Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-12-17

1CJlllcS dI y SiOSh, WASA eA'N
big g,ng had sounded, he would sit
by tie time-machine and watch the
men file down the stairs. He would
have given much ii here and there
in the long line a face had been lift
ed to his with a nod Or a conlpre'
hending smile, but the hands rang
in their time In sullen silence. His
very presence seemed to chill their
spirits, and when one Of them looked
at him it was either with bitterness
or blank stare.
Meanwhile the Perfection Electric
Switch Company prospered amazing
ly, and at the sarne time the super
intendent grew a little more stoop-
shouldered, little more reserved, a
little more heavy of eye.
In November of the third year 1t
happened that "Our Mr.. Crawford"
was taken sick. At the time he was
putting forth strenuous efforts to
have an increase of pay for the en-
ployes, in consequence of which he
dI lAO ollSC oCNSldl NhSp
he should have been in bed. He
wanted the hands to understand that
their work had been appreciated, and
although he had to grind his teeth
to keep from crying out with the
pain he went daily to tho olIlce and
argued with the general manager and
the members of the firm.
The firm was obdurate. 1t was de-
cided finally that, in view of the ex-
tensive additions that We're to be
made to the plant the increase could
not be granted for another year Sick
at ''H1rt and racked with pain the
sup "-ndent staggered to his apart
mcnts !. the gray November dusk.
went to bed and sent for a doctor.
The physician came, chded the Young
man for his carclcssness of his health
and said slight operation would be
necessary the next day.
The operation was successful, and
the physician assured the anxious
general manager that the patient
would be at the factory in couple
of weeks. But the physician had not
reckoned on many things-the weari-
ness of mind and body in his patient,
the bitterness of his recent failure
to induce the firm to increase the pay
of the hands, and the drag ging load
under which he had struggled silent
ly for the past three years.
The wound caused by the opera.
tion healed rapidly, but with the heal.
ing came no strength. Crawford sat
daily propped up IN chair by the
window, listless and uninterostcd in
his surroundings. The physician was
puzzled and not little irritated; the
general manager, who came daily, be-
gan to show signs Of alarm.
"It's the pace of modern business
sir!' the physician snapped angrily
to the attendant, who had been sent
up from the hospital. Get him in
terested in something. It's his only
chance"
The man tried everything his fer
tie llluu ana uHOIOuSu training COulu
suggest, but with no results. Craw-
ford sat silently by the window day
after day, looking vacantly at the
bare branches OF the trees and the
patches of dull cloud drifting across
the early winter sky.
Christmas time found Crawford
propped in his chair, looking out over
world newly swathed in spotlcss
white. The doctor declared that nCw
| it was only question of time, and
| the attendant had long since ceased
| trying to rouse the sick mans dor.
mant interest. On Christmas Day
| Crawford opened an envelope from
the factory and found it enclosed a
| substantial check. He smiled bitter
| ly and handed it to the attendant.
"Hcre, take 1t! Merry Cbristmas!"
| he said, in a colorless voice
At dusk it was showing again, and
| just after the lights began to twinkle
through the gloom Crawford, in his
J chair fell into a heavy slumber He