Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-01-17
STORY OF A STRIKE
By Mrs. Charles G. Marble. <
%@%&&&&%%%%<*%+%%<*%<<*<@

TT WAS a desolate scene as l wan
| dered among the pitfalls and aban-
doned workings of the Beaver Mead
Ow coal mines. In hollow OF an old
and useless stripping lay tons OF slaty
waste, among which cleaned bits OF
coal here and there. The mineral
had long gone its way to the market
and only the refuse remained; but
even these bits the poor about the
district were forbidden by the owners
to CLEAN.
The winter had been severe one,
and the coal-handlers' strike for few
pence more a day had augmented the
sufferings of the poor, not only in and
about the great city, but extending
out to the coal regions as well; for the
barons had shut down, and was not
coal as dear for the miners as for the
rich?
The place looked deserted and dreary
enough. but I walked on, musing over
the fate which doomed the generality
of men to toll and poverty, when sud
denly the figure of child arose from
one Of the heaps and stood before me,
trembling in every limb, and a piteous'
scared. expression upon his wan
pinched little face.
Don't be alarmed" l said, touched
bv his evident fear; 81 wouldn't harm
you"
"Ben't you come to arrest me for
picliin' up the coal?" he inquired, fall
ter'ngly; didn't the masters send
YEP" -.
Vt his feet I now spied pail half
full Of the precious stuff.
eve hain't got no fire." he said
graspiuc the pail with his little blue
half-frozen fingers, "and poor granny
has been shiverin' and moanin' and
hucrin' the baby awful close, sir. She
thinks that keeps it warm, you know.
A wan smile fitted over his face as
he said it, but something in his tone
brought a lump to my throat.
"And what is your name?" | next in
CURED
Jenny, sir"
"And your father-where is hep"
81 dunno" answered the boy.
"De2d?" I queried.
"Mcbbe. I dunno"
"tnd your mother?
His little lip quivered.
"Iother went to work afore day
light sir. She goes out awashin' and
scruLbin' when she can git it. Wei
have some supper when she gifts home
granny and me will, and I'll have
fir. cause you know mother'H be
awful cold and tired"
"Wen." I said. struggling with my
emotion, "let us fill the pail, and vii
carry it,"
i was soon done. and before long we
stood upon the threshold of miserable
shanty which the boy called "home."
He hesitated a moment before open
ing the door.
''You bent one of the masters now
be ve?" he asked, solemnly.
"God forbid" l answered, as seri
ousiy.
And We amt come to turn us on
O. the cabin?"
"Never fear" l smiled; 81 come as
friend, not an enemy"
For answer he opened the door.
Home! A carpetless floor, bed,
chair or two, a fireless stove.
Covering close to the latter sat a
old woman grooming to babe whic
she held in her arms, swathed in rags
Lie still, my BARN." she murmuret
startled by the opening of the door
Gle still-the masters shall nae touc
We never fear"
Oh! those hollow cheeks, those tren
bling hands, those struggling lock-
that bent, sbivering form.
She gazed at me curiously at frs
with vacant, dazed-like stare, the
a shudder shook her frame.
"Be We one o. the masters" she il
guired. in a husky voice.
NO I replied, smiling; mo"
81 maun a-knowed it" she said, wit
a nod, The dell ne'er cooms a-smilin
an-and-" here her voice fell to viii
per-"the barons are all sold to tn
deil-6id We know that?"
l made no answer and she continue
/ her grooming to the babe in her arms.
"Hush, my BARN." she said to tt
motionless figure; 'hush, thy father
e-coomin'Aa-coomin'h home the da
"Has't seen him?" she cried, sudden
turning to me; hast seen my SANDY
Ny puir boy, Sandy-did he send ye'
The boy looked at me with a wlstfu
touching expression.
"Sandy's the father" he explaine
"who went away long ago."
At this juncture the door open'
and a woman about 80 years Of age e
tered. with every appearance OF wear
ness and heart-sickness in her for
and face.
For the first time the boys ey
lightened.
Mother" he said. "the gentlemi
= fetched home a whole pailful OF coal
sect" and the little fellow spread h