Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-01-17
a look of pride and satisfaction.

"The child must be cold" said to the
younger woman. ats clothing seems
poor and thin"
She smiled strangely and placed hei
finger upon her lip.
"'Tain't no real baby whispered
the boy; its only a stick O. wood the
granny calls the BARN"
I looked at the boys mother inquir
ingly.
yes" said she, "the BARN died the
morning poor Sandy was taken away
Granny went crazed, as you see, which
was a mercy. sir. seem as how Shit
loved the BARN and Sandy better thar
life"
The old woman had returned to heI
chair, and. cheered by the warmth |
was sinking into a gentle doze.
SANDY" she murmured. "Sandy' |
coomin' hame the day. The BARN viii
nae mair cry from hunger, for the ia
Their is coomin' hame."
"Of what dark day do You speak"
inquired; "and who took your HUSBAND
away?"
The boy shuddered and crept close tt
his mothers side.
She hesitated.
"Here, Jenny" ! FASTENED to say |
"take this money and go to the nearest
store Your mother will tell you wha'
to buy"
He was gone; but, nevertheless. }
was haunted by those solemn, pleading !
wistful eyes-eyes in which the glac
light of happy childhood had never
lurked; eyes which looked out upon
life Swallowed by the wing of poverty
and hopeless misery.
"You may remember, sir" began his
mother. "the great strike of the miners
in this region in the year 1SS-. Sandy |
my husband, was agin it, sir, from the
first. He knowed it meant starvation
in the end for the miners, and triumph
for the masters. Labor, sir, is the only
inheritance of the poor; and when
there's no labor there's no wages, anc
no wages means no bread. So while
the masters count their gold and mock
ingly bide their time, the poor strikers
and their families must suffer, naughi
being left them but to eat the breac
and drink the waters of affection
"True," assented; "toO true"
"Well. sir" she continued. 1.-THE meI
had been idle for months but still they
clung to the hope that, by holdin' out
their future would be bettered-tbat
the barons would see at last that al
they asked for was wages enough tt
sweeten labor; something beyond the
coarse fare and the comfortless cabiI
which had ever been their portion. Sc
the dav came when even the bit of sail
pork and black bread could no more
be had at the company's store on credit
1t was bitter cold, and Sandy had gone
out to get the trust of pail of coal
He was very white, sir, when he came
back. and there was that in his eye
which made me shudder.
"'Why. Sandy I cried, my man
why DO You look so"
For answer he pointed TO the empty
pail.
They would gle me name says he
sowlike and husky; they will nae trust
us more
"'And why? l asked. all of tremble
""Thev mean to turn us out of the
house tomorrow he answered, bitter
". New men. my lass, are coomin' tc
take our places at 60 cents the day
Foreigners. Jenny, at 60 cents the day!
"'But the BARN. our sick bairn!' ]
cried. She has been cryin' for a sup OF
broth since early mornin'. She is dy'
in. Sandy-dyin' for the lack of nour
ishment.'
"Sandy groaned He was a big
brawnv man. sir, willin' to work, and
he well-nieh worshiped the little one
which lay there moanin and cryin' fol
the broth which he couldn't give her
"'Ye maun get a chicken, Sandy,
cried granny; try it, mon. The darlin
is starvin'. can We no see"
GA chicken?' cried Sandy, with a
bitter laugh. 'Ye maun as well ask me
for the keys of Heaven. granny. They
would nae gle me the trust of pail OF
! coal the morn. A chicken they would
call me mad an I should ask for it
mad!'
"WeIl, SIR" continued the woman,
after a painful pause, 'the next day
was cold and raw. A fine, drizzling
rain set in, which froze as it fell.
little one was worse. She lay qul
still now. and moaned no more.
"'They will not turn us out in this
storm. Sandy, with a sick BARN. }
said; they can never be so cruel as
that
""The new men must have homes,
he answered, despairing like; 'ane
when did We know the barOns to show
mercy? Nae, I'm afraid We'll have te
20; but, if the BARN dies, if she dies
Jenny, Tll'-he stopped and clenchec
his hands and muttered something un
der his breath.
"Just then came knock at the
door. Granny looked out the window
then turned with white face and sci
lips and grasped Sandy by the arm,
"'Be a mon,' she said, in a low
deep voice, BE mon, Sandy, and din
ma let them turn us out this awful day
Think O. your dyin' BARN, and be
mon.'
SANDY shook in every limb, but an
swered not a word.
; "a louder rap now at the door, anc
an oath or two.
. Granny wrung her hands in ag
ony, for just then from the bed came
a low moan.
"Broth!' cried the BARN; granny
BROTH
"Open the door, Sandy said gran
ny; open the door, and, taking thu
little one in her arms, she stood, lik'
figure turned to stone, in the mid