The Colfax chronicle., 1903-12-26

helper" broke in the organizer, in
business-like voice. Members of tn
union cannot cook and do all the othe
housework in addition"
| faltered on the threshold a mo
ment, and then fled.
And Edward was away for tw,
weeks!
Miss Kennedy remained until nooI
and then Hannah set the table fol
luncheon. In The meantime I made III
the beds and set the bedrooms to rights
After luncheon | called Hannah anl
she came to me sullenly.
Il shall have TO have a helper" she
said, II am not allowed to build the
kitchen fire, or peel the potatoes, OF
put on the tea-kettle," here she un-
folded the rules and regulations. 81
work, or do the upstairs work il
cook; there must be a second girl for
the general housework, and l must
have helper in the kitchen. I am
rot allowed to Put on or lift off ket-
ties, wash the cooking utensils, clean
and fill lamps, carry wood or coal, an
swer the back door bell-and of course
not the front bell When | scrub the
ifoor the helper must get the hot
water ready and bring it to me, with
the soap and brush-and | cannot
! sweep the back steps or porch"
Stop! Stop" | cried. Hannah
where are we TO find helper, and
what can | get one for?'
The helper" read Hannah. from her
paper, must be not under IS years OF
age nor over 25. She must be paid
S2.6O week for the first six weeks
and three dollars a week after that
until the Amalgamated Domestic
Union of the United States issues
other orders. She must be member
of a domestic union in good standing,
and she must not work as helper tc
anyone not a member of the same
union, nor in the mouse of anyone who
employs nonmembers of the union In
household work"
But. Hannah" I expostulated, "Dt
yoI know of any helpers?"
NO." said Hannah. 1--WE haven't got
any in our union yet"
What is their work to be-" I asked.
The domestic service helper" an
swered Hannah, seems to be some
thing like the helper that comes along
with plumber, you know, and hangs
around and goes errands, and so on:
l don't know what shall ever do with
one tagging at my heels, but must
have one"
And Edward was away. He left no
post Office address; said he was to be
in the woods the whole time, and there
was no way to reach him!
The door bell rang. Hannah started
to answer it, then stopped. took her
rules and regulations out of her apron
pocket-it was baking day-and then
she looked at me, slow red mount |
ing to her cheeks.
| went and opened the front door to |
the new minister's wife, who was MAX |
ing her first call.
We talked abotft the weather. the |
church, the Sunday school, the chill
iren, the a2p'c blossoms, the next lee.
ture course and thought and |
thought and thought about the union.
and the mysterious helper.
| have heard, since, that the minis
ter's wife declared her opinion to be
hat | was "a singular woman" am
not surprised. nor even offended
When she had gone | went on think
ng, and when the dinner hour came |
vas still engaged in that unwonted
of perhaps too quiet and
ncurious mind.
That evening there was meeting of
he union in Odd Fellows hall, hired
or the occasion. In the morning.
descending to breakfast. found Han
lah sitting upon her trunk in the
Iitchen. The trunk held all Hannah's
fleets and was strapped and locked,
md awaiting the expressman. Ham
ah had struck. | paid her the weeks
wages and, after she ha6 gone, | pre-
'ared breakfast and ate 1t with the
And Edward was away!
Two weeks afterwards I was aroused.
arly in the morning, by loud thump-
ng and heavy jar The sound seemed
D come from the back part of the
ousc. | dressed quickly and ran down
he back stairs. There, on the porch. |
at Hannah, on her trunk. She looked
ale and hungry
| opened the door.
"The union has busted" said Han
ah Lend me an apron and let me
ct breakfast"
When the mornings work was over
Iannah told me her story.
I'VE had a good time" said she. "at
rst. But when our money was gone
e got tired. Miss Kennedy has gone
} Beech Ridge. organizing. and we
ever heard frcm the general fund for
rikers. The clearinghouse keepers
ouldn't trust us. nor have us around
ter cur money gave out, and I. for
he, have no home to go to- Last night
e met on the steps OF the school
,use and voted to dissolve"
And so The Sandy Beach Domestic
srvice Union, No. ], is no more?v
id.
"It is as dead as door nail" said
annah. cheerfully.
Edward came home that evening
ter It was all over, and when tod
m what had happened he only .