The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-05-12
ENSBURG, PA. FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1882.


right, and no man can be right unless he
does his DUTY
Ryan's notions were not particularly pop
ular, but his words carried weight with them.
More than one listener felt that he only act
ed as an honest man but Morgan and his
followers were the stronger party, and at a
private meeting in the evening it was deci-
ded that round robin should be sept in
against the runner demanding his dismis-
sal. 1t was drawn up, signed by the com
mittee and put before the men on the NOR
row. The majority signed easily enough !;
but a few did it partly against their will
Mr.. Collins received the message from his
men and said he would consider it. He laid
it before bis partner a gentleman who had
money in the business, but no practical
knowledge of It, and the pair weighed over
the consequence of refusing the unseemly
request. Mr.. Collins knew the character of
Ryan and liked him. In his branch he was
the best man upon the works, and it was
much against his desire to part with him.
eff we give way this time,'' he said ''we
shall soon have another request one impossi-
BILE to comply with. perhaps. I have seen
the feeling growing among the men we
have too many takers, and a strike is inevi-
table; it may as well come now as month
hence"
And so it was decided. The answer was
sent TO the men. and it was ''NO."
This brought the storm down. A hurried
and angry meeting was held, with Morgan
and others fer speakers, and they al! advo-
Gated one thing-"Strike and bring the mas
ters to their Senses Notice of the strike
was given, and on Saturday the works were
closed
Then followed the usual state of things
PiclIets were posted in every avenue leading
to the works to stop men from coming, and
the men not so employed stood about in
groups talking over the strike or lounged
about in the bar of the public house discuss
ing the same thing There was little or no
violence at first the men we're for the most
part disposed to be peaceable, and were i'm
bued with firm conviction that they were
in the right; ard Ryan, who was still kept
on at the works doing odd Jobs. went to and
fro without molestation. This did not suit
Morgan. who, being thriftless man. soon
began to feel the want of the usual wages.
He had an allowance from the society, but
that speedily went for people like him who
talk all day cannot do without drink, and
Morgan had a most decided weakness for
beer. His rancor increased with his penury
ard it was not long before he persuaded
himself that all his deprivations we're the
work of Ryan.
Morgan did no5 want for men whose
thoughts conceded with his own, and a
threatening letter-anonymous, of course /;
your threatening letter fellows are always
cowards-was sent to Ryan, warning him
not to go near the works. Ryan treated it
with contempt, and went as usual. Four
days later he was struck from behind on the
road home and fell insensible. Mr.. Collins
himself discovered him there and had him
taken to his own home and an eminent sur
geon was sent for.
He was pronounced by the surgeon to be
severely hurt. but not dangerously so, and
the next day he was removed to his home. -
His master, who entered it then for the first
time, was astonished at its neatness and
comfort but he was still more astonished
when, on asking Mrs Ryan if she wanted
money, she answered quietly:
''No, thank you, sir we have nearly sixty
pounds in the saving bank. It's bad job
for Robert, but we can, with Gods blessing,
pull through"
LAY, sir.'' said Ryan. turning his pale
face toward his master, eve shall, believe,
pull through but we thank you all the
same"
As Mr.. Collins walked home that night he
tried to think of some plan by which he
could benefit Ryan without breaking in
upon his independence. Pecuniary help
was not what he wanted but surely there
were other ways to put him up the ladder of
life. The problem puzzled him all the even
ing, but he hit upon the solution before go
ing to rest.
On the morrow he visited Ryan again and
found him much better, sitting by the fire,
with his child upon his knee. After few
remarks about the injured mans health, Mr..
Collins said "Would you like to be better
educated, Ryan ?''
'I should like it very much, sir. L have
tried to improve myself, but / am very slow. a"
''Self teaching is very slow work." return
ed Mr.. Collins "yOu want somebody to help
you. Now my son is a smart young fellow,
and would give you few lessons with pleas
ure. What do you say to his coming here an
hour or so every day while the works are
closed? 1 shall not let you work while
things are in the present loose condition
but when we 90 on again you can still have
your lessons in the evening""
Ryan was highly pleased with the offer,
and so was Mrs. Ryan, and even the little
one laughed and crowed as if it understood
all about it and it was settled that the less
ons should begin in two days from that time.
Mr.. Collins, Jr., found that he had rather
an apt pupil than otherwise, and the way
Ryan got through the rudiments of reading,
writing and arithmetic was equally astonish-
ing 70 both teacher and pupil; and when
Mrs. Ryan, with her own eyes, as she re-
marked to a neigh5or. ''saw Robert work
out a rule of three sum, she thought she
must be dreaming :" and as for his writing,
she declared that it ''might be little large,
but it was almost as good as print" Ryan
himself was so amazed at his progress that
he could think of little else, and piece of
chalk in his hand was all he required to be
set to work upon the nearest board, working
out all sorts of arithmetical questions.
The fact was that Robert had, to use a
homeIy phrase, ga turn for figures aud his
latent talent was now being developed-the
foundation of his future fortune was being
laid. All this, of course, took up time, aud
all that time the strike had been going on
with the inevitable consequences-men de-
moralized, homes ruined, wives and families
made miserable, and the public houses the
only gamers.
So several weeks passed, and then stern
necessity took many of the men away
Nroroap tho lact m o0-and fhar tho