The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-11-30
JUDGE NOT.

JUDGE NOT.
In the ante-room of Meredith & Sons
great co ton factory in Philadelphia
group OF girls were standing engaged in
an animated discussion. They were all
young, some pretty, al q essed neatly,
though mmy wore ill-chosen and unbe-
coming linery. One Of these, who had
a mOcS gold chain and bracelets and
pro.usion OF Jet trimmings upon a cheap
silk dress, spoke very cmphaticatly: cit
IS the stingiestproceeding L ever heard
What are you all so excited aboutP''
asked pretty little blonde coming in
d" Ellen Churchillp'
Dear me! What has she been do
ing now? You are always discussing
some dreadful deed of Ellen s. [ like
her myselt2'
- Yes, we all know that said the
first spea err 'tyoh will defend any
thing Ellen does.
- But what has she doneP'
''Refused TO SIGN the subscription list
Tor the tankard tobe presented MIR. Rod
man.
" And Mr.. Rodman has teen such q
good friend to herr" said a third voice.
name, looked rather staggered at the
new accusation against her friend. Mr..
Rodman, manager for Meredith q Son
for nearly fifty years, was about to re-
tire on account Of the inIirm.ties OF age,
and the persons engaged in the great
factory were collecting money to buy a
silver tankard TO present to him, lie
was a kindly old man and always ready
to lend "a helping hand TO the small army
of worG people under his control; so
that the presentation was really a Gift
of 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
forewoman in one of the loom-rooms.
She was a handsome girl of about
twenty when she applied for work, and
by every action and word betrayed the
fact that she had stepped from life of
refinement 20 the hard drudgery of a
factory hand. Her low, even tone be-
trayed the lady in its well-ohosen words,
and her slim, white hands bore no trace
of toll upon their smooth skin. She was
courteous to all who came into inter
course with her, butintimate with none.
She had nursed Susy Whiting through
long period of contagious fever, WIN
ming the devotion of that little maiden,
and the manager soon put her into posi-
tiOns oftrust till she became forewoman.
Here her education enabled her to keep
the books required in the 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
good style Of living and dressing In
of the girls had rooms, she could wen
afford to pay for the best, to contribute
to the amusemenIs of the house and
dress we'll. Instead Of all this she lived
in the attic, poorly furnished, with a
tiny stove, where she cooked the cheap
est of food Her dress was of the
coarsest description. made by her own
hands, and no ornament broke it's Sc
we're simplicity. She never spent money
in any pleasure-seeking, nor joined in
any of the quiet merriment of the
house. But the browning enormitv 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.
1.-The question is. said Mary Leigh,
who had been foremost in the ante
room discussion s'what docs she do
with her money! She never puts any
in the factory savings bank; she GER
tainly spends nothing on her dress.
Where is it all, then?n
5. Perhaps she supports her parentsP''
Both dead! / have heard her say
So"
"Well, 1 dare say MIR. Ro6man won't
think her quite such a paragon rs he
has done, when he misses her name
from the subscription list.''
= And Walter Rodman viii probably
resent the insult to his father"
There was an eXultatiOn in the tone
of the last remark, but ill-concealed
Walter Rodman, the only child of the
old manager was in the counting-house
of the factory, with every prospect of
soon becoming partner. A man past
thirty, he had risen in the employ of
Meredith Il Son from n lad of fourteen
aud had saved money from handsome
salary, with the avowed intention of
purchasing place in the firm upon the
anticipated retirement of Mr. Meredith
who was known to favor the intention
Amongst all the clerks and workmen
in the great factory there was no one
so handsome as Walter Rodman, none
so quietly refined in manner, none so
great a favorite with ALL But he had
gone through thirty years of lie fancy
free, until Ellen Churchill came to the
factory.
There was something in the noble,
re ned face of the young girl that at
tracted Walter Rodman from the first.
4 hat there was some heavy trouble
brooding in the sadness Of her great
dark eyes he never doubted; buff ever
purity amt goodness were pictured in
human countenanee, they were in FL
len S From his father he learned much
of the newcomer, of the quick adapta-
bilitv she showed for work evidently
new to her, of the almost masculine
brain that fitted her so soon to take con
troll of the loom-room where over hun
dred girls were at work.
OF her antecedents he knew only thai
she brought letter from the clergyman
of her parish. in a small town in New
York State. That she was n woman o
culture and refinement they could Sc,
for themselves.
But Walter Rodman, by nature frank
aud true, as his heart more and more
acknowledged Ellen for IFS queen