Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-01-14
NUMBER z.


very comfortable niche indeed, and
times were exceedingly hard in those
parts He reflected with considerable
disgust that 1t was quite unjust that
he, who had no personal interest In the
matter should be the one upon whose
shoulders the task of adjusting the al
fair should be thrust.
That explains why Smith was per-
turbed upon the arrival of Mr.. and
Mrs. Joseph Bruder. 1t also explains
why he alone was at the depot to meet
the distinguished pair. 1t is an axiom
that good luck always comes to the
lazy. Smith was a lazy man, which
accounts for the piece Of good luck
which came to him on the morning or
the arrival of Mr.. and Mrs. Bruder.
Bah Armstrong; two-year-old baby
boy had died of cholera morbus few
DAYS before. and the sorrowing par
ents. who were farmers, had put the
little creature in simple pine box and
were sending him down the road to be
buried in the Armstrong family bury
ing ground at West Camden. The tiny
morsel of humanity was at that mo-
ment resting in the freightroom OF the
Beaver Meadows depot.
AS Smith llmped down the platform
toward Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Bruder he
looked through the open door OF the
freightroom and got his inspiration
Thon no npcf.stnd Rruder
"Waitin' for Harris team, amt yer?"
Bruder looked at his wife, and she
said, YES"
"Goin' ter work on the job, amt
yer"
Again Bruder looked at his wife, and
again she said, "Yes."
"Well, I'm right glad ter see yer"
said the unconscionable diplomat eff
fusiyely. 81 tell yer we've been havin'
great COINS on aroun' here"
Again BruGer looked at his wife. and
again she said Yes" softly and press
ed little closer under the shelter OF
his mighty thigh.
Between you and me-" continued
the willy Smith, these woOdchoppers-
| mean the Beaver Meadow fellers,"
he hastened to explain as a slight con-
traction of Bruder's forehead warned
him that any slur upon the craft would
not be weEome-''don't know when
they're well off,"
He paused, and Bruder looked at his
wife, but she remained silent.
"Of course amt got nothin' against
these men here, and 1t may not sound
well comm from me, me bein in the
employ of this corporation, as amt sup
posed ter show no partiality, but seems
ter me these Men Is little unreason-
able. Yer see," he went on as neither
Bruder nor his wife spoke, "tlmes have
been pretty hard around here. with
crops failin' and a good deal of sick
ness In the ncighbOrhood, and think
these men ought to been glad to get
steady employment. or course they're
really In the power Of the company,
cos they amt got no money, and the
officers knows it, and so they cuts
down their wages. Now, some Of 'em
finds out that the big fellers is maxim
dead loads Of money. and so they
makes big kick and goes on strike.
So the company jest shuts down, and
heard the superintendent say as that
they was goin' to start process OF
starvation. OF course l don't want
that to go no further"
"Dld the company treat the men
fair?" asked Mrs. Bruder.
"Of course it did" said Smith quick
". "Ain't they got n right TO pay their
money out any way they like? Couldn't
these men pick up and leave il they
didn't like itT'
"AIost Of these men has their own
homes, hasn't they?" asked Mrs. Bru-
der.
"Yes, they has," said Smith, "but II
they keeps on this way they won't
have no one left in their homes" Then
he added as he walked toward the Of
fee: "Ye'd better come in and sit
down. Harris team may not be here
for an hour yet. They generally comes
ter meet the down train. Big -Four Is
waitin' here fer it ter pass"
He adroitly halted the couple in
front OF the open door of the freight
room, and instantly the maternal eye
of Mrs. Bruder caught the little coffin.
"Whose is that" she asked.
That's Cy Selden's baby" said
Smith, lying heroically.
Mrs. Bruder looked at her husband,
then back to Smith. What allied it"
she asked. Cholera morbus:'
Smith drew closer and lowered his
voice bit. That's what they give
out" he said, but between you and
me 1t didn't have enough ter eat"
Just then Smith found sudden busi-
ness in the ticket office, where he re-
mained until he heard the booming or
the down train, when he went out on
to the platform to pass up the mails.
He fingered for moment and watch
ed big Four" pull out from the sid
ing: then he looked all around. There
was no one in sight.
How'd yer do 1t, Bill?" asked Jack
Lundy that night, while half dozen
strikers smoked and listened.
~ didn't do nothin', and | don't
know nothin'," snapped Smith. They
come, and they've gone, amt theyf'
And then to modify therebuke the good
soul continued in tone that smacked
suspiciously of tenderness as he puffed
his pipe rellectively in the darkness:
Strange; l used to know those folks
years ago-didn't know it till terday-
they was good deal younger then
Just married, | guess-they were pref
ty poor-had a little baby that died-I
don't know, but folks aroun' there said
the little thing died-cos 1t didn't
get-enough-ter eat"
1t Was n Dream.