The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-11
The strlke OF InIle slater.

e 70 care.
Titles sister Alice was the "fashiona-
bic" dressmAker in RosebeTry row. and
Tile was her assistant She cur button
holes. sewed straight seams on the ma
Chine. pulled out basting threads, helped
10 cook the meals. washed dishes. swept
floors and read the news 20 her brother
GcoTrey There had been a time when
the SiafSr girls had looked upon Godfrey
as a helper and a protector ia the strug-
gle with poverty. which was the only
legacy their parents had left them. But
that was before the accident on the new
schooihousA whore he was working. AZ
ter that his erms were limp and lfeless.
his back was bent, and his eyes were bad.
and the poor boy. with the hope and
strength Of his II years all blightcd. be-
came nothing but q burden 10 his faithful
sisters.
There were a good many times when
Title worked herself into the belief that
she was q martyr. Then she secretly
rebelled against the hardness OF her lot,
but, with the exception CT commenting
on the condition Of her finger tips. she
CONSIDERABLY RETAINED from complaining
IN Alice's presence. But when they took
the baby 70 raise she fclt that she was
justified in open rebellion.
It's downright shame" she cried out.
bitterly. when Alice brought the little fol-
low home with her from the funeral and
announced her intention Of keeping him.
I declare ] won't put UP with H. Just
as II we haven't had a hard enough tim.
already without this happening It's
been nothing but work work. work. all
my life. I've never had the time nor
the money - 60 70 places and CO things
Ike other girls I've rever said anything
about how I felt, for supposed you and
sr-r -r.a~ frH- oh na
I did. But when IL comes 20 sadL>ing
ourselves with other peoples children. /
won't stand f."
But he's our nephew" persisted Alice.
gently. "Our own sisters child. Just be-
fore clara went she called me in and ask
GO ne 20 take him and bring him Up. and
I've got 10 10 IT, Remember ne is an or
rhsn as vel as ourselves, Title. II We
don't care for him. who Wiil-'
7 con't know" said Tile suffly. Il
suppose you can put him IN an asylum
or an Institution. That IS where other
babies 60 when their fathers and mothers
DE. and he's no batter than the rest Of
them. There's one thing sure We can't
have him. one more mouth 10 FEED and
one more body % clothe means sOoc
deal 70 poor folks IKE Is. And We need
SO many things now. too. Besides. who's
going 10 take care OF him? A tgo-ysar-
old baby can't very well shEt FOR him
seif."
yes know" returned Alice. 81
thought you could take him out for an
| airing sometime ana look after him a
little nights and mornings Godfrey and
7 can manage % get along some way dur
ing the day. Then vacation viii soon be
here and you VII have lots OF time 10
give him"
Take care q him nights and mornings
and haul him around during vacation.
Yes. indeed. I see myself doing 10. III
strike. that's what I'll 90. Alice Slater.
won't turn nay hand over % help about
one solitary thing. u you are gong %
I burden yourself with Troublesome babies
you u have 20 get along lie best way you
can. I shan't help"
Alice sighed ard commenced 20 pare
the potat0es for supper Title took up
her I1tin reader and tried 20 study but
somehow she could not concentrate her
thoughts o. the lesson Through the open
door She could see the baby sitting by
the scwinc-roorn window in The midst Of
some towering plants that Title had care
fully nurscd throughout the winter he
was q bonnie child. and be looked so sweet
and pretty ln fis rirl, and white rufied
apron that even Titles hardened heart
was touched. all th- thought vas borne
q
/ % all the flowers blooming there the
dalntlest and falrest was her A-te ne
Dhew.
why don't you kiss the baby darn
/ said Alice. a7 She p gan 90 set the table.
Don't act THAI way. Poor lttIe thing
he has been so lonesome yesrer1a. ana
TODAY without bis mother clara Away
spoiled him. 7 guess. He'll get over Il
soon. but irs rirfu. now 90 See how has
heart IS rrieved f0r her,
Alice lifted "a corner q her apron 20 her
eyes but Tlle turned her attention %
the Latin reader once more and refused
/ 90 welcome the addition 20 their family
She did not refer % che subject as1-n,
but her actions gave positive proof th.t
The strike was On.
TITLES stu euiking" Alice said %
Geofrey one morning. after her sister
had gone 20 school without needing N -
boy who had held out bis chubby hands
and asked in his baby way % be taken,
100. There's been an awful ~ .ee
In her. she never does anything unless
7 ask her 20. and she seems 70 hate little
Hiram I'm sure I don know what 7 M
gong % 90 about f." and the ls-year-oid
bread-winner sighed.
Don't worry" Alice" said patient
Geonrev. Don't pay any attention 20
her and her bad humor VIII wear on AZ
ter awhile Anybodyd have 20 love this
child. It's contrary 20 human nature
% hold unkind feelings toward him
But Titles bad humor did not wear
OF. The strike was continued through
out April and May and when vacation
began her dislike for tie little boy VINO
rad. By common consent, been consigned
20 her care. was al fever hea- TILE
herself often wondered how size could
treat him 50 badly.
Hiram Stewart. Hiram SteWar-- ! hate
you" she sid ore day il low, tense
voice that fairly frightened her when she
realized what a terrible state 81 mind
such a tone must express.
She had taken him out 70 the park that
afternoon for an airing, IN compliance
with Alfce's request She placed him IN
one corner q Z wooden bench and knelt
before him that she might look nm
eouare'v in the face when telling him
what she thought az him Even IN The
midst OF her anger Tile involuntartiy
pronounced him the prettiest baby In the
whole world. with his soft brown hair
long dark lsshes. and beautifully moulded
face. but the thought did not cause her
20 reienf
do you know what you have done 70
re. Hiram Stewart she went On J on
have made ne work my fingers % the
hone" Title could not forbelr using
her favorite EXPRESSION. in spite o. the
fact that she had been doing compara-
rlvsy little since his coming. You
kseo me from having any fun. I can't
81 visiting with the girls. but have 70 lug
Won around every bright day instead"
Great tears were coursing down the b.
and ff- f~lar- Nn1vn1 with