New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19


head as he sees the tears come suddenly, with a
Not so, not so. Lisa"
Il know not II shall live at all" she saws.
For see. We two. my Gretchen and l. we make
but ten for q day. Tree dollar? Yes, but you
must take from 1t de button-hole an finish and
much else, and 1t is so short-so short that we
can work on them. The season. that is it-six
weeks-two months. maybe, and then pantaloon
till spring Jacket come See. 1t is early that
we begin seven, maybe, and all day we shall
sew and sew. We eat no warm essen On table
dere is bread and beer in pitcher and cheese to-
day. We sit not down. for time goes away so.
No. we stand and eat we must and sew more
and more. Ten jackets TO one day-so Gretchen
and me can make ten jackets to one day. but we
sit always-we go not out. 1t is fourteen hours
efery day-yes many times sixteen, we work and
work. Then we fall on bed and sleep and when
we wake again 1t is work always And 1 must
stop leetle; not much but a leetle, for my back
Colt is it living TO work so in this rich. free
American But he is sick always. my man. even
II he VIII laugh He say he must laugh Away
for two because / cannot For when this work
Is past 1t is only pantaoons, and hard as
we may 1t Is five. six pair maybe for Gretchen
and me all day and that not always Many day
we do nothing because they say work Is dull and
then goes away all we save before. But we need
not to ask help. So much is good that we work
and earn but think die soon Of my pain and
who then helps his fingers stiff to press or
thinks how he will ache even when he viii laugh ?
1t is because America is best that we come but
how is 1t best to die because it is always work
and no Joy. no hope, never one so small stop"
Never one so small stop" For the attic had
the same story and the white-faced. hollow-eyed
W fri cd To smile tho ad
also from the waiting pile of jackets and drew
one or two back to the sheet spread for them on
the floor to which they had slipped. A table and
two chairs. a small stove in which burned a bare
handful Of Goals. the two machines at one OF
which girl Of twenty still sewed on. and in the
corner bed on which lay another girl. of the
same age. but with the crimson SPOT her cheeks
and the shining eyes Of advanced consumption.
1t had been one Of the faces so often seen behind
the counters Of the great stores delicate in feat
ures and cooring. with soft dark eyes and fair
masses Of hair loose the pillow.
Il try to keep her tidy" the mother said. "but
she can't bear her hair UP minute. it's so heavy
on her head. an I've time to tend to it but the
minute / take in the morning. It's Jackets now
that I'm on. | thought maybe there'd be less
isk In them than cloaIIs ClOalIs seem TO give
ON much chance TO cheat | wouldn't work OF
had good run Of work, but there's Maggie and
[ can't leave her. though God knows she gets little
.ood of me but the knowing Pm here III tell
you what they did TO me on cloalxs l work for
s. Co.. far down on Broadway and they give
out the most expensive kind OF clOalIs ami 50
dozen for the making other kinds too, but I'd
been on them good while and knew just how
The pay was regular but before I'd had work
from them month | they were bound to
make complaints and dock pay whether there was
any fault in the work not. One and another
look their turn and help for it. for If they
the foreman just said You needn't
lake any work unless you like. There are plenty
waiting to fill your place Poor souls What
could they do but 60 on?
AT last came my turn. He tossed them all
over. It's poor work. he said. They're not
inished properly. You can't be paid for botching
There's 50 and that's too much The work is
he same it's always been. There's no botchins.'
said but he held out the So No. said. II |
ou won't pay fair I'll go TO the Woman's Pro
ective Union and what they'll do His face |
vas black thunder. Take your money he
ays, holding out the rest but you may sing for
more work from this establishment and he flung
he money on the floor That didn't trouble me.
because knew could get work Just below. and
i'd that same day twenty cloal1s. ten to be made
had Angie here to help, and when they were
lone l carried them down. This man was Jew.
,ut there's small difference. II the Jew knew
'est how to cheat in the beginning the Christian
aueht up with him long ago. The buttons are
III on wrong, he said. told you to set them aD
nch further back. Wen have to alter them |
very one and charge you for the time can
AXE oath they are on as | was told TO put them |
n said, but if they must be changed III |
hsnge them myself and save the money
ut took long talking to make him agree, but |
4 last he said could come next morning but one |
nd he'd let alter them a great favor
lid come down. but he said they couldn't wait |
nd had made the chance and he charged me So |
or what he said was my mistake IL was 10 use |
o complain He could swear had done the Job |
rrong. and so | went home with So so instead Of |
Il for nearly forLnghts work. l changed the
lace. and so lar nobody has locked me. but doing |
ny best and Angie working as steady do we |
ant make more than twenty cents jacket |
nd it's a short season. When it's over do coats.
ut it's less pay than jackets. and there's living |
nd Maggie's medicine and the doctor. though he |
gon't take ANYTHING I'd feel better il he did. |
ut he won't Annie used TO be in factory. but |
here's the baby now. and she doesn't know what
ray TO turn but this. See, he's here by Maggie
he sick girl lifted corner Of the quilt and some
hing stirred-a baby Of seven or eight months
those great eyes looked out from face weakened
nd sharpcned, deep experience seeming craven in
very hne.
.IIe's q wise one" the sick girl said. Hes
ound it's no use to cry and he likes to be by me
ecause it's warm But he frightens me some
Tes for he just lies and looks at me as if he
new a million things and could tell them every
no. He's always hungry and maybe that makes
i'm wiser Pm sure could tell some things that
eople don't know"
The words came with gasps between. 1t was
lain that what she had TO tell must find speedy
steiner if it were TO be heard at all but for that
ay at least the story must wait Here as in
Their places the cloalJmalSer was earning from
xty to seventy cents day, but even this was
,mfort and profusion compared with the facts
i, ed II and in q