,
"What are you all 80 excited about ?"
asked pretty little blonde coming in
from the loom-room.
"Ellen Churchill -
"Dear me! What has she been do
ing now2 You are always discussing
some dreadful deed of Ellen's. like
ther myself"
> "Y Is, We al know that, said the irst
speaker styou.wil defend anything El-
len does.'' ~
"But what has she ydone?" ri
"Refused to sign the subscription list
for the tankard to be presented Mr.. Rod.
man" r
"And Mr.. Rodman has been such o
good friend to her!' said third voice.
| The little blonde, Susy Willing, by
name, looked rather staggered at the
new accusation against erfriend. Mr.
Rodman, manager for Meredith q Son
for nearly fifty years, was aboutio re-
tire on account of the infirmities OF age,
and the persons engaged in the great
factory were collecting money to buy
silver tankard to present TO him He
was kindly old man and always really
to lend a helping hand to the small army
lof work-people under his control; asc
that the presentation was really gift oil
i Hove. u s#T
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 oi
forewoman in one of the loom-rooms.
She was a handsome girl Of about twen-
ty when she applied for work, and by
every action and word betrayed the fact
that she bad stepped from life of re-
6nement 10 the hard drudsery of a, fac
tory hand. Her low, even tone betray.
ed the lady in its we'll chosen words, and
her slim, white hands bore no trace Of
toll npon their smooth skin. She was
courteous to all who came into inter-
course with her, hut intimate With none.
She had nursed Susy Whiting through a
long period of contagious fever. Twin
ming the devotion of that little maiden,
and the manager soon put her into posi-
tions of trust till she became forewoman.
1 Here her education enabled her to keep
the hooks required in tue room, thus
doubling her salary.
/ And here was the great ground of
complaint by her companions. 1t was
well-known that the salary of Helen
Churchill was sufficient to warrant a
good style OF living ana dressing. In
the great boarding house, where seventy
of The girls had rooms, she could well
afford to paw for the hest, to contribute
to the amusemeuts of the house and
dress well. Instead of all this she lived
in the attic, poorly furnished, with a tiny
stove, where she cooked the cheapest OF
food. Her dress was of the coarsest
description, made by her own hands,
and no ornament broke its severe SIM
plicity. She never spent money in any
pleasure. seeking, nor Joined in any OF
the quiet merriment OF the house. But
the crowniug enormity was the refusal
TO contribute to the silver tankard.
The excited group in the ante-room
dispersed for the day, walking home in
the twilight of the September evening
and still they talked OF the young fore.
woman.
.The question is," said Mary Leigh
who had been foremost in the ante-room
discussion, "what does she do with hel
money! She never puts any in the fac
tory savings bank; she certainly spends
nothing on her dress. Where is it all
then ?"
Perhaps she supports her parents p
s'Both dead! l have heard her say
So"
"Well, I dare say Mr.. Rodman won
think her quite such paragon as he has
done, when he misses her name from tht
subscription list"
"And Walter Rodman will probably re
sent the insult to his father"
There was an exultation in the tone o
The last remark hut il-concealed. Wal
ter Rodmsn, the only child of the ole
manager, was in the counting-house o
the factory, with every prospect of soor
becoming partner. A man past thirty
he had risen in the employ of Meredith
& Son from o lad of fourteen, and hat
saved money from handsome salary
with the avowed intention Of purchasing
a place IN the firm upon the anticipated
retirement of Mr.. Meredith, who wa.
known to favor the intention. Amongs
all the clerks and workman in the grea
factory there was no one so handsome q,
Walter Rodman. none so quietly refined
in manner, none so great favorite will
all. But be had gone through life fancy
free, until Ellen Churchill came to tht
factory.
There was something in the noble, re
fined face Of the young girl that attracted
Walter Rodman from the 6rst. Tha
there was some heavy trouble bloodins
in the sadness of her great dark eyes h'
never doubted; but if ever purity anf
goodness were pictured in human coun
tenance they were in Ellen's., From BIZ
father he learned much OF the newcomer
Of the quick adsplability she showed fo
work evidently new to her, Of the almoe
masculine brain that fitted her 80 soon t
take control of the loom-room wher'
over hundred girls were at work.
Of her antecedents he knew only ths
she brought a letter from the clergyman
of her parish in a small town in New
York State. That she was woman o
culture and refinement they could Sc
, for themselves.
But Walter Rodman, by nature fran
and true, as his heart more and NOR
ackno wledged Ellen for its queen, griev
ed over the evident mystery in her life
While in her conversation she advance
noble and generous views, ber Who'll
system of living was penurious TO an e1
| treme rarely seen in women OF her ag'
. when living upon much smaller salar
thar she commanded. Il was not mer'