The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-07-31
THE NEW LIFE


with him. Since he had to work So
| hard and was worried over the poor
turn he got in the mine, and they had
| the children, with all her work to do
! they didn't have much time together
Il wasn't a bit like when he used Ia
come to see her before they were
married. II seemed ages since he had
changed her whole life. She had
thought nothing could ever mar her
perfect happiness.
! But it was different now. A great
/ lump came in her throat every time
she saw the lines coming into Johns
face, and she found him one morning
with tears in his eyes. That was dur
| ing the last strike
Many of the speakers words were
lost to her, for her thoughts kept re-
verting to the big ironing she had to
do next day. But he talked about the
lockout and told the men they must
organize into a political party to get
control of their own jobs. The work
of the injunction and militia was dwelt
on, and he begged them to stand to-
gether in every fight until the hope Of
the one big union was realized.
The lecturer concluded and the
heroine of this little story couldn't
help admitting that she was glad.
There was the ironing to be ready
for early next morning and anyway,
this was Johns business. 1t was John
who was to be emancipated. Yes, she
was glad for John.
After the collection was taken and
before the local went into business
session the membership committee
started over the hall with application
cards. A bright young woman came
to John. 81 am sure" she was saying,
chat you are now convinced that your
place is with us-in the organization.
We can't win by strikes alone. We
must control the injunction and the
militia, and that's why we have the
Socialist party
Didn't she talk we'll? And somehow
Mary Smith felt that this woman had
something to work for, some great, big
interest. There was self-reliance in
her manner and a warm, sympathetic
expression on her face, and she
seemed so earnest. Shrinking back a
little she saw her husband sign the
card
She began tying on her scarf. 1t
was already late and they must get
home She supposed Miss Brown was
gone when she looked up to see
hand outstretched. Mary hardly knew
what to think when she held out
card, asking pleasantly: MAY we
not have your application also, Mrs.
Smith? You know the Socialist party
admits men and women on exactly the
same terms. You work, too, Mrs.
Smith, and when your husband is out
of work, it is hard on you, too. So
cialism says that we shall all have
employment and besides we won't
have to divide with the bosses. We
can have good, clean schools, pretty
homes and plenty of warm clothes and
good food"
Mary was tired 1t had seemed, as
she washed that day, that her back
would break, but her face lighted up
and smile played around the corners
of her mouth.
She looked at the capable woman
before her-she wasn't dressed any
better than she was-simply carried
herself and talked differently, and
then she thought of herself.
She had never read much-the
children and the work didn't leave her
any time-her education was poor, she
couldn't do anything worth while, so
she replied: 81 wouldn't be worth
anything to you, Miss Brown; there is
nothing l could do"
yes, but there is, Mrs. Smith.
There's a great deal you can do. Our
woman's committee is going to give a
box supper next Tuesday night to get
money to buy some Socialist books.
We are studying in the local and our
rapidly growing membership requires
more text books; then we're going to
have a woman speaker to speak for
us next Thursday night and if you
would tell your neighbors to come it
would be a great help, And we are
trying to get some of the little folks,
whose parents are toO~ poor to send
then to school, up here an hour or so
every evening to help them with their
books. Some of them don't even know
their A. B, C's. And the youngest
must be years old. l know you are
busy, Mrs Smith, but we would like
to have you help us, and a mother
always knows so well how to manage
! little folks. We thought of getting up
dinner | heard Ben Hays tell his
wife the other night that the pie your
husband takes to the pit in his bucket
is the best that's let down into the
mine. Would you have time to bake
us one or two? Why, Mrs. Smith, you
don't know how much you could do
nor how badly we need you"
Well, she would do her best. So
silently she took the card, silently
signed it and handed it to Miss Brown.
4 Her heart beat faster than common
when her name was called by the sec
rotary and she was admitted to mem
bership. John got his red card but
she explained to Miss Brown that
she'd get hers at the next meeting.
/ She had a quarter under the paper in
/ the top safe shelf. She had thought
she might get her a new back comb
with it, but since there was only a
/ few teeth gone out Of her Old one she'd
use this quarter to pay her dues.
As they started home that night
John took her arm something like he
used TO- And for both of them this
was the beginning of a new day.
| This was several years ago Now
/ this little mother comrade is often
times chairman of the meetings once
She made "a speech DO nearby town
when the scheduled speaker failed 10
/ arrive She has been secretary of the
. % 81. .H.