The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-12
THE FACTORY GIRL

Hat was RATHER rash resolve for the rich En-
zS lily Merrel to make, but she had been
~ "darcd'' by her gay friend, Charles, that she
~ would not have courage to Try The role OF a
- factory gin in earnest. Whether she succeeded,
this story vii! tell.
ANY more wolk?'
Mr.. Parsons. lie foreman, did not exactly
Know. He couldn't tell without reference 10 his
beoks. He rather thought not. There Was such
a rush of applicants just now the market was
Oveferowded.
Emily Merrell lifted her soft eyes 10 The face
Of tie foreman in tile hoop-skiIt factory with 4
sort Of mute surprise when lie demanded bo-
nus
MT. Parsons smoolhed his sleek. shaver chin
with an air OF the most disinterested innocence.
"Of course a man can't be expected 10 Use special
influence aud take extra trouble for nothing"
Einliy Metrell Opeled her pOrlem9Dnaie and
took out 4 worn $40 oil, which she laid on The
desk before which the myrmIdon OF power was
sealed.
ali you cared for situation as trimmer.
Any situation would suit me-" interrupted
Emily, eagerly.
Why didn't you say so beforeo The tim
mers don't get such good wages but there Is 4
chance for promotion, TO be sue. There Is
place vacant among The trimnletS. Liza Martin
went home last week 10 tie country, Will bad
touch OF bleedug al the lungs; you can have her
place al the table II You like H."
- What are the wages, SHY " she asked.
Wen, our firm does the liberal Thing. Three
dollars Week"
And Emily MerTell found herself forced 10 &C
Tie long room was full of the CLEAN of white,
weary faces and the buzz Of many voices when
The e. new hand " took her place IN lie nook That
poor Liza Martin was destined never more 10
oecuPy. The girls looked at her with lnlmical
elances.
Puts on airs" said Betsey HYDE.
We don't want any tne ladies IN this Trim
mng-Toom " said Cara Jones who had endea-
vured 10 secure the situation for her sister
HUid-l lint had failed being UOsseSSel of
The $40 bill.
In vain did Emily Merren Try, in her gentle,
shrinking way. 10 make fIieBds with the pale
faced, shliil-loneued girls who surrounded her;
IT seemed 10 lie lie fashion generally 10 snub and
ignore her.
piieousy, of Laura Ellis. the one among tile
ranks who was least Insulting.
ION, because you are not OF their sort" said
Laura. They think you are proud and stuck
up. Besides YOU board at Widow Hawey's
who pEetends 10 have seen better days
How pale LEY all ate," she salG, inyolun-
'Fale !" echoed a wistfuI-faced young widow.
whose dark, earnest eyes seemed 10 grow larger
and brighter day by day. They are tolling
themselves into their graves at starvation
..But MI Althorpe who owns Tie factory. Is
said 10 be a generous hearted man, is lie nOt?''
"alr. AlthO:pe? Yes, PERHAPS 20, but he as
serts that lie pays The same prices as other fac
Tory propTietO,s."
"Aud That is 100 little"
100 little 10 begin with How would Mr.. AL
thorpe Ike that young wife OF his to work all day
long for The piltauce he pays these 80 elrls?"
Emily winced a lille.
But that isn't tie worst of it," persisted Mrs.
Blodgett. The small wages our girls receive
are lessened 10y the eXtoItlonate demands levied
by that hal py, MIR. PRrsons-a regular system OF
biackmail. Oh, l think such meanyipers should
not be allowed 10 lye!"
She spoke with emphasis. and, turning at the
same moment, started to observe the small, sly
eyes of the foreman liked upon her.
much obliged for your good opinion, MAJ am
he said al shall nave work Tor
you after Saturday night Mrs Blodgelt."
Tie poor young widow grew pale. for upon her
weekly wages depended tie subsistence Of AL
aged mother and Two little ones.
Poor Emily! But the worst OF her trials were
yet 10 come. As she hurried down the long room
The next day she slipped on piece Of orange
peel and fell spTaining her ankle.
All tile girls stood aloof regarding her as their
natural ENEMY, and only kiud-hesrted Mrs
Blodgett hurried to her assistance.
Are you much hurt ?'' Sac asked, sympathiz
iDgIy.
" Shall go Tor d.! Wexford ?"
III you would be so kind.'
Mrs, BIocgett hurried away and Emily Mer.
rel, scs.ied on low chair by the window, could
r0l'Uut hear the whispered remarks OF Tie other
hands" as they pretended To he absorbed over
their work
Well, 1 always said that pride would have a
fall" declared Helen Jennings"
Emily turned herself round with difficulty and
looked with gentle, reproachful eyes al her ene-
Young ladies'" said she in low tremulous
lone, " II you knew why"
But the hah-utieted sentence was broken off
by the opening of door and the entrance Of Il
TALL stylish gentleman. whom they all knew as
MIR. Althr0pe, the proprietor OF Tie factory.
Emily" he exclaimed, turning pale as bis
eyes fell upon her face, 'are you hurt ?''
"Oh, Charles ~ and Emily Althorpe swOoned
upon her husbands shoulder.
But she had won her guerdon; and that same
evening lie girls learned through Mrs. Blodgett
that Their employers noble young wife had taken
her place among them TO win from her husband
an increase OF wages the tier consideration Of
their comforts, and, best OF all, the prompt dis
missal of Mr.. Parsons.
Now, hope II win do you good to learn this,
after the shabby way in. which YOU have treated
her." said the little widow. maliciously.
The girls were silent-gords we're pOwerless 10
express their shame and modification.
But brighter day had dawned upon the fac
tory hands, and Emily AlIhOrpe never forgot the
week she had speut as working grl.-Ex-