The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-12-02
JUDGE NOT.

Tn the ante-room of Meredith & Son S
great co ton factory in Philadelphia a
group OF girls were standing engaged in
an animated discussion. They were all
young. some pretty, all dressed neatly,
though many wore ill-chosen and unbe-
coming tinery. One of these, who had
a mock gold chain and bracelets and a
proIuslon of jet trimmings upon cheap
silk dress, spoke very emphatically: 1T
is the stingiest proceeding L ever heard
Off
"What are you all so excited about?"
asked u pretty little blonde coming in
from the loom-room.
ELLEN Churchillr'
"Dear me! What has she been do
ing now You are always discussing
some dreadful deed of Ellen's l like
her myself
Eyes, we all know that" said the
first spea er; "you will defend any
thing Ellen does.'
"But what has she done?'
REFUSED to sign the subscription list
for the tankard to be presented Mr.. Rod
man.
And Mr.. Rodman has been such a
good friend to herr" said third voice,
The little blonde, Susy Whiting, by
name, looked rather staggered at the
new accusation against her friend Mr..
Rodman, manager for Meredith IL Son
Tor nearly fifty years, was about to re-
tire on account of the intrmities OF age,
and the persons engaged in the great
factory were collecting money to buy u
silver tan6ard to present to him. He
was kindly old man and always ready
to lend helping hand to the small army
of WORK. people under his control; so
that the presentation was really 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 a life OF
refinement to the hard drudgery of a
factory hand. Her low, even tone be-
trayed the lady IN its well-chosen 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 a
long period of contagious fever, win
ming the devotion of that little maiden,
and the manager soon put her into posi-
lions OF trusttlll 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 a
good style of living and dressing. In
the great boarding house, where seventy
OF the girls had rooms, she could web
afford to pay for the best, to contribute
TO the amusements 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 cheap
est of food Her dress was of the
coarsest description. made by her own
hands, and no ornament broke its 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 what does 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?"
'Perhaps she supports her parentspn