The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-17
UNSELFISH KATY.
How She Made Hundreds Of Homes
Happier by Her Sacrifice.

1I0 PIOSpECG ~, ne Sdl0 To ul1LS6iI,
"that my-income for the present year
willreach fifteen Thousand pounds. That
is a tidy sum for one who started as a
poor boy. And I am not so old, either.
Just turned of sixtyt There is more
than n noblemaasin the 3ingdomt that
would be. glad OF John Grifath.s. income.
NJ Katy Will have q rich dowry."
Hewas interrupted here by the en-
trance of a servant
"Mr. Griffith. he said, ...there are
three men ebelow who would like to see
you"
"Three men?2
eyes, sir. They are not gentlemen"
said the servant, who understood the
question. 'sThey are-men from the mill,
I'm thinking"
every we'll; show them up
twas a holiday and the works were
not in operation, so that the operatives
weresof work.
Then was heard the tramp of heavy
bootson the staircase and presently en-
tered three men, who dress and appear
ance indicated clearly that they belonged
to the class who are doomed to earn their
daily bread by hard and unremitting
labor.
what is your business with me, my
menY' asked Mr.. Griffith, rising and sur
veying them with interest. care you
employed in the mflly
eyes, sir,'' said the foremost, Hugh
Roberts; "yes, Mr.. Griffith, sir, we are
employed in the mill, and its about that
we've con1e-to see you"
Every well, said John Griffith, re-
Stunning his seat, s'speak on, whatever
you have to7say tome"
ssIt's this, Mr. Griffith, sir, and | hope
you won't be offended at what / say.
w came here to humbly beg that you
would be pleased to raise u wages.
'sTo raise yonr sEagesrv exclaimed MI.
Grifithin a d~ispleasedE tone.
eyes, sir. I hope you won't be Of
Tended"
Don't / give as high wages as are
paid in other millsg'
"Mayhap you do, sir; but it's very
hard to get along on three shillingsa
day.
"But if / should pay higher wages
than others they could tl1derse1l me in
the market"
81 don't know, sir, but I think we
should work more cheerful and do more
in a day if we felt that we had a little
more to live on, 50 that the wife and
children needn't have to pinch and go
hungry"
These words were uttered in a manly
and straightforward tone, and there was
notsa little pathos in them, butt seemed
lost upon Mr.. Griffith.
Its only sixpence more a day we ask
sir,s said Hugh Robertsspleadingly.
Mr. Griffith made a mental calcutta
ton. He had three hundred men IN his
employ. Hefound that sixpence a day
additional would make a sum total dur
ing the year of over two thousand
pounds. This rejection hardened his
heart against the applicants.
mo" he said, ssyour request is I'M
reasonable; 1 cannot accede to It,"
"But, sir" said Hugh Roberts, think
what it is to support a family on three
shiflings a day
eft is hard, no dodbt,p said Mr.. Grit
fifth; s'but I cannot afford to make the
advance you DESIRE
s'Then yon refuse, STRIP
81 do. If you can do any better of
course I won$ prevent your bettering
yourselves
1--WE can't DO better, sir" said Hugh,
bitterly, crushing his hat between his.
toll hardened fingers. 1--WE have nc
other way to live, exceptto work for you
and take what You repleased to pay
Think it over, my men,1 said Mr..
Griffith more good hprnoredly, for he
had carried his point, ''and you viii see
that Ican't paymore than other MANI
facturers. I've no doubt your wives and
children will earn something to help you
along,n
The three men departed with sad
faces, looking as if life were a weary
struggle, with little to cheer it.
Scarcely hadsthey left the room when
Katy Griffith entered.
Born when her father was compare
lively late in life sheswas his darling
and the lightSof his existence. 1t was for
her that he wished to become very rich,
that he might make her d match for the
highest, as he.was won't to express it.
ssThey will overIookold John Grifith's
pedigree. he said to himself, sif his
daughter has a good hundred thousand
pounds to her dowry."
Katy entered, a bright eyed, attrac-
tive girl Of, TO- of whom her father might
well be proud.
"Hew are you, my dariing?' said her
father, smiling fondly upon her.
''Tm always well,r she said lightly;
ssbut, papa, who were those poor men
that / met on tho stairs? Had you beer
scolding therny
What ma;Ses you ask. Katv::a
Because they looked so sad and dis
Outraged
did theyg' asked Mr.. Griffith, with
mornentary compuncSicn.
eyes, papa! andT heard one of them
sigh, as if he were tired of living.n
"They weTsmen fromthesnaiil, Katy
"And what did they come for9 Do
you tell them about the work."
mo; the overseer does that."
"Then what did they come for?:"
"You are very curious, my darling
"That isn't telling me, papa" said the
young lady persistehtly.
ssThen if Won mrst know. it was to