Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-30


ties of ore in tine stock piles. and it was
believed 10y many that there was no
great desire on the part Of the owners
tn start in again so long as such large
quantities of ore were already a the
top. 1t was thought that even if the
strike continued until spring the own
ers wound be able TO realize large prof
Its on lapsed contracts and on this ac-
count would really be the gamers by
not operating the mines. Meanwhile
winter was fast coming Oh. and the
miners were finding ii more and more
difficult to get credit at the stores.
Many OF the merchants refused to trust
the men any longer. There was a
prospect of seine ugly scenes of suffer-
ing in Champion unless matters chang
ell decidedly in n fortnight
1t was at this time that Stuart first
really thought of his great wealth with
reference to its use in improving the
condition of affairs in Champion. He
had gone down to see Eric. who was
able to be about the house now. and
willie there Andrew had come in. The
three had drifted into Il discussion of
ways and means to relieve the distress
that was apparent already among the
families of the miners.
81 cannot help feeling that this strike
Is all wrong. Eric said Stuart con-
tinuing the conversat ton as it had
started from the standpoint Of the min
ers. Il am in receipt of letters every
day from my agents in Cleveland be-
seeching me to come in with the other
hni fC: N
men their demand Of 50 n day They
say in every letter they do not see in
case of break in the union how l am
going TO manage affairs if the men hold
me to my original decision of giving So
q day.
"What will you do?" asked Eric.
"Time enough when that time comes.
Does the union show signs of weaken
ing?''
Not yet. But there is no telling"
Eric sighed. II am changing my opin-
ion of the strike and all. Somehow I
have seen a different vision of the flu
ture since my injury and especially
since the night in the square,"
do you mean that you are more
hopeful or less so over the final re-
sult?' asked Andrew.
Eric was silent and very thoughtful
before he replied.
81 don't expect to see it in my life
time: l mean the triumph of right and
brotherhood, and | will tell you why.
The love of money is as old as civiliZa-
ton. | do not know of stronger or
more enduring passion. 1t reaches
down into the very basis of all human
struggle aDd is the handspring of every
civilized mars life. Why. even the
church is honeycombed with the love
of money: And the more l study the
problem the more | believe that moth
ing short Of n very CONFUSION of nature
will ever tear away the clinging. grasp
ing hand of civilization on it's eternal
clutch of gold. the love of wealth, the
cause of all the selfishness of the nod
ern world as we know it,
''There is no question about money
being. at the bottom Of most Of the
worlds selfishness.' replied Andrew.
s'But it's use has sometimes proved a
blessing. l very often think l could be
a better man if l could pay Off all my
debts and buy all the roses l want
Eyes, you would then get to be IS self
ish IS the rest of u.s. smiled Stuart.
He came back to the topic first started.
GLOW can we do anything in the pres
ent emergency? Here is a practical
condition. l don't know that it helps
much to discuss how the men got into
it. 1 understand that women and chill
dren arc lightning to suffer. l don't
know that we need to push our investi-
cations into causes further than that"
well. y1u've got plenty of money"
broke in Lie bluntly.
$50 l Laver' Stuart spoke quietly,
but almost as if for the first time a
CONSEQUENCES of his great power had
flashed across his mind. The other
two Elc1 watched him curiously-Eric
from tie standpoint of the working
man, Andrew from the point of view of
the church.
I'm IC2dy to cOnSecrate every cent
/ possess to the good of humanityr
cried Stuart, with enthusiasm. "And
I want you two men to show me how
to do it wisely"
Eric rose and shuffied toward the
window. Then he came back to where
he had been sitting and remarked,
"You must tie converted sure if it's
gone in as deep as all that
Andrew loc:.ed over at Stuart and
said smiiingly. 'If you mean all that.
we need tine to think it over and
formulate wise plans
Stuart rose and paced the little room.
81 mean every word. When l became
a Christian, | said in my heart, will
dedicate all I have and all I am TO the
cause of my Saviour. | understand
fully all that means. | do not believe
q man can be a Christian 1T ell and
make money his great object in life or
regard money in any way except e. Il