Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-12-15
GOOD FOR EVIL.


Mrs. jarvis was q business woman.
Mr. Jarvis had been mere shipper
ing. good humored nonentity in his
day, giving up all his affairs to his
wite's management and when he shut
fled off this mortal coil was not great.
! ly missed And Mrs. Jarvis consoled
herself by opening suit manu-
factory.
Here she sat upon this glorious Au-
gust afternoon in her own little pri.
vate office, a pen behind her ear and
a pencil between her lips, adding up
a long column OF fgures-a tall
portly, fnelooking dame. in rich black
silk, with costly jewels sparkling upon
her fingers and that comfortable look
upon the face which accommodating
wealth is sure to bestow.
Sixteen and siN are twenty-five"
said Mrs. Jarvis resting her pencil
at the foot of tho line. "Two-and
two to carry-eh? Who Is there?"
An apologize little knock had come
to the Office door--it was Mr.. Mad
stone. Mrs. Jarvis cashier and fore
man in general.
Its me, ma am, said Mr.. Maidstone,
whose clOseshorn hair stuck up all
over his head, like the bristles of a
backing brush, That Mrs. Pennant
Is here with her bundles"
Mrs Jarvis glanced first at her
ledger and then ut the calendar that
hung on the wall over the desk.
Six hours henipd time" said she,
austerely. The order went out at
. o'clock this morning, minus the II
suits she was finishing. Tell her to
leave her work and come here for no
more. OF course, shall not pay her,
and she may think herself fortunate
that she is not compelled to pay the
usual fine
Il wish you'd see her YOURSELF
blurted ont Maidstone, scratching his
bristly head. She looks pale and
sick, and"
"Pshaw." interrupted Mrs. Jarvis,
rising from her seat. with rustling
of black silk skirts. You haven't the
resolution OF chipmunk Maidstone.
and never had, You'd let all these
~
wasn't for me-
And she swept through tho narrow
door of the Office out INTO the long
bare workroom, where the click of 20
sewing machines bnzzed on the sultry
air and several haggard women waited
at the counter.
oh" said she, stopping short be-
fore the nearest one, Mrs. Pennant,
You are six hours behind. The order
has gone
Il am very sorry, ma'am." hesitated
the pale woman, but my daughter
was ill-my little Jesslc-and | had
no one to care for her but myself. |
sat up all night TO finish the suits
| did. indeed-and
"All these details make no differ.
>ence to me- interrupted Mrs. Jarvis.
with a sharp. crispy voice. Business
is business. and the very soul of it is
punctualty. You may leave your
suits, but don't expect any more work
from here
The poor woman : wan face worked.
Mrs. Jarvis" laltered she. you are
a woman, and mother, like myself.
If your child was !ll-'
I'VE won't descend to comparisons,
if you please" said Mrs. Jarvis. Jelly.
"Good-day. | am much occupied at
present"
'Non surely don't mean. Mrs. Jarvis,
that you are not going to pay me for
what have donp?" cried the woman
why should T." said Mrs. Jarvis
Your work has arrived too late to go
in its regular orUCr. You have vio-
lated the rules and regulations of this
establishment. and as necessary
consequence have forfeited your
pay Hopkins" to the clerk. take
these suits into the pacl,ing-room."
Mrs. Pennant's lip luivcred, ner
eyes, which had been full Of entreaty
now flashed Indignantly.
Mrs. jarvis, said she. Il know
but, all Tho same, this sort of thing
looks to me lili. swindling."
Il cannot help it---rules are rules"
said the business woman, cold as
adamant.
MY child lies i'll at home. had
counted on this hardearncd money to
buy the medicine and necessaries that
heavens sake, do not withhold it
from me"
General rules will bear hard upon
individual cases" said Mrs. Jarvis,
glancing furtively at her watch. Il
cannot depart from them, however"
Mrs. Pennant lifted her thin hands
in an hnconsciously tragic attitude.
Woman" she uttered. may the
curse of Heaven light npon you for
your cruelty to the widow and father
less: May He give back into your own
bosom. heaped up and running over.
the measure You hold so pitilessly
to me-
And turning away, she left the suit
manufactury. amid the breathless ST.
lencc of the assembled working
women. Mrs. Jarvis smiled and
shrugged her shoulders.
All this is mere rant said she.
Maidstone, bring that last inventory
into my Office
But the next day, when on reach
ing the building, as usual the 90
sewing machine gils found that it
had been burned to the ground during
the night. they instinctively thought
of the widows curse.
1t was the ianitor's fault. He had
gone into the stockroom with a
lighted candle, and. started by the
springing of cat, had let it fall too
near basket of waste paper. and an
instantaneous conhagration had been
the result. And, what was worse, the
insurance had run out on the evening
of the previous day. and Mrs. Jarvis
was a ruined woman,
Yet she was not easily discouraged.