Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-15

sat sewing while crippled child
! played on the floor at her feet. She
arose as Tiny entered.
us it you, Miss Clarence?" she said,
her pale face momentarily dyed with a
deep tinge of color, as she curtsied a
timid welcome; this is but a poor
place for you to come"
miss Clarencer repeated our little
! heroine, reproachfully. you used to
| call me Tiny when we were SCHOOLGIRLS
together, Helen"
But there is such a gulf between us
now,"
Because you are poor and I am
rich? because you are a forsaken
widow and I am still the favored child
of fortune? Helen, you Judge me un-
JUSTLY"
Helen Starts eyes filled with tears.
Dear Tiny, I will never do SO
again"
81 brought you some more sewing"
said Tiny, carelessly, as she sat down
by the side of her sadly changed
schoolmate "By the way, Helen. do
you still sew for Sargent and Cop1ey?"
Eyes, am going there this afternoon
to return some work and try to get a
| loan"
"Are your"
Tiny strove to speak unconsciously,
although the deep crimson flushed her
neck and brow.
Would you object to my going with
you? II have great curiosity to see
the inner workings of one of those
great manufacturing establishments.
II shall be glad of your company"
''Do they pay you well?" went on
Tiny, affecting to be deeply interested
in removing speck of mud from the
hem of Bridget's brown cloth cloak.
Mrs. Starr shook her head sadly.
starvation prices, Tiny, and Mr.
Sargent has just cut down the wages
one-quarter. He says times are hard
and he cannot meet expenses"
"Yet he drives the handsomest
horses in New York and lives in a
brown stone palace" observed Tiny.
II know it, but such is the universal
justice between employer and en-
ployed. We are powerless and they
know it, these grinding rich people"
She was folding up the bundle of
neatly sewn shirts as she spoke and
putting on her own worn and shabby
garments.
"You will be good and quiet, Charlie,
and not go near the fire until mamma
returns?" she added, pausing on the
threshold.
Eyes, mamma" the child answered,
with docile meekness.
He was accustomed to being left
alone, poor little fellow, and then Hell
en- and Tiny set forth together on an
errand entirely novel to the latter.
1t was pay day at the establishment
of Sargent e Copley, and a long string
of worn-looking women, some young
and some old, but all pale and pinched,
like plants that had grown in shade,
were waiting their turn for the miser-
able remuneration due them.
Mr. Copley, fat, oily-looking man,
with a white neck-cloth and beaming
spectacles, stood behind a ponderous
ledger, a day-book, and Mr.. Sargent,
with an expression of face very differ
ent from what he had that morning
worn in Tiny Clarence's boudoir,
took in the work, examining and COM
menting on it as he did so.
For Mr. Sargent chose himself to
superintend this portion OF his bust
ness. Nor was the tongue of SANDER
behindhand in proclaiming that he
contrived to make money out of this
personal supervision.
CLARA Coyt?" he called out sharply,
as a pale, freckled young girl neared
him, chow much due Clara Coyt? Ten
dollars and seventy cents. Tahe off 81
work creased from sewing machine"
but, SIR" began the girl.
Mine seventy-here you are! Pass
on Clara Coyt! Now, then, Mary Ma
calister-behind two days. Fine Mary
| Macalister SO cents!"
So he went on, quick to detect or
imagine faults, vigorous to punish,
merciless to exact fines, until scarcely
one of he waiting throng received the
amount of money fairly due her.
When Helen Starts name was
called, she advanced timidly, with her
brown-clad companion at her side.
Helen START" sharply enunciated
Mr.. Sargent, scrutinizing her roll of
work. -Four dollars-deduct forty
cents!"
con what account, sir?" faltered
Mrs. Starr.
Work soiled in making up-pass
on"
''You are mistaken, Mr.. Sargent, in
deed" pleaded Helen Starr; "the stains
were in the linen when it was given
out to me- 1t is not the least soiled in
my hands"
81 can't stop to argue matters with
| insoIent sewing women in my en-
ploy!" snarled Ernest Sargent. "Take
your $3.50, Mrs Starr, without any
more words, or leave the establish
ment. We can get plenty of hands
who won't tell lies"
Helen Starr grew crimson and then
pale, but knowing her utter helpless
ness in the hands of this human YAM
pire, she was about to take the miser-
able sum rendered her and pass on her
way, when low, soft voice at her side
detained her.
IT, Co