The Press., 1895-01-10

z If somebody would only strike against the saloon. , he muttered to himself "the other strikes wouldn't hurt so very much" He started up as the suggestion occurred to his mind, "Why not strike agbfnst the saloon yourself?" "Me!" he echoed in his thoughts; ''how could I? l am only boy.' The next instant the answer came to him. "If I am only boy can say 'yes'' or mo- and stick to 1t; and here I, Dennis Morarity, strike against the saloon, and the strike is not going to be called off as long as live. l won't have anything to do with it. won't have anything to do with the men who carry it on. I won't have anything to do, any more than can help, with the men who. support it." And the boy Eclenched his fist and brought it down up- on his knee with violence which threat Eened to do himself an injury, while his set teeth and flushed face indicated that hemeant what he said with all his soul.
 Before starting again to renew his search for the scattered bits of coal which lay along the railway track, he went into the house where his mother was busy with the washing and the children, and silently handed her the piece of paper. She drew her lips closer together and turned pale. ''Lord, :" she exclaim- ed.
 And Eve gone on strike, too, moth er,,'' said Dennis. "
 3s'Oh, don't say that, my boy. I know it's hard work to be gleaning the scraps of coal when you ought to be in school, but
 s'tNo, I don't mean that kind of strike, mother. Pm just starting again to get some more coal. meant that Tve gone on a strike against the saloons, and it will never be called off as long as live. |"
 There was something like 8 lump in the boys throat, as he saw the tears starting to his mothers eyes, and he turned hasti- E ly and >snatched up his sack and left the khonse. Sauntering along the railroad track, he suddenly came upon a group of men seated in the doorway of an old box car, with pack of cards on their knees and two or three empty dinner buckets by q eir side. =
 B there is the very boy we want" Rel aned oLe of them. Here, Denny, lad, we're just out of beer. Take the
 kets and run to Brody's and get them
 sd Tor us, and you can have your share . with us when you come back. ; 9 boy shook his head in silence.
 aat's the matter ?, demanded the
 g5sRker.
 ief him alone, , said another.
 you see he doesn't care for the
 s too young to drink 1t, anyway,
 RQn Denny a''
 stfilke against it said tho
 men br6 Ike ont into ! lofad Iatg at whph they considered his very witty re- ioihder.
 tFell, well, said the first speaker, pls santly, if you don't want to drink 1t Eyosl needn't but run along and get the bu4k 4ket filled for us, and therelI be dime teh4Rge left, and you can spend it as you want to. That's good boy"
 But still the boy shook his head and looked his unwillingness. "I'm on a strike, Itell you," he said, "against beer, against whisky, against the saloon, against | the men that run the saloon, and against the men that spend their earnings in the saloons, when they ought to be support ing their wives and children; and this strike won't be called off as long as l live"
 The men stared at him in blank amaze ment. "The boys gone daft," said one.