The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-18

S0Gletimes at 6 oolock when the
big gong had sounded, he would SIT
by the time-machil1e and wateb The
men dle down the stairs. He would
have given much L here and there
in the long line a fase had been lift
ed to his with nod or a compre
bending 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 a blank stare.
Meanwhile the Perfection Electric
Switch Company prospered amazing
ly, and at the sarae time the super
iDtendent grew little more stoop-
shouldered, a little more reserved,
little more heavy of eye.
In November of the third year it
happened that "Our Mr.. Crawford
was taken sick. At the time he was
putting forth strenuous efforts to
have an increase of pay fol-, the en-
ployes, in consequence Of which he
was at the office several days when
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 t5e office and
argued with the general manager and
the members of the firm.
The firm was obdurate. It was de-
cided finally that, in view of the ex-
tensive additions that were to be
made to the plant the increase could
not be granted for another year. Sick,
at heart and racked with pain the
superintendent staggered to his apart
ments in the gray November dusk,
went to bed and sent for doctor.
The physician came, Achided the young
man for his carelessness of his health
and said a 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
recloned on many things-the wearis
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 dragging load
under which he had struggled silent
ly for the past three years.
The wound caused by the opera
ton healed rapidly, but with the heal
Ing came no strength. Crawford sat
daily propped up IN a chair by the
window, listless and uninterested in
his surroundings. The physician was
puzzled and not a little irritated; the
general manager, who came daily, be-
gan to show signs Of alarm.
Its 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
tile mind and thorough training could
suggest, but with no results. Craw-
Ioro 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 spotless
white. The doctor declared that nov
1t 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
Here, take it! Merry Cb-istmas!, .
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
chair, fell into a heavy slumber He