The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-22
MALCONTENTS
STORY FOR AMERICANS
COPYRIGHTED BY CORA s. HOOD.
CHAPTER I.
FIRES ARE K1NDLED.


FIRES ARE KINDLED.
''Where there Is work for the hands Of mon
ere Will be work for their teeth. Where there
employment there Will be bread."-DANIEL
EBSTER.
A MONDAY sun, bright and incorporating.
hone down upon the blackened chimneys OF q
snnsylvania town some nfty years ago. 1t
lerced the heavy smoke Of the furnaces that
bse serpent-llke to Join the white clouds In the
~ above; 1. penetrated every crack and crew
70 OF phe labor-staided, unpicturesque buildings,
tretchiDg far across the valley, and then, in
ontler mood, crept up into the shadow of the
Ills aud rested upon the figure OF q fair young
iri who stood gazing dreamily at the scene be-
She had removed her hat and, pushing back
he damp curls from her fIrehead, lifted her
cad to catch the warm beams as they fell.
''Hcw like summer IL seems, Joo Oh, to DO
at undOr the sky upon such day seems taste
4 heaVeni''
Her companion, a stalWart young man whose
ace wore an habituRl sulien froWn, lifted his
yes. smile softening his heavy features as
Is gaze met hers.
Eyes, Meg, ye was born for the sunshine and
uree them az has shut ye from IL, SEE l t.
The MONDAY bells rang out shrill and clear as
10 spoke and, ere they ceased vibrating. the
treots OF the town below grew dark with bvsy,
eening life.
The girl turned with laugh: "well, must
% going, Joe. Look how all tho hands are
the land"
breathe. let alone to idle. YS neer would have
aad this ha' day but for the CATERS bad turn.
Rich folks have nae heartsP
She stopped him with an impatient gesture.
"Joo Dartle. lts not me that will listen to
such talk, for 1t Is false and you know I'll Why
twas only yesterday, after graAdfathers bad
urn. that Miss Ethel called and offered us
money. We didn't need the money, thank God,
but I b9ess her for her kind thought for US poor
Iolk Just the samer
Joe Dartie gave her quick suspicious glance.
"fhey offered ye their money, chr Well, IL
hey did they are our material enemies Just the
same and, II yo 1--we long, yell know IL Is well As
ne. What DO We toll and sweat all day for but
70 hx up grand places. like them up yondor.
with GIN cracks and tom-foolery, and 70 buy
carriages for yer Miss Ethels to drive in2 Next
they II be for putin their nno horses out 70
pasture and will have the men up from the
works draggln' them aroundI"
He shook himself impatlently, as though he
already felt the curb at his mouth and the lash
stlnging hts shoulders.
Margaret dwynne looked roguishly At him.
you needn't fear me. Joe, for haven't no
carriage not IL l wanted 70 drive. I Eueas
Walkfn will do for me-"
"Meg. don't DO a hurryin'." he urged, placln G
stinctlvely removing it. 'T'd be yer slave, let
alone yer horse. IL yo'd but speak the word, and
ye knOwit Meg. Il"
"No, now don't, Joe," interrupted the GIRL
hastily. Wen not be the good friends We are,
~ you speak again rs you did last week, and
that wonid be pity after we've growed up boy
WELL" he aoqaiesced, of 1 must, must,
suppose. but 20 won't go to keepin' company
with any ono else. Will ye. Megr'
She laughed merrily at the thought; then q
glance at his desperate face sobered her.
"What an idea, Joe; want naught 10 do with
love-"
"Yo win some day then" he remarked sen.
tenttously, an 1 can walt"
They had reached MRrgaFets home, q low
rooted cottage, and parted at the door.
An old man. lying on the bed near the IRE
place, turned his load with peevIsh scowl az
the gtrl entered.
Happen as how ye'd never come, Meg, Mia.
tress Ethel SEE as the boss gaze ye a ha' day OF
and It's Tar past the noon"
81 started before the bells rung Rranther -
returned the girl soothingly. "but IL was 90 hot
and the road was 80 rough that stopped 70
rest Bit"
That's the way. always the way" muttered
the old man, mae rest can get with the pain
but little the young 'uns carol"
Instead OF answering Margaret prepared their
humor.
The day was sultry ono for the season and
coward evening theclouds thlokened and threat
Margaret. outside tho door In the carly twi
light watched the lights AS they one BY one dick
cred into life In the town far below.
As she turned to go in pleasant voice behind
her asked:
Good evening. Margaret; and how Is eur pa
.oh. Mr.. Fletcher. is that your erandfathsu
petter. thank you. sir Will 60 back TO wonk
n TIE morning"
THAT is COED. Here are come books Rthol
sked me 70 loaye on nay way to town. She
Fishes you TO study what she has marked. and
p come up tomorroV evening""
margaret courteseyed. without speaking. and
With pleRsant Good night" he was gone.
The giri stood Tor moment where he had left
her. the books pressed 70 her bosom then weni
within and, sitting By the lighted lamp. raised
one OF the volumes to her lips.
The nre grow dim on the hearth. the shouts
ceased Ia the valley below. and the town slept
and stiH she sat there. studying Tar into The
night
Ethel Fletcher was young woman Of IDEAS.
was willing. at much personal Inconvenience. q
eleyRte any poor girl whom she thoueht mig hi
DO benehted BY her assistance.
AIler girihood spent abroad she had retarn.
% 70 her native town TO mud many Of her
br'thers employees In need OF assistance, and
becoming acquainted with them and their wants
gave freely, yet wiesly, OF her abundance for,
although controlling q large income she fall
responsible for Its expenditure.
hargareteWynao' youth. she was then barely
fourteen, exceptional beauty and ignorancS "a
and TOR three years she had beea Workine o9f
upon this most willing subject, some Of her IA
Vorito theories Of education.
nargaret had become frequent and welcome
Visitor At tho grand house on the hill She ro
paid Miss Fletcher'B interest with a devotion
amounting almost 70 idolatry. and already n
tne Iactery discontepted nurmurs had arissI
as % the marked favori.Ism shown Meg GWynn,
Dy Mr.. Fletcher. the master OF the works.
CHAPTER II.
POLITICS OF ~
This whole country. with ono voice.. ds
manded 70 have inserted in the Constituted m,
power 70 enact protective legislation a poWe
which they held az another declaration 81 IN
dependence-a power By which we are abIe Z.
protect all our children OF labor. This pove
must not b surrendered. must not sheen mn II