South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-07-29
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FRIDAY. JULY 80. 1892.
kATr's SACRIFICE.

.
To judge by his face. his reflections
were Of an agreeable nature.
"The prospect is," he said To
himself, s'thst my income for the
present year will reach fifteen thou
sand pounds. That is tidy sum
for one who started as a poor boy.
And ! am not so old, either. Just
turned Of sixty There is more
than one nobleman in the kingdom
that would be glad of John Griffith's
income. My Katy will have rich
dowry." lz'fs So Fas'ss..s
He was interrupee6Aheresby the
entrance Of aservant.
"Mr. Griffith" he said, sstaere
are three men below who would like
to see you
"Three men?"
eyes, sir. They are not gent'e-
men," saidthe servant. who under-
stood the question. "They are men
from the mill, I'm thinking"
Very well show them up"
1t was holiday and the works
were not in operation, SO that the
operatives were off work.
Then was heard the tramp of
heavy boots on tho staircase and
presently entered three mon, whose
dress and appearance indicated
clearly that they belonged to the
class who are doomed to earn their
daily bread by hard AID unremit-
ting labor.
''What is your business with me,
my men p asked Mr.. Griffith, ris-
ing and surveying them with inter-
est. fare you employed in the
mill?
"Yes, sir" said the foremost,
Hugh Roberts eyes, MIR. Griffith,
we are employed in the mill, and
it's about that we've como to see
you"
every WE'LL" gaid John Gr:fii b,
resuming his seat, t'SPeak on, what
ever you have to say to me-.
"It's this, Mr. Griffith, sir. and
| hope you won't be offended at
what say. We came here 10 hum
bly, beg that you would be pleased
to raise our wages.
Ito raise your wages - exclaim-
ed Mr.. Griffith in displeAsed tone.
Eyes, air. hope you won't be
offended"
Don't / give as high wages as
are paid in other mills ?'
"Mayhap you do, sir but it's
very hard to get along on three
shillings a day"
"But if i should pay higher wa
ges than Others they could under
sci! me in the market"
IL don't know sir, but / think
we should work more cheerful and
do more in a day if we felt that we
had little more to live on, so 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 not little pathos in
them. but it seemed lost upon Mr..
Griffith.
otis only sixpenoe moro day
we ask, sir" said Hugh Roberts
pl adingly.
Mr. Griffith made a mental CAL
culation. lie had three hundred
men in his employ. He found that
sixpence a day additional would
make a sum total during the year
of over two thousand pounds. This
reflection hardened his heart against
the applicants.
mo" said, he "your request is
unreasonable ;; l cannot accede
to it,,
"'But. SIR" said Hugh Roberts,
"think what it is to support a fam
lily on three shillings a day"
"It is hard, no doubt" SAID Mr..
Griffith but l cannot afford to
make the advance you desire"
"Theu you refuse, sir p
al do. If yon can DO any better.
Of course | won't prevent your bet
tering yourselves"
eve can't do better, SIR" said
Hugh bitterly, crushing his hat be-
tween his toll hardened fingers.
owe have no other way to live, ex-
cept to work for you and take what
you are pleased to pay
"Think it over, my men," said
Mr.. Griffith more good humoredly.
FOR he had carried his point, "and
you will see that | can't pay more
than other manufacturers. I've no
doubt your wives and children will
earn something to help You along. "
The three men departed with SAD
faces, looking as il Life were a wea-
~ struggle with little 10 cheer it.
Scarcely had they left the room
when Katy Griffith entered.
Born when her father was com
paratively late in life, she was his
darling and the light Of his exis-
tence. It was for Der that nc wish
ed to become very rich. that he
might make her match for tho
highest, ss he was wont to ex-
press IL.
They will overlook old John
Grifith's pedigree" he said to him
self, 'Tf bis daughter has a GOOD
hundred Thousand pounds to her
dowry."
Katy entered, bripht-eyed. At