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

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career? Could the union he'll him no
more than this? Did it pay TO be loyal?
One after another these questions drifted
through his mind with no answer. He
even accused himself OF disloyalty in
thinking of the last one. 1t seemed to him
even then as if he ought TO be loyal with
out thinking whether it paid or not. and
he felt satisfied that he could have done
even that If he had had nobody else to
think of but himself, but to see his baby
cry for food and he unable to get 1t almost
killed him. 1t seemed more than anybody
ought to be expected to suffer even for
the sake OF loyalty. He was reasonably
clear thinker on one thing at time, but
when one thing that seemed right was
completely upset by another thing that
was certainly right, it was very hard for
him to think clearly.
Then Mary came in. There was no need
OF words to tell of her failure. She stag
gered with weakness as she took up her
child, and clasping IL closely burst out
crying. 1t would have been hysterical
weeping ii trouble had had fine names in
that house. AS it was, it was only poor
starving woman crying, not for herself,
but for her baby.
Bob johnson said nothing. What could
he say? He put on his hat and went out.
AS he passed her be laid his hand 'tenderly
on Mary's head and smoOthed her hair
with a little tender gesture, but he did not
stoop to kiss her. He felt as If he would
cry, too, If he should do that, and he did
not know how to cry.
After little time he came in with
food. Poor as the grocer was, and nearly
as he had ruined himself by giving credit.
he could not refuse Bob johnson when
he told in few words what the situation
was.
"But can't do any more, johnson. )" he
said. ~ really cannot,'
'Ill go to work Tomorrow" said Bob.
And he did. Long after his wife had
sobbed herself 10 sleep. and the little one
was contentedly nesting in her arms,
sleeping too, he sat thinking, or trying to.
1t was very hard that he should have to
be "scab." He had never had any
mercy for such in his judgment before,
and he hadn't much for himself now, but
he had said to himself, 81 don't see how
can help it," and by saying it over and
over he tried to comfort himself,
In the morning there WAS not much
said. Baby was sick, and Mary was very
busy. Before Bob went out, though, be
said with a great effort. "I'm going to
work this morning." and she looked up
with glad hopefulness In her face, and
began to sneak. "Ohl | am so''-she
began, and then seeing his face she stop
ped.
There was strike in progress among
the drivers OF borsecar company, and he
knew how to manage horses. He had
been brought up in the country. So he
went to the stables. just outside he met
one of his mates, and the latter, guessing
in some way what Johnson's errand was,
said bitterly:
$50 you'd take the bread out of those
poor fellows mouths, would you, you
damned scab."
''God help me, yes" said Johnson,
but his heart was too full for him 10
finish by saying "to put it in my baby's
mouth
And all day long he worked away in
logged silence, listening to jeers and in
suits on every side: feeling that the
policeman who rode with him to protect
him despised him; feeling, worst OF all,
that he despised himself, and trying to
feel that he ought not 10. He didn't sue
coed, for there are some minds that can
not throw away settled convictions even
when forced to act counter to them. and
his was one.
At night he went home. The railroad
people warned him that he'd better stay
at the depot. but he would not. And as he
went he knew be was marked man, and
was liable to be assaulted at any time
during the strike, at least. "We1," he
thought, that's right enough. l ought to
be thrashed, and ] won't shirk it," and
suffering agony In his own humiliation he
went his way. There was no thought of
giving up his WORK. He had to do what
be was doing for Mary and the baby, but
1t was hard.
Then he entered his room. and for the
first time Mary did not look up. She
sat with baby on her lap, staring at the
little one with horror and grief he
had never seen in her face, Baby was
dead. q