The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN THE WORKRoOM.

In an upper room furnished with
eight or ten sewing machines there sat
as many girls at work. The room was
well ventilated and warmed; the girls
looked contented; there was no talking,
but every girl sat over her sewing ma
chine and guided the work, while the
needle jumped up and down in that
most surprising and wonderful instru-
ment. In a smaller room at the back
forewoman was at work.
Downstairs there was show room,
quite an humble kind of show room, in
which one or two more sewing ma
chimes were at work. And at the back
of this was a small Office or sitting
room in which there were two ladies
eonrersing. One Of them was the
lady who ran the concern. 1t was con-
Quoted on cooperative principles,
which is the reason why it has since
been closed, because, Of all things
in this world, there is nothing more
difficult than to persuade people to
buy things at cooperative productive
stores-that is to say, where the pro-
ducers sell their things without the
medium of boss, chief, bourgeois, OF
master.
This particular attempt was just
then in the stage when a little feeble
public interest in it had been excited
by superhuman efforts Of its friends,
and success seemed possible, though
there were many anxieties. The TWO
ladies in the Office were discussing
these anxieties and possibilities. One
of them, the manager Of the concern,
q lady no longer young, had spent
her whole life among the working
women.
"My DEAR" she said to the younger
lady-it was the same young lady who
had caught Katherine Oh the bench as
she was falling forward-'I really do
think we have made move"
The above stars represent quite a
long conversation about linen gar
ments, and orders, and expenses, and
receipts, from the cooperative point of
view deeply interesting.
And how do you get on with your
hands?"
There is the usual percentage OF
stupid girls, lazy girls, and incompe-
tent girls. I know exactly what to
expect. The most satisfactory of all
is the girl you brought to me-Katha-
rine."
What is her full name"
"I do not know-I have not yet
asked her She is quick to learn, obe-
dient, and ladylike."
"Yes. She is lady-like, poor thing!
Perhaps she was formerly a lady's
maid"
poor thing" the other echoed.
"Without friends and relations. Left
to die. Oh, what a fate! What a
punishment
"Yet her face is full Of innocence
and purity. Can such face lie:"
"She said that she had no friends
and no relations. What can that
mean?
"Let US 90 upstairs and see her"
They went upstairs where Katharine
sat at work before sewing machine,
quiet and Industrious. She looked up
and smiled as the ladies entered the
room. The look, the smile, the very
carriage of her head, were altogether
different from the manner in which
the other girls greeted the chief. These
girls were all what We call decent and
respecta BILE; some of them were come
ly; some were even pretty, as London
work girls very often are, petites,
with narrow. sloping shoulders, small
face, and large eyes; some were coun-
try bred, and showed it in their figures
and the ample width Of their shoul-
ders; some had the manners Of the
shop; some Of the factory; some, of
the London back street; some, Of the
slum; some, of the farm; some. Of the
servants hall; none OF them had the
manners which were shown by sc
simple a thing as Katharine's smile
when she lifted her head.
She suffered no longer; she knew not
and had not the least suspicion, OF the
dreadful things that were thought
and said about her by the ladies'
yes, the very ladies-who had befriend
ed her. She was in haven of rest
She learned readily how to use the
sewing machine; she even took some
kind of interest in the work; she sat
steadily working all day; she gained
q sufficient weekly wage; and she had
q room in a decent house recommended
by the lady who ran the cooperative
business.
The young lady, her rescuer, shook
hands with her, though somewhat
doubtfully-there are several ways OF
shaking hands, as everybody knows
and when young lady shakes hands
with girl who has the manners of 9
lady, but has been picked up starving
and confesses to having no friends anC
no relations, certain something
constraint, doubt, condescenson, or en-
couragement-canno but be remarked
in the manner of extending OF with
drawing the hand Chapters-whol'
essays-great books-might be writer
on the differences, shades, and grade!
of shaking hands, from the affabl'
greeting of a prince to the cheerful
grasp which work-house chaplain be
slows upon his sheep.
Katharine, however, noticed nothin;
unusual in this welcome.