Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1890-09-16
KATYS SACRIFICE

John Griffith, q rich English mann.
fActurer. AT In room In his elegant
mansion one day In autamn. To ~ Il.
by his face. his reflections were of an
agreeable nature.
''rhe prospect is," he sAid to himself.
'tha, my income for the prc-eni ycar
will reach fiftecn thousand pounds That
.a tidy sum for one who started as
poor boy. And ann no. ~ old, either.
Just turnel u sixty, There Il more
than CA. noblsman In the kingdom that
would H. glai of John 0rifiiihs income.
Nv Katy will have q rich dowry."
He was interrupted here by the en-
.ranc. ~ q s-ryant.
"Mr. Griffith.- he aid. "ther- are
,hrcc men below who would like to -
you.-
"Thrce mcnY'
"Ys-, sir. They are not gcnileinsn.
aid the servant. who understood the
question. They are m.n from the mill.
I'm thinking"
"very well; show them up"
II was a holiday and the works were
%, In operation. - tha, the operatives
we're of work.
Then was heard the tramp u heavy
boot. on the staircAs- and pr--ently en-
.sr,sl thrr- men. who drc-s and apIrar.
ano. indicated clearly that they belons~i
,o th. class who ar~ doomed to earn their
iaily brcai by hard and unrcmit,ing
labor.
what 4. your bushes with me, my
mem a.k,-i Mr. Grif,iih. rising and sur
yrying thetn with interest. Are You
,mpl0y-l la the milly'
"Ys-. sir.- aid the foremost, Hugh
Roberts. Eyes. Mr.. Griffith, sir. we are
employed In the mill. Ani i,'. about that
we'y. come to s.Se you"
"vcry well. aid John 6riffiih, re-
suming bis seat. "sp-ak on, whatever
you have to say io me"
"I,'s this. Mr. Griffith. SIR, anil hope
you won't - offended At what fsay.
We came herc to hnmbly beg that you
would b. pleased 81 raise our wages.
ITO rai-s your wagesr exclaimed Mr.
Grifiith In di-pl-a-~i tone.
"yc.. air. ! hors you won't be Of
f,ndcl.-
"Don', I give a. high wages NJ are
paid In other millsy-
''Mayhap you do. siri but its very
hari 10 ge, along on three shillings .
day"
"But N 1 should pay higher Wages
than Others they could undersell me In
the market"
81 don't know. air. bat think We
should wurk mor cheerful and do more
In A day II we felt that we hal little
mor- IA live on. ~ that the wife AMI
Children needn't have 10 pinch and ~
hungry"
The. word. were uttered In a manly
and straightforward tone. and there was
not little ya,ho- In them. but u seemed
To-, upon Mr. Griffith.
"lt's only sixIcncs more day We AK
dr. "a 1 Hugh Robcrts pleaiinsly.
Mr.. Griffith made q mental calcula-
ton. lie hal three hundred men In his
employ. lie found that sirprnce day
additional would make sum total dur.
iny the year of over two thousand
pounds. This reflection hardened his
heart agains, the applicants
"No." be- said. ''your request u un-
reasonable. I cannot scceie to H."
"But. air." aid Hugh Roberts, think
what II l. 10 support family ON thrre
shillings q day"
1T Is hard. no doubt said Mr. 6rif'
9TH: "bu, cannot aaori to make the
advance you desire"
Then You rrfuss, siry
II Do. II you can do any better OF
cour-a won't prevent your bcttsring
yourselves"
"W. can't lo better. air" .aid Hugh.
bitterly. crushing his hat bctw"n his
toll harienei fingers. I'VE have no
other way % live. except TO work for you
and take wha, you are pleas~i 20 pay
Think IL over. my men. said MT.
Griffith more COOL humorrily. for he
hal carried his pOint, "and you viii ss~
tha, can't pay more than other manu-.
facturr-. i've no doubt your wives and
children viii earn something to help You
along"
The ,hr. men Departed with sad
fac.. looking a. II life were a weary
struggle. with little 10 cheer Il.
Srsrcely had they left the room when
Katy Orifiith entered.
Born when her father was compsara'
lively late In life. shc was his darling
and the light II his exisience. IL Was for
her that he wished TO become very rich'
that h. might make her match Tor the
highest. ~ h. WAS wont % express u.
They will overlook old John Grifiiih''
u-liyrs.- he said 10 himself. ''if hi.
daughter ha. gcoi hundred thousand
pounds 20 her dowry."
Katy entered. . bright eyed, attrac'
tiye girl of rs. of whom her father might
well bc proud.
GLOW are you. my dArlingy- SAid her
father. smiling fondly upon her.
"rm always well,- abs said lightly
.but, papa. who wvre those poor mer
that met ON ths staine Had you bser
scolding therny
What makes you aak. KAtyr
'sBscsuss they looksd % ssd and a.
eourAged.-
"Did theyY' aAksd Mr.. Gnfath. With
momentary conjunction.
"Yes, pspai and hoard one OF them
dgh, a II be were tired q living.
"They wsrs msn from the mill, Katy.
"And what did thsy come forf do
you tell thsm about tbs work.
"No; the oveneer dos that"
.Then what did thsy come forr
"Yor are very cursoua my darling
THAT Isn't telling me. papa odd th<
| young lady pr,istsutly.
"Thsn, u you must know. u va v
81 fW higher wagAL"
"Of courss you gave H."
"Of courss didn't Why shouh v
"Bscsuss thsy nssd Il How much q
they gst ncwr
"rhrss shiliinu . day.-
'-Only three shillinU dAyr esciaams<
Katy, "snd have 70 suppost thsas nm
ilis out q thatr
II WYAs