Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-02-19
MARKED DOWN.


"But / promised, Joe. and when a fell
low has given his promise, it hadn't orter
to be broken-'specially to his mother"
"Wall, mebbe yer right as far as the
old woman is concerned, but them's the
boss's orders, No man leaves these shops
till this machine is finished which won't
be afore 1eveE, if it amt higher twelve,
an yer know well 'nough what'l follow;
you'll be marked down., and lose yer
job. Iwon't promise you another"
And the rough, middle aged machinist,
Joe Walton, drew his brawny, SCOT be-
grimed bare arm across his wrinkled
forehead, whistled softly and applied
himself closer to his task.
Jem Mather was slender youth, aged
II, learning his trade, and receiving also
paltry stipend, little enough for him
to exist upon, but from it he had saved
enough to bring his little pale faced
mother from the crowded city of New
York to his western home.
The world had not dealt fairly with
Jem and his mother.
Walter Mather, the father, was an
honest, intelligent, hard working me-
chanic, who had put something by for
rainy day for his little family; but it so
happened that the very day the kindly
father was killed by an explosion at the
mills the bank wherein his little savings
lay was declared insolvent.
Jem was 10 years old then, and fer
four years he did what he could to help
his mother keep "the wolf from the door,"
He was, like his mother, never strong,
and the lines of want and care became
engraven forever upon his young face.
At IA a gentleman became interested
enough in him to send him west, and to
give his mother place in his home to
do plain sewing.
Three years had passed.
Jem was apprenticed for four years.
He had one more year to serve, and then
he would be earning and receiving the
wages of man.
One year morel How Jem said it over
and over to himselfl Then he would
send for his mother, and they would. be
80 happy.
The wife of Mr.. Hart, the gentleman
who sent Jem west, and with whom Mrs.
Mather made her home, failed in health
and died, and Mr.. Hart decided to 60
abroad. To break up his home. He
recommended the little woman to other
friends, but just then came such heart
hungry letter from her one lamb, her
boy Jem, that she decided to go to him.
Mr.. Hart hardly approved, but he saw
the mothers aching heart showing
through her eyes, and placing 800 in
her hand and procuring ticket for her
he saw her safely aboard the train for
the west. Mrs. Mather had carefully
saved nearly every penny of her earn
ings since Jem's absence, 80 she felt
quite rich in a small way, and oh, so
rich with happiness to think she should
soon clasp her boy to her heartl
AS for Jem, whose every thought and
wish was for his little mother, he was
jubilant. He, too. had saved, and felt
sure they would "get on" somehow until
another year, and then they would never
want again. So he wrote her a gay let
ter ending with the promise, 81 will not
fail to meet you at the train He did
not dream of anything to prevent him.
The shops closed at o'clock, and the
eastern train was not due until s. Plenty
of time was his thought as he busted
himself putting finishing touches to the
two small rooms he had procured for
their future home Everything was very
simple, even meager, but very clean,
and some of the "boys" at the shop had
made Jem few presents in the shape of
a rocking chair for his mother, several
pots Of flowers and few cheap chromos.
They added not little to the brightness
and comfort of his home, and when he
closed the door and turned the key to go
to his work in the morning it was not
without a little feeling of pride.
They were all in the world to each
other, this fond mother and loving, du-
tiful son.
And now this order had come, INC
man to leave the shops until this ma
chine is finished" Jem's heart gave a
bound and he gulped down a dry sob.
eff it had been any other night, thought
Jem, cor I could in any way let mother
know" butsthat seemed impossible. So
he confined to his friend Joe his guam
dairy, though for that matter every man
in the shops was interested and knew Of
Mrs. Mather's coming, and nearly all
were wondering what Jem would do
when the order was given.
Jem's steady habits and kind, obliging
ways had won the hearts Of most of the
workmen, and his love for his mother
had touched them all deeply.
"Tll have to manage it somehow"
said Jem to himself, with troubled eyes.
"It will never do to disappoint mother
now. Dear little mother, what would
she think"
The 'boss," Tom Greenwich, was a
hard master, and Jem knew an appeal
to him would be useless. Jem was an
obedient lad, too, and if the "boss" had
told him personally he must remain
with the others, although the order said
''men,' Jem would have remained.
SIT won't take more than half an hour
to go to the train, meet her and explain"
Jem said to Joe, "and I'll make it up be-
fore leave"
The great drops of perspiration dropped
from the boys face. He toiled as never
before.
Fifteen minutes for lunch, !" thunder
ed Dick Allen, che foreman, just as the
clock struck g.
The men ceased their work instantly.