The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-05-12
DOING HIS DUTY.

Scattered over large building in course of
erection were number of workmen-car-
penters, masons and bricklayers-most of
whom kept their cars upon the stretch in ex-
pectation of the bell ringing to proclaim the
dinner hour, Hard by was the river, whero
a barge was moored and laborers bringing
planks from it to the building with the regu-
lar step characteristic of all work with
method in it.
The la5orers numbered about twenty in
all, and they were beaded by one who filed
the post of ''runner," that is, a man who
regulated the movements of the rest by lead
ing to and from the works. The man en-
ployed for the Office in this case, was one
Robert Ryan, a STEADY, earnest, sober man
Ryan was only a laborer, and it was as
much as he could do to read good print and
write his name occasionally when it was re-
quired; but he was a man with a strong
sense of what was right and wrong, and with
a decided leaning toward the right. It was
this feeling which prompte him to abandon
drink and join the temperance society, 81
may like beer" he said, "and I may like
loafine about in a public house with my
mates; but it is not right for me to do so
ers.'' So he gave up drink, fought out, by
Divine assistance, the fight with temptation
until he conquered, and then settled down.
a sober, happy man.
SObriety led to something better AS he
had not the public house to spend his Sun
days in, he wisely sought seat in Gods
house.
Such a man could not long pass unnoticed,
and Ryan was soon selected from the mass
of laborers and appointed to the post of
runner" for which he obtained an extra
sixpence a day. Mr.. Collins, his master,
would have done something more for him,
but Ryan's education was very defective,
and the post of foreman was for the present
out of the question. Ryan, however, was
content, and worked on, receiving his week
ly wages thankfully and spending them on
domestic comforts like a prudent man.
The laborers were marching from the
barge, each with plank upon his shoulder,
when the bell suddenly rang. The man
next to Rvau Immediately threw down his
plank, but Ryan walked steadily on.
''Hold hard, Ryan," cried the third man
did YOU hear the bell ?''
Z heard" !" said Ryan, ''but we have only
rttp oE bWO 10 90 WHY plbCn bue SbuU
about in the mud in that way ?''
The man who had thrown down his plank
took it up with surly air and fell into the
ranks again. Ryan walked to the building,
put his burden on the top of the pile, and the
rest, more or less sulky, followed his exam
pie.
''There," he said, ''Iook at the clock-not
quite a minute past and we have saved our
selves no end of trouble, and the master ten
minutes time by bringing our work to the
proper place.
''But time is time,'' urged the man who
had thrown down his plank "tbe master
expects us to be here at the minute, and we
like to leave off at the minute, too
''Still, stretching point in his favor now
and then does us no harm" returned Ryan,
''and think it the more manly thing to do -
The men did not stop to discuss the CUB
| ject then, but hurried away to dinner. Many
of them were far from home, and some had
their dinners brought others bought some
thing at the cook shop, but nearly all went
to the public house. There in the tap room
| the conduct of Ryan was discussed, and
Richard Morgan, the man who had thrown
down the plank. led the van in a TRADE
against the runner.
cit is bad enough to be nigger-driven by
the master,'' he said, ''but for one of our
| own lot to 90 against us is more than can
stand"
''But you must go with the runner" said
one of the listeners.
"With a runner" returned Morgan, 'but
not with Ryan. If l headed the gang You
should have easy times. 1 can tell you.''
''Until you got the sack, said the previous
| speaker, with laugh.
Morgan had a certain power of speech
/ "gift of the CAB" his mates called it-and
until it was time to return to work he held
forth on Ryan's base conduct, and found
many willing ears.
! From that time Ryan became a marked
man; the men followed him as of old, but
/ they did all they could to annoy him. He
was powerful man and could easily have
beaten any one of his assailants but he
steadily refused to fight, ard bade them 90
home and think ard then return TO their
work wiser men.
After time Ryan's patience bore fruit
and many of the men ceased to annoy him
but Morgan, with the raneor of little mind.
only grew more furious as ne saw the chance
of running Ryan slipping away. Day and
plight, in work and out of work, he kept his
tongue going. calling his fellow laborers
"slaves," F" and was very great on the subject
of "division of property which would ena.
BILE every man to live in peace and comfort
-''without work"
The men often laughed at his extravagani
assertions but some of his ideas took root
I and a feeling of discomfort gradually be-
| came general. MISUNDERSTANDING were de
veloped into deliberate assaults upon the
/ liberty and comfort of the men, hasty words
magnified into studied insults. and the train
was laid for one of those suicidal movements
1 called "a strike.''
4 While this was impending, Ryan was call.
/ ed to account before a committee of the men.
who held their meeting in a field close to the
work
/ Morgan attended as an accuser, with the
majority of the men employed as audience.
I Ryan's answer was as follows
/ i've heard Morgan" said he, looking
/ that man boldly and honestly in the face
''and 1 can only say that it isn't true in the
main, and, although 1 can'texactly point out
where it IS untrue. Morgan's got good
/ head, and I've got just sense enough to know
what's right, and that's all. According to
my notion of things, 1 only do my dnty, and
as / am paid for it / shall do it while have
the health and strength to keep at my work
l don't say that the masters are always right,
because they are not continued Ryan
''but when a man undertakes to do his work
he ought tn do IL and if no dces soma tiuac