The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-01-24
THE LITTLE FOLKS
nY COUSIN

ssO A1Oye
DY COUSIN GERTRUDE.
The great factory in the little village
of b stood idle. 1t was not a hol.
iday, but its leathern bands hung
loose and the whirrand click of It's ma.
chinery vas silent. The factory hands
were collected in little groups here and
there on the streets, some of them talk.
ing in sullen tones, others in an angry,
excited manner.
"He will rue the day" said one burly
workman, "when he cut down on
S Tases CURSE Be s!m y ones they were at
Gle don't believe in live and let
live,'" said another. $50 his house be
runnin' over with plenty, he cares not
how we poor 'uns has t scrape and
pinch to keep from starvin'."
"True for you, Tom," replied the
first speaker, Bill Nevins. "Boys,
meet me tonight in my room. / have
a plan to tell you then" he continued,
as he separated from his companions.
Mr.. Clayton, the owner of the fac
! tory, was a hard, stern man. He be-
lieved in grinding from his workmen
all the labor practicable at the small
est possible cost. He had never been
known to speak q kind, pleasant word
to any Of them, and while they labored
for him because they were compelled to
earn a living, they hated and despised
their employer.
Early that morning he had called
the men together and informed them
that US business was unusually dull he
felt compelled to lower their wages.
They listened in silence until he had
finished speaking; then they talked to-
gether, and Bill Neyins, advancing to
the front. said:
MIR. Clayton, we have agreed that
our wages bent now not half what they
Int to be, and not for one cent less
will we lift our hands to do.a lick of
your work" And his heavy. rough fist
came down upon a table with resound-
ing emphasis.
Mr.. Clayton exhorted his workpeo-
pie to be reasonable" but to no p,,r-
pose. Without another word, headed
by Bill, they walked out of the build
lng--men, women, and children-and
gathered together into the groups of
which we have spoken.
One barcfootel nrchin, with o thin.
pale face, stood near the crowd clus-
tered around Bill Nevins. Poor little
Ned Williams! He wandered what was
going to become of him now. He had
no father o mother, and his scanty
earnings had paid for a crust and a
lodging with a cross old woman, Bet
sey Mingate. or old Bctsey, us her
neighbors called her.
Ned knew that she would storm MT
him when he told her that even his
small wages must cease for the present.
lie was i'll no hurry to seek his poor
abode, though faint for want of proper
food. After listeningto the last words
OF Bill, he. too, wandered off, but in a
different direction from that taken by
the others.
Down the street he went, past dinev
stores, until he reached u wide, shady
avenue which led to the woods. Pres
emily he came to the beautiful home of
the factory owner. He stopped and
stood peeping through the palings of
the fence, his heart burning at the in
Justice done to himself and his friends.
A lofty white mansion. built in the
latest style, a long stretch of green
lawn before it, and beautiful flowers
this was what he saw. But something
else attracted his attention.
Near the gate, romping with an inn
mense Newfoundland dog, was n little
girl about eight Years old. He knew
her 10 be Mr.. Clayton's only child.
Soft golden hair waved around her fair
face, and a pair of blue eyes danced
with fun as the dog brought her the
ball which she had tossed away for him.
to find. Ned thought she looked like
a picture he had seen in IN old story
book once loaned to him. He Won
dered ii she knew what it was to be
hungry.
Suddenly she spied him, and drop
ping the ball timidly approached the
fence. Lifting her blue eyes to his,
she said:
What is Your name, little boy?"
Ned he muttered.
"Yon look so thin and pale" she
said. Are you hungry"
I'm always hungry" said poor Ned.
Are you? l'mso sorry! Wait until
l come back"
Quick as thought she darted into
the house, but presently returned,
bringing q dainty package containing
bread, meat, and q slice of pie. which
she handed to the boy.
. His eyes sparlled at sight of the
food, aud with u grateful "TIank YOU"
he passed on. That small act of kind
ness performed by the factory owners
little daughter wiped from his memory
the bitterness OF her fathers treatment
OF himself and the other factory hands.
At night he wandered with the crowd
which gathered in Bill Nevins' room to
discuss his "plan." His rough face
Wore q Threatened look. He reviewed
in his talk their oppression for so many
months, and ended by saying:
"And now, friends, this last act of
Oscar C~layton's has been too much.
L am IN favor of revenge. What say
you, LADS"
Revenge! revenge!" echoed on all
sides.
The company had grown into a
turbulent mob, ready to do and dare
anything.
LET us burn his house to the
ground!" yelled one.
eyes, yes! We will, we will" was
the unanimous cry.
Ned heard the rioters as they made
their arrangements. The next night
at IL o'clock the deed was to be done.
They feared no thwarting of their plan.
Had mot ooch orH oil loo, 11..