The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-11-25
Sarah Jane Appleton's Strike.
LUCY FOSTER MADISON.

tQOuSuC n uSap SENSE II We OH III ASEos
an I want help in my work same az
you hev in yourn. I'm, getting too
old ter slave ash hav done, AMI amt
a-goin' ter do it no more. An I
want sum money fer myself same as
you hev fer your terbacker. faint
no more'n right, Silas. I've helped
arm 1t, eff I am nuthin' but a animal
made fer yer comfort"
"You think yer smart, don't yer,
a-makin' terms with yer own hus-
band" cried Silas, walking away
from the door in a rage.
But he gave more thought to his
wife that night than he had done in
years. He was shrewd bargain
driver himself, and in spite of his
wrath toward her his respect in
creased.
"There's no use talkin,' Sarah
Jane, amt agoin': to hev my
money spent fer no SIGH foolishness."
Farmer Appleton pulled his pipe so
vigorously that the kitchen was blue
with smoke. 3,
"But silas," protested Mrs. Apple
ton, pouring a kettle of hot water
over a pan full Of dishes, ut amt but
fifty cents, and 'tain't> as ef you
couldn't afford it,
Eyes; but fifty cents here and fifty
cents there soon counts up. Last
year you wuz sot on red geraniums,
and this year it's patent leather
belt. What 'ud you do with it eff
you had it? A woman of your. age
couldn't wear one of them things.
Sarah Jane, I'm surprised at you"
Il don't care" said Mrs. Appleton
defiantly. "I'd wear it eft 1 am forty.
Lots of women do that's olden' n me.
I've alters wanted one, and now
they're reduced, it seems as If I ort
to hev it,
"There's nothing the matter with
that black ribbon of yourn," declared
Mrs. Appleton.
"Oh, amt there? sneered Sarah
Jane. ''Silas Appleton, I've worn
that black ribbon three year, and it's
a disgrace to any respectable woman.
did want them geraniums last year,
and I wanted 'em bad. But you said
no, and I give 'em up. l amt had
no new dress for five year, ner no
new hat, nuther. I've worked hard
and faithful an want that there
belt. I'm just clean sot on it,
Then you'd better git unsot, fer
I'm not a-goin' to have my money
spent in no SIGH way" Silas arose
and tapped his ashes off his pipe en-
ergetically. Il don't know what
comes over you at times, mother, but
you do get the fooleshest notions
in your head. 1t does beat all! Eff
you'd "a had your way, we wouldn't
a. had nuthin' laid up. 1t nd all
gone fer geWgaWs."
"Tha amt true, Silas Appleton, an
you know it," flashed his wife so
fiercely that Silas quailed involuntar-
lily. 1--WE done my, sheer towards
getting along eff ever woman did.
I've shaved night an day with never
bit Nv help .'ceptin:;. when :. the
Pchildren come, an 'yoh alters with
your hired man. AN, now r. can't
have leetle ole fifty cent belt!:
notice, though, that it's alters me
that has to give up. There amt no
stintin' on the terbacker..' Her lips
quivered and: her eyes. filled with
tears. :.
"That will do Sarah Jane amt
goin' to hev no back: talk from q
woman. You've had yer board and
keep, an it's not many men that's
the pervider that I am, eff do say it
that shouldn't. amt a-sayin' you
amt beeen. helpmate; yer have;
but that's what women wuz mede fer.
God made man in His own image, and
Uiun hio dominion ho hoo c<
the fields, an the fowls Nv the air,
an God made woman, too, that she
might minister to man an serve him
jest like the other animals. When
you don't do that, Sarah Jane, yer
a-goin' agin the purpose Nv yer Gre
ator. Remember that st. Paul COM
mands women to adorn themselves
with sobriety and .modesty, ruther
than-" -
est. Paul wuz an ole bachelor an
didn't know what he wuz talkin'
about" said Sarah Jane flippant1y.
II b'lieve you men stay awake nights
jest huntin' up what Paul says agin'
the pore women. Wisht I'd bin that
thorn in his side! He'd "a had
some purity sharp pricks, I can tell
yer, fer the harm he's did U.S.
"Stop, woman!" Numbered Silas,
his face purple with rage. eco down
on yer knees an beg forgiveness fer
that blasphemy. When I. KUN ter
supper want ter. find yer humble,
with contrite heart as wife ort ter
be-"
He left the kitchen, slamming the
loor after him, while Mrs. Appleton
burst into tears.
II don't keer," she said presently,
wiping her eyes and resuming her
dish-washing, 'taint right nohow.
ort ter have sump'n ter spend same
as him. Eff he'd jest give me a little
bit. Seems like don't keer so much
bout new things 'ceptin' when spring
comes. But when the leaves are out,
an the brown airth gifts new coat
Nv green, an the flowers come up so
purity an nice, seems as though it's
mater to want sump'n new. I've al
lers give up ter Silas tell he's jest
plumb spilled. But I amt a-goin' ter
this time. No. sir! . I'm a-goin: ter
hev that belt by hook or crook"
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