Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1888-02-14
CHAPTER XIV.
wOMAN'S SYMPATHY.

Bertha has returned, mover to leave her
| vcr again. in safety, and still faithful to
him; his fears were unfounded, his suspi-
cions rcbuLcd. It was only last evening that
ho had looked into her beautiful eyes once
moro and it was to-day she had told him he
might como again. 1t was O great day for
Philip for another reason. He was to break
ground this morning for a new mill, whose
walls and foundations would be laid in love
and justice. In the mill yard a hundred la
borcrs waited with their spades over their
shoulders, and with them the young mill
owner, grosping spade like tho rest. at the
contractors word the iron glistened in tho
sunlight. and in an instant more hundred
and one spades struck earth. Ten thousand
eager workmen all over the land were wait
ing Oh tho undertaking. Each night 100
anxious tongues will ask how many feet tbs
now walls have risen that day; will reproach
tho masons if they are slow, will bless them
if they work nightly.
Tho looms in tho Breton mills are still to-
day, tho great water wheel is unharneSsed
from tho myriad belts, while the men and
women and children gathered around the
great para'1clogram marked out by tho engi
neers for the foundation Of the new mill 1t
was to be their mill, too, and the face # the
poorest creature Of them all reflected little
of tho blessed hope which was making life
over for them. Not a voice was heard. For
tho moment all eyes were fixed on the bend
ing forms. Philip Breton's slight form was
bent, too, as he drove his spade deep into the
stubborn sod. Every laborer stayed his
hand until tho young master threw up the
first earth. Then cheer broke from each
brawny throat, and every spade at once
lifted it's burden Of green turf.
The hundred l2borerS bent again to their
task, aud the frightened daisies trembled on
their green stems. but Philip, spade in hand,
had mounted the steps Of the nearest mill,
and now looked down kindly on the opera
tives who gathered expectantly about him,
II mean that not one injustice shall ever
desecrate these new walls. mean that the
mill shall DO temple Of cooperation. I be-
ieve tho world is just entering on new
epoch, moro glorious than any before, because
| blessings that have been confined to the few,
| comforts that have comforted only the few,
leisure and amusement, even, that has
c.cered only the few, shall be universal; that
each hand that tills the earth shall share in
it's bountlful harvests, which now pack the
store houses of few i'll useless profuSlon;
that each hand that weaves our cloth shall
share in it's profits according to his worth. 1t
isn't because the world is so poor that you
have bocn poor SO long; but because its wealth
is wasted Yet be patient. Violence only
destroys, it does not build up, and every ar
| ticle of wealth destroyed leaves so much less
! of your heritage. We will not work any
! more today; it shall be q holiday to be kept
| sacred in our memories, as an inspiration to
! more faithful labor and more honest, con-
| tented lives.
| But for o moment no one moved, till he
| leaned his spade against the wall, and started
to come down. Then nlurnlur ran through
the crowd till it swelled to cheer, and as be
made his way out, he had to clasp thou
sand din.y hands, reached out to the young
| master in token of the love and trust Of q
thousand frightened lives
| His destiny that had frowned SO long and
| so terribly, smiled at last AS if by O. miracle
his life, that had seemed SO dreary and bar
rcn, was become oath of flowers, All
dangers were averted, all evils turned into
| blessings, and 1T was SO short time ago that
no saw no spark Of Joy In life. It had
bcc:l like a day when the clouds had shut
| lway tho sun, and settled gloomily over the
Harth for storm. A shadow creeps into
very human face, darkness covers in every
ONO, the birds luttcr in terror from tree to
rec, or nestle fearfully in their retreats.
The very brooks moan instead OF babbling
.2cn suddenly the summer sun burns
trough the clouds, which scatter to thei1
'aves beneath the hills; the ripping rivers
iiten and sparkle like rarest jewels, and the
,rsts break forth in song as they mount il
,itasy toward the sunlight, Not human
ing bat brightens into sudden gla<lncss. Sc
'ort time ago he thought life only dull
cclcss struggle. that he rose in the morn.
heavy and disheartcned, that no lay down
night, careless it be slept forever. But
denly the world looked like an enchanted
| To Philir1 RrpflT-1 n111 hiS Ii sf,f,fnt,
perfect as q day In paradise.
1T wa5 OF . o'clock that he was To cd tc
4,a.a.ld, and it was only 2 when be war ready
I'd waiting In bis study for this last slow
our between him and happiness 10 sliI
ray. He looked Up The street aud down
| ain, but the street; Gore quite deserted; BIT