The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
(Copyright.)


-HE ladies of the Every Monday
Euchre club, lingering over their
salad and coffee at the close of an
afternoon, habitually lamented the scar
city of servants in Gardner ascribing as
the cause that Gardner was mill town.
Mrs Bascome, lately come from the
south, and secure in her eolored Becky
lightly imputed the whole trouble to the
fact the north was so insistent upon ed
ucation. The final word seemed to have
been said when she drawled conclusivelya
MA fathah always said if the working
peonle were educated 1t would be the
end of the servant class.
AS she spoke she flung her stole over
one shoulder in the fashion of the year,
Joined several of the other club men,
bers and departed In fiutter of gay
talk down the streets steep descent to-
ward the car. The trolley at this hour
was crowded to the very steps with the
mill hands, and the club women were
Obliged to swing .unsteadily from straps
holding their f1nery from the floor in in
dignant protest Their Indignation was
only partially appeased when several men
sheepishly abandoned their seats to them
and made their way to the platform and
the solace of tobacco.
Most of the mill girls were brave in
their early winter finery, patterned IN
close imitation of the custom-ma gar
ments of the Euchre club. Some of them
stared rudely at Mrs. Bascomes smart
little hat that 1ared at an unexpected
angle. then adjusted their stiff felts, gay
with ribbons and scanty plumes, IN
vain attempt at her style. Here ana
there women dropped with fatigue Their
hands in harsh mittens, lay inertly in
their laps while their lunch boxes, often
pathetically masking as music rolls or
comeras, slipped time and again from
their weary grasp. The younger girls
however, were shouting and talking to-
gether. bridling at the men, making en-
fragments with them for balls or the
vaudeville.
Then, Name, I'm on to you,' I SEE,
and you ought to have heard him laugh!
one girl was confiding.
The ladies lifted their eyebrows ex-
pressively at each other to show their
annoyance More weary from their pleas
IRE than the mill girls from their toll,
their tired nerves rebeled against the
unnecessary clamor.
Mrs. Bascome had difficulty in hear
ing what Mrs. Cooley the president of
the club, was saying above the whir OF
the car and the loud clatter, but at her
question, a-second time repeated, she
shouted sweetly in return:
mo, Mrs. Cooley, I don't, but IL hear
of anyone I'll let you know. My Becky
may possibly have friend who would
like the place. What work do you re-
quah, Mrs. Cooley, of your second girl?"
An intelligent looking young American
girl who sat behind them leaned forward
to catch the answer
'Oh, I expect the usual combination of
waitress and chambermaid With only
three in the family there is almost moth
ing to do. She could have every evening
off and two afternoons, counting Sunday.
I pay six a week, yet none but Firms
have applied. The worst of it is. my
cook will leave If I don't get some one
soon"
Mrs. Bascome motioned the conductor
to stop, and as she tottered uncertainty
down the moving car she called merrily
over her shoulders:
ST may apply for that position myself!
It's very good place"
The young American girl slipped into
the seat Mrs. Bascome's going had left
empty. She glanced hesitatingly at Mrs.
Cooley from time to time as If about to
address her, but before she had done so
Mrs. Cooley had left the car and by press
ing her face to the window the girl had
fleeing picture of her decorous progress
I'D a shaded walk leading to large brick
house set well back from the street
AS the car sped on to the district where
most of the mill people lived, the girl
still sat with her face pressed to the cool
window pane, staring blanlly into the
gathering darkness
The trolley had almost reached the end
of the line before she, too alighted and
walked toward the cottage where she
boarded with the Farley family, her flag
cling step growing lighter as she swung
the gate behind her. Although there was
very neat front entrance, with door
bell she made her way directly to the
kitchen, entering without the formality
of knocking An elderly woman of Irish
American lineage looked up pleasantly
from the stove. where she was frying
cakes.
'.Well, Mamie" she said kindly. II
thought you were lost Then, divining
the girls dependency, she asked, 'There
amt anything wrong, is there2"
Yves. there's a good deal wrong. I am
all wore out. My head aches, and my
side hurts most of the time. don't see
how I'm going to stand 1t through the
winter" Her eyes filled with tears Of
self-pity, and, rising hastily to hide her
agitation. she began mechanically to set
the table,
you'd ought to see a doctor" the old
or woman called above the frying.
II have. l seen DR.. Otis this noon"
'What did he say?"
There was an appreciable pause.
"He said / had to git out of the mill
and cit out quick. / had to have better