Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-21

t1o0 WHO WOkAcu ~ UuuOSHkOoo0 C0akAA-
bers, work to him the embodiment Of
hardship and privation. He was going
incognito, with the feeling OF one who Il
about to perform long-neglected duty.
The beginning was not suspicious.
Morris hated contact with the unwashed
stranger, and the day car turned into a
rendezvous for the night seemed full Of
him.
II would not make good soldier, and
certainly am not good hero" he said
| to himself and then he thought Of
Eleanor. and fancied her soothing the
troublesome, crying child in the further
end of the car, and gaining the con-
fdence of the mean-looking parents, who
were poor and tired.
At the next stopping place he went out
to catch breath of fresh air, and bought
bag of cakes for the baby, an act OF gen.
crosby that the tired mother appreciated
with smile
He talked with the father and learned
their story. Two children left behind
with relatives because they were too poor
to take them along, but they had the
promise of work where they were going,
and then they would send for them. II
Morris helped them he did not let his left
hand know what his right was doing, but
| do know that the children followed
their parents few weeks later.
Morris prepared for night OF vigils,
then fell into sound sleep curled up in
corner of the car seat, and when he
awakened it was early morning.
1t is an awesome thing to awaken In
..lss IS q hat m Hrc
feeling is one of thankfulness that one is
alive; the next an overpowering sense OF
dirt and discomfort Morris thought at first
that his limbs were paralyzed, but after
vigorous stretch he felt better, and looked
out with some interest on world that
was new to him, fresh from the luxuries
of the metropolis. lie saw the ''good-
morning" of nature, with man u chimerical
speck in his plan. Mere cabins were
perched in commanding positions on hill
sides, and sleepy looking children, bare
headed and barefooted, were saluting the
flying train from the open door. lie
could not understand how anyone could
live in such place. He felt no thrill OF
fellowship with these grovellers in the
by-ways of lite, and again he wondered
lem. He felt sense of loneliness with
out her as If she had once belonged to
him but had gone.
A longer stop was made at rude sta
ton, and Morris came near to the great
tragedy that is enacted in the lowest as
well as in the grandest home. But how
different the methods! 1t was not yet
sunrise, but the door of cabin had been
flung open, and woman with an apron
thrown over her head rushed out into the
morning, followed by two weeping child
rem. Then a man ran out hastily, and
going to building close by, tore board
from its rough roof, and hurried back into
the house, followed by the women and
children. The train moved on, and Morris
wondered over what he had just seen.
Probably every man aud woman in that
car read tie story Alright, but Morris asked
shaggy old man, who sat back OF him
wrapped in time-worn plaid, what 1t
meant.
"Weel, mon. | misdoubt it were some
body slipped ava, and they needed the
board to streeekit him." said the old Scotch
man.
1t was gruesome when Morris under
stood, and he wondered if Eleanor would
have known. You see she was in all his
thoughts.
A more desolate place than that in which
the Little Summit mine was located
would be hard to describe. The mine
that poured wealth into the Golfers of its
owners was conducted by ill-paid, sodden
men, scrubby boys and half blind mules.
The foreman was brutalized by a long
course of low wages, heavy expenses and
sordid surroundings. 1t was word and
a blow with him, or an oath more democrat
izing than blows. When a stranger APP
peared he was received with sullen and
suspicious silence, being more than half
suspected of wanting the bread out of some
other mouth. Morris was shocked almost
ont of recognition of himself by this un-
expected state of things, for he felt him
self passively to blame. lie could not
lay the odium on the shoulders of his agent,
for he had never asked single question
concerning the mine, or the moral or
physical welfare of the men. He had
taken the revenue from it as part OF his
patrimony, Indifferent as to methods. He
had been helping to grind women and
children into the dust, that he might loll
in luxury. His conscience stung him with
reproaches which were inadequate to make
him suffer as he deserved.
"a Your hand, FRIEND" he had said to the
foreman, and noted the ugly scowl, and
determined air of refusal with which the
man drew back.
"'Taint as white as yours; and how do
know that you are my friendy" was the
surly reply.
81 am here to see what you need, and
will help you if you will let me-" ans
wered Morris gently.
A spy OF an overseer, like enough.
The sooner you get out of these quarters,
the better for your health. If one of the
bloomin' mine owners sent you here, go
bach an tell him faint safe to come spyin'
roun' Tell him, too, that we'll give him
warmer welcome-hounds that they all
are."
The miners, dirty, black and complain
ing, had gathered around the foreman, and
although they hated him, they were bound
to him by common grudge.
"Tell them to come and get filed with
warm lead--we'd heat it fur the 'casion, y
said burly miner known as "Old Geor-
die"
"They dass'nt come nigh their own
property" said another, '.they're white
livered towards, and not worth the pow
der to blow 'em to thunder!"
''Go back to your master and tell him
what his lovin' workmen says" said the
foreman CONTEMPORARY, IAN get pho
- - al l,.,s. hill