The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-06-18

| ing ppen-handed, he found another
mouth to feed more OF 4 burden thar
ne cared to assume. The girl woult
have to do something Therefore shs
went out and tried service; but hei
fragile frame Titled used to severe
labor, broke quickly under the strain
| Of rising at four and shaving fol
hungry fishermen until after dark.
Gloomy labor, gloomler still in o
land where the floods never cease tc
descend and where the sun never
shines during the long months OF
winter There was week Of Illness
followed by two or three Of idleness
The additional burden Of board bills
and doctors bills came upon Maurice
Martin. for the two guineas and
twelve-pence had faded away very
soon after reaching American soil.
One morning ne led her along the
planlked streets through the rain TO a
great red painted building OF iron that
stood near the water front That was
the morning which punctuated tha
great change In her life although TO
outward eyes 1t appeared very much
as other mornings in New Venice. The
rush Of the tide through the pillngs
underfoot was audible above the clat-
ter Of the rain; the tugs were darting
among the ships ON the water front;
mosquito fleets Of fishing boats were
starting out for their days haul on
the river conveying cannery plungers;
and one great ocean steamer had cast
loose and was heading for the mouth
OF the river. As they entered the
building the rumble and crash Of ma
chinery drowned their voices. There
was perplexing odor Of steam, and
dripping oil and villainous ventilation.
It was the great can factory where
all the cans for the salmon canneries
along the Columbia are made a
hundred thousand day.
The superintendent was in his Office
Was girl needed2 Yes, II she was
willing to work thirteen hours day
for three dollars and a half week.
The work was light but combining. 1t
required care and strict attention.
Among so much rapidly moving ma
chinery accidents were apt TO follow
carelessness. Someone's fingers were
cut on the sharp edges of the tin plate
every day, more or less severely; oc-
ourrences scarcely to be avoided among
a hundred operators. Yes, fingers had
been lost in the shears and rolls, hands
had been burned in the melted solder
bath, arms had been crushed in the
presses. But all factory business IS
liable to accidents. and they are easily
avoided by care
She would have to begin at three dol
lars and half weelS-she would
spoil considerable tin at first and that
had to be considered in assigning be-
glnner's wages. After a few months,
when she had acquired skill In
handling the plates, she would receive
more.
Not the best of terms, but better
than none-at least for Maurice Mar
tin. whose sense Of duty would not per-
NIT him openly to desert his niece.
It was well to have her self-supporting
at any price.
The next morning she went 70 work
in this place, with a heart heavier than
ever. and almost no hope. Neverthe-
less friends were not to be won by
fearful glances. Smiles were better
than clouded face Sorrow avails
little to an orphan in a strange land.
Ruths atom Of common sense made
her struggle inwardly to look happy
In spit of her dark thoughts. In a
short time she became accustomed to
the noise Of the machines. the endless
Of shining cans end-on, side
on, rolling, gliding fed by endless
belts, revolving plates, lmotted ropes.
and slotted chainsl AS the novelty
wore away she looked around and tried
10 understand her situation.
She began with Watching the cans
IS they came from the shaper. II any |
we're bent she had to pick them out
ind throw them to one side. All day |
ong the endless procession filed by
Ter, gliding through the trough on an
endles chain. Little enough chance
n this for observation. II was weeks
before she realized that hundred be-
iide herself We're dragging out pain
'ul existence In all that clangor and +
lin, The evening brought nothing but
lching head and heavy eyes and stiff
limbs, Time and increasing skill
brought promotion.
But Ruth was cursed with a pretty
ace and an exquIsitely moulded fig
because such gifts of ma
ure are curse to a factory girl. !
Many of whom she was unaware
urned toward her every day with ad-
hiring regard, and many feet fingered
lear her hoping that some chance
would give them leave to speak. Only
he foreman. however. had duties
which brought him into conservation
With her; and he wrought his soul into
he privilege. He taught her little
ricks that saved the eyes, brought
omfmtable chairs, and when better
osItions were vacated. promoted her
0 them. Aside from a few words oc-
asIonally during work hours she gave
i'm no opportunity to speak. Arriving
romptly on the hour for starting The
never remaining an instant
fter Il stopped, few had heard the
ound Of her voice. So Tim. little fa-
ored ne he uyas aniovAd hfs,,ny nriv- L