Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-05-20
Mr.. Btoggs had something TO say.

IT was late in February and every
one was complaining ofethc cold. Even
the oldest inhabitants of Bingvilie
could not recall so severe a winter
Many families were short of fuel The
homes Of the working folk were in
sufficiently heated. Money in the bank
had given them a sense of security.
They could not believe that its magic
power would fail to bring them what
they needed. SO they had been care
less of their allowance of wood and
coal. There were days when they
had none and could get none at the
yard. Some men with hundreds of
dollars in the bank went out into the
country at night and stole rails off
the farmers fences. The homes of
these unfortunate people were raw
aged by Influenza and many died.
Prices at the stores mounted higher.
Most of the gardens had been lying
idle. The farmers had found it hard
to get help. Some of the latter, in
deed, had decided that they could
make more by teaming at Millerton
than by tOilng in the fields and with
less effort. They left the boys and
the women to do what they could with
the crops. Naturally the latter were
small. SO the local sources of supply
had little to offer and the demand up
on the stores steadily increased. Ger
tain of the merchants had been, in q
way spoiled by prosperity. They were
rather Indifferent to complaints and
demands. Many of the storekeepers,
irritated, doubtless by Overwork, had
lost their former politeness. There
were days when supplies failed to ar
rive. The railroad service had been
bad enough in times of peace. Now
ii was worse than ever
Those who had plenty of money
found it difficult to get a sufficient
quantity of good food. Bingvile be-
ing rather cut off from other centers
of life by distance and a poor railroad.
Some drove sixty miles to HaZelmead
to do marketing for themselves and
their neighbOrS.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Patterson Bing.
however, in their luxurious apartment
| at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New
York, knew little of these conditions
until Mr.. Bing came up late in March
for talk with the mill superintend-
ent Many of the sick and poor suf-
fered extreme privation. Father O'Neil
and the Reverend Otis Singleton of
the Congregational church went
among the people, ministering to the
sick. of whom there were many, ard
giving counsel to men and women
who were unaccustOmed to prosperity
and Unqualified wisely to enjoy 1t.
One day, Father O'Neil saw the Wild
Ow Moran coming into town with a
great bundle of fagots on her back.
''This looks little like the old coun-
try he remarked.
She stopped and swung her fagots
| to the ground and announced: at do
! that an may God help us! It's hard
times, Father. In spite O all the mon
ey, it's hard times It looks like there
wasn't enough to 90 'round-the ships
be takin' so many things to the old
country"
"How is my beloved Shepherd" the
good Father asked.
Mother o God The house is that
cold, he's been layin' abed for a week
an Judge Croker has been away on
| the circuit"
'TOO bad!" said the priest. give
been so busy with the sick and the
dying and the dead l have hardly ha~
time to think of you
Against her protest he picked up
the fagots and carried them on his
own back to her kitchen.
He found the Shepherd in a sweater
sitting up in bed and knitting socks.
'Eow is my dear boy?'' the good Fa-
| Their asked.
every sad said the Shepherd. 81
want to do something to help and my
legs are useless"
Courage" Mr.. BlOggs seemed to
shout from his shelf at the window
side and just then he assumed most
valiant and determined look as he
added: Forward. march !"
Father O'Neil did what he could to
help in that moment of peril by say
ing:
Cheer up, boy. I'm going out to
Dan Mullins this afternoon and Til
make him bring you a big load of