The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-07

IL
In the Early Gray Dawn.
az home in the dens their young ones were
asleep. waiting for the break fast they were
sure to get, though paterfamiliaS had been
obliged to llnger long ere he secured it.
1t was just O'Clock when the first hu-
man creature began to appear along the
county road. Such small beings as they
were-half Dozen OF them, in a Tamshaekle
old wagon, innocent of paint, ard drawn
by a tottering. knock-kneed, rawbonPd old
white horse. The webbing, uncertain
wheels creaked dismaly on the still air,
and the rusty Old harness, almost as much
balerope as leather, tapped discouragedly
about the horses lean carcass as he logged
along The occupants of the wagon were
all Children. The driver, a girl. might
have been II years OF age, but
certainly not one Of the others was
so old as that. Jimmie Lang, who lay with
his head on bag OF hay in the end OF the
wagon. was exactly s, aud the others looked
10 nave attained TO the same number of
years 1t was too early for these children
TO be going TO school. but their little tin
dlnner-pails OF which each carried one, in
dcated that they were out for the day
Could 1t be that they were a picnic party
bound Tor days pleasure beside sons
stream in the hills? IL so they were taking
their pleasure sadly as Americans are said
to do.
1t was no picnic that called the children
from bed at that early hour. Every one OF
them had been aroused at least an hour
before to eat hearty breakfast and prepare
for their trip. Jimmie himself had brought
ID some food and pumped several pals OF
water for his mother. besides feeding the
pig, which constituted his one possession
in the world, and TO collect swill for which
he would make round of the town that
night on bis return from his days work in
the jutemlls in the city.
That was the children's destination. Fur
ther back In the little village that was their
home a score or more of other children were
preparing to make the same trip. but :ney
were forced TO Start somewhat earlier be-
Cause old Dick was slow. and il took him a
long time to traverse the six miles that lay
between the mills and tile house Old
Dick was the properly eff a Portuguese
nelghbor, whose children all worked
In the mills, and Jimmie's mother
paid . cents a month for the chance
thus given the boy to travel to and
from Work. 1t was d great chance. But
for IL the boy would have had to walk for
all the other wagons were full, or would
only have carried him for larger amount
than size was able 10 pay. A merciful
Providence, Mrs. Lang thought, had been
very kind TO Jimmie and herself 10 thus
opening a wav for him to keep her by hon.
est Industry, when her natural pro-
tectoT, the husband and father of the
family, had been removed by death
from the scene of his earthly du-
ties. Jimmie had been working in the
mills for several months now, anG was
earning 30 cents day. which moro than
pafd the rent Of their little house, and en-
aDled her TO keep roof over their heads
while she managed, herself, to earn enough
each week TO feed the family. There were
two more children, but Ted. the older one.
was only 6, not quite old enough to send TO
the mill. He would be in another year.
Jimmie was the only American child In the
town who worked In the mills. A few wears
hence ali his fellOw-toiIers would be Amer
lean citizens, and, later, the fathers and
mothers OF Amercan-born children but for
the time being they were only Portuguese
children, fact which seemed somehow 10
palliate in the minds OF those who consid
cred the matter at all the circumstance of
their being obliged to toll as they did at
their tender age.
Among the children who came to the mills
from the city, however, the hapless throng
that crowds the early local trains each
weekday morning, were plenty of Ameri-
can children. and the great Joy OF Jimmie's
lie was the companiOnship of the chum
he had made in one Of these. Joe was wait
ing for him as, few minutes before the
piercing mill whistle sounded, old Dick
pulled up in front OF the entrance through
which the children fled each morning be-
fore the timekeeper ere beginning their
days work. The big whistle blows at half
past six every morning. and is the signal
Ter an immediate awakening TO life OF the
whole neighbOThood. Out of nearby cot
taEes and lodging-houSes hurry the children
and Older boys and girls who constitute the
great Dulk OF the working staff In this noble
institution that finds existence impossible
save through the expedieut Of employing
child-labor.
Jimmie and Joe ard all the rest of the
babies. however, did not know this.
Neither did they know that they were
underpaid and ovPrworked. They only
knew that they must attend strictly TO their
work, which. In the case of.Jimmie and Joe,
was the counting Of sacks. They knew
that any dereliction on their part would be
rewarded with docking, by the manage
ment. OF their miserable weekly stipends
and that, for the most part meant punish
ment at home, and they knew, too, by dire
experience of the foreman's displeasure
when they had offended in this regard, that
they must on no account tell any one their
ages. Not that it is against the law
for them 20 be employed in the mills under
any particular age, but inquisitive people
used sometimes to ask questions and.
the management being of somewhat
sensitive as TO public expression of opinion
regarding their methods. should they be-
come known. orders had gone forth that all
children employed IN the mill should be-
come IL years of age. To the committee
from the Federated Trades who investi-
gated the matter the management declared
they employed none under IA, and unblush-
lDgly produced parents certificates declar-
ing Mary and Manuel and Tina and Tony
to be ii, when the children themselves, so
tiny as not yet to be used to lying.
onfessed, upon pressure, that they
were but or 8. That was some
time ago. however, and agitation
upon the subject had died out. The
president Of the Federated Trades was re-
fused further admission to the mills. ana
the local Society for Prevent ton of Cruelty
TO Children having disintegrated from lack
oil work TO be done along It's lines, the matter
dropped. Why should the concern be mo-
Tested? There Is no law against such en-
ployment OF children In this enlightened
State, and interference. under such
circumstances, Is thankless task.
1t came about. therefore. that Jimmie and
Joe and the other babies had only to lie
little bit on the point OF age, so their tender
consciences were spared that much strain.
Jimmie In particular prided himself upon
having hit upon particularly astute eva
sion OF the painful duty epjoined upon him
Of lying on this score. Whenever over
inquisitiye people. seeing him about the
place, asked him bis age his inyariable
reply was:
''Goin' on 'even."
"Coz. don't yer see." he said to Joe. "I'm
goin' ter be 'leven If / live long enuff.
Anvh0W / didn't fan lie Loo mn.