Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-19

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But he had enough intelligence to see
that thousand bricklayers united
would have more to say about wages than
any one bricklayer could have, so he
joined the union. He was perfectly will
ing TO be one of the thousand simply, not
leader nor a talker. And he was willing
that the men who talked-as 1t seemed to
him so well-and who had the general ap-
pearance in his eyes of being men Of at
fairs, with talent for organization and
the boldness to assert whatever claims
the union decided on, should be the lead
ers. Everything seemed fair and right,
as they talked it over among themselves,
aud he tried to believe that the union was
strong enough to enforce its claims. He
was very sure that he could not do it
alone.
He could see that II all the members OF
his union were true to the motto that
was so much talked about everybody
would be benefited. San injury to one
is the concern of alp ne heard quoted
very often, and he knew he was honest
enough to live up to anything like that.
SO far as he could judge of his fellow
workmen he thought they would all do 80.
1t seemed little hard, to be sure,
when the strike was ordered, and he had
gone out Loyalty enough with the others,
that he should have to get along on so lit
tie as the union paid him every week, in
stead OF earning full wages, but he be-
lieved be had done right, and Mary was
too fond Of him to argue the matter at
length.
what have you gained, Robw she
asked, after the strike was ordered off.
She did not ask it saroastically, but in
simple good faith.
why, we are to get twenty-five cents
? q day more" said Bob. with some natural
3exultation. Mary said no more, though.
being quicker at figures than he, she
could not help figuring out IN her head
how long it would take to make up the
loss of tine strike. For four weeks they
had lived on 80 cents day less than ordi-
nary wages, and though she had tried
hard to avoid it, she had been obliged to
run up two bills-one with the grocer and
the other with the butcher. Perhaps
other wives might have done better. She
blamed herself often enough for not lIv-
ing on less money, but she was not speci-
ally gifted In that way, and she did the
best she knew how.
Then the job that the bricklayer was
working on was finished, and she thought,
without bitterness, but regretfully, that
! there had not been much gain by the
strike after all. No doubt Rob knew
best. She thought he did, at any rate,
for she was, like many other wives, apt to
overrate ner husband, though she could
; see bis little faults we'll enough.
But somehow Bob johnson did not get
another Job as soon as he expected. Work
was slack any way, and although he
could have taken non-union wages once
or twice and would have been glad to if
he had not joined the union, he was too
loyal to do that. He had In some way
been marked among the bosses as a dam
gerous man, for he had considerable in
fluence among his mates by virtue OF his
quiet, sensible ways and general good
character. Although he was not a leader,
he had certainly done a good deal to-
wards strengthening the resolution of
some of his weakened Fellow workmen,
and in some mysterious way the bosses
came to know abouti it. He was no longer
favorite with them.
All this, when he began to realize 1t,
perplexed and grIeved him, though it did
not shake his resolution.
81 shouldn't think the union would find
fault" said Mary one day when he had
come in tired and told her of having
refused job at short wages, ''if you
should take the work. We are all out of
money and q little is better than moth
ing.''
But Bob johnson had so sternly repu-
dated the idea of treason to the union
bDdJ sic sdtu nO IL WOuluuJ no
right" be said, and she couldn't ask him
to do wrong even If she did suffer. So
she suffered-almost starved herself. as
women will do, in order that Bob should
not be stinted, concealIng her hunger
from him again and again and Urging him
to finish the scanty meal. And week af-
ter week went by until it seemed a
daily miracle that there were any meals
at all.
To-day the very end had come. The
very last of everything IN the house had
been eaten. Baby had had the last Of
the milk. There was no money and moth
ing more that could be pawned or sold.
If Bob should come home with even lit
tie money they could get along. II he
didn't bring any she would take home her
sewing and try to get some, though it
was not paw day at the shop. She could
only earn % cents day, but that was
enough to keep her at work.
All day long she had swallowed moth
ing but water. She had given Rob the
last of the bread tor breakfast, pretend.
ing to be too busy at the time to eat. He
suspected nothing and she had been very
glad to see him eat it. And all day long
she had treasured that little portion OF
condensed milk for the baby, never
tempted for an instant TO take any of it
herself, though she was hungry and
faint. Rob would come home at O'Clock
or so, and perhaps he would have some
thing.
How long it seemed before O'Clock
camel 1t seemed to her from time to time
as if her strength would not hold out so
long, but never once did she falter, Till
just little before that hour, she finished
the garment she was busy making. 1t
was not worth while to begin another,
and she laid it aside and took up the
baby. 9r.. ..-t.,.
Baby had been whimpering again, and
she had tried not to hear it, though every
little sound went through her heart like a
knife. The poor little one had looked in
surprise at the mother that never before
had failed to come at it's call and had
ceased, but hunger was too strong for it,
and it began again, just as the mother
laid by her work.
Who can expect me to describe the
fierce tenderness of that mothers en-
brace, as she sat with her only child in
her arms, waiting for food that might not
would not? She could not
nurse it, though she would jOyfully have
done so, if 1t had even been her life blood
the little one would have drawn. All she
could do was to clasp the child in her
arms and wait.
AT last Bob johnson came, and again
you could have seen that plain, worn face
TRANSPORTED. Not only for her baby could
this poor woman suffer. The man she
loved so utterly might have been as cruel
as he pleased to her and she could not
have loved him less There was nothing