The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-08-01
THE AVERAGE. MAN.:
BY LIZZIE NJ. HOLMES.

life, and he had no snlothered annbi-
tons to ride in a coach and six and
be fed turtle soup and venison with a
gold SPOON" He had no aspirations
higher than to live decently and COM
fortably with his family and nc! raise his
children to be respectable, useful men,
bers of society, as he had been. And
he was willing to Woodwork as hard
as need be that these worthy objects
might be gained.
There was nothing Dangerous in the
makeup Of this man. Law and
order had nothing to fear from him
he would never protest against being
robbed Of the fruits of his labor, as
long as an opportunity to toll was at
forded him and enough was left him. to
provide humbly for his family.
He had been raised on a little farm,
and had worked from the time he could
toddle and distinguish weeds from cab
bage plants. When he grew to be a
big, hearty boy, the farm could scarce
ly afford him and the other hearty boys
growing up with him chance to make
a living. So he went away to the near
est large town and worked at anythin
he could find to do, until a friend pro-
cured him a steady job in the depot
handling freight and baggage at forty
dollars month. He thought this JUS
titled him in marrying the girl he loved,
the girl who worked in the boarding
house at which he stayed, and who had
shown that she was interested in him.
So he asked her at the first opportunity
and she gladly accepted both because
she liked him and because she thought
it would end the tedious drudgery of
her life. Alas, it only then begun.
They were very happy in the unas-
Stunning two rooms Of a. tenement house
where they first went to housekeeping.
Evalina-for her mother had expressed
the snothered romance Of her nature
in fantastical names for her children
put up her white muslin curtains,
trained some vines and plants in the
windows and bought from her savings
a Powered carpet and one "easy chair"
so that their little parlor, which was
also bedroom, was at first very neat
and homelike.
In thrifty manner, Homer bought
three town lots and some stone and
lumber, paying something down, the
rest to be made up in 'easy payments"
in the future, and started slowly to
build a house. He did great deal Of
the work himself before seven in the
morning and after that hour in the
evening, for his work kept him twelve
hours every day, Sundays included.
Railroads do not concern themselves
about mems spiritual needs--they are
only interested in their working capa-
city; as human beings, citizens and
brothers, corporations know them not
why should they when they are them
selves "soulless p
OF course Homer hired some of the
carpenter work done and paid good
union prices: for it. His courtroom
house: as: So f<ai comp that he
moved into it: inside Of: a year, and
their first baby. was born there. This
entailed extra expense and in this Sec
ond year he paid but very little on the
debt he had incurred, and he barely
| managed to finish the house as he had
planned.
TIE third year his wages were in
creased to fifty dollars a month. But
another babycame and, be as saving as
they could, their income was nearly
eaten up with everyday expenses. He
! paid a small part of the principal.
During the third and fourth years his
wife was sick great deal and medicines
and a doctor were necessary; and so he
| barely managed to pay the interest and
taxes on his little property. Anothey
| babr came which lived only a few weeks
and meekly died as though apologizing
for having troubled them for that short
time. It's modest funeral absorbed the
greater amount Of their savings.
1t looked as though there was small
chance of his ever getting out of debt
but still he only determined to try thu
harder. All this time he had never
had a days rest. Vacations are fol
those whose hardest work is the cutting
Of coupons, for the highest paid desl
employes-those who wear good clothe:
at their work every day. Day afte1
day for twelve hours Homer Gray
trundled heavy trunks and boxes an6
lifted great weights up and down, with
out cessation. His once fine form grew
angular; bent and awkward, and hi:
once genial face that had been almos
good-looking, became stolid, hard, dull
He was good to his wife and children
in that he did the. best he could fo1
them and did not vent his WEAKNESS il
irritability upon them; but he was gen
orally too tired at night to interest him
! self in their little affairs, and the socia
enjoyment of the family was: yer,
limited.
Time went on in the same monotonou
toilsome manner, until there were fiv'
living children. The debt was very lit
tie lessened; the wife looked faded
.careWorn, commonplace, and she neve
seemed to get her hands out of tn,
soapsuds or dishwater, unless she wer'
holding baby. Her usual dress was
shabby print wrapper and her once soft
! 'WaVy hair, that had been her pride
was now pulled back in tight littl'
Wad of dull dry wisps at the back O
her head. She devoted her whole lif
to the care of her children and, ,:he:
house in the most approved manner
and she should have been appreciate,
and praised, but very little of either di,
the poor woman ever know.