Year: 1875

l

 Ryan's answer was as follows

 "I've heard Morgan" he said, look ing that man boldly and honestly in the face; "and I can only say that it ain't true in the main, although I can't ex actly! point out where it is untrue. Nor gan's got a good head, and I've got { bad one. I've got just sense enough to know what's right, and that's all. like to do my duty-and don't want to dc more, if 1t hurts another man. Morgan says I take the bread out of another man s mouth by doing half as much work again as l ought to do. He may be right, but I don't see it. According to my notion of things only do my duty, and as am paid for it shall do it while have the health and strength to keep at my work. I don't say that the mas ters are always right, because they are not, ' continued Ryan; but when a man undertakes to do his work he ought to do it, and if he does sometimes carry plank half dozen yards when the bell is ringing what's the odds? Look e here, mates, we are always talking about the masters showing us consideration, and it comes to this, if we take we must give too. I'll not stand up against them as works with me, and I'll not say a word behind your backs. The masters must fight their own battles, and they are able to do it, but speak to you as mates. Most of you know what's right and what's wrong, and since we are on the question of time, let me point out one thing to you. There are five hun dred of us on the works, and there's five minutes given for us to get in when the bell rings; but what do we do Every man waits until the five minutes is almost up, and then there is grand rush. Is that fair? Some people could tell you how many hours five hundred minutes make. I can't just now, but I know it must make great difference to the master by the end of the year."

 Ryan's notions were not particularly popular, but his words carried weight with them. More than one listener felt that he only acted as an honest man; but Morgan and his followers were the stronger party, and at 8 private meeting in the evening it was decided that a round robin should be sent in against the |" runner," demanding his dismissal. It was drawn up, signed by the commit tee, and put before the men on the mor- row. The majority signed easily enough; but few did it partly against their will. They travelled with the stream, as many others do, because they were too weak to stand against it.

 MT. Collins received the message from his men, and said he would consider 1t. He laid it before his partner-a gentle man who had money in the business, but had no practical knowledge of it-and the pair weighed over the consequences of refusing the unseemly request. MT. Collins knew the character of Ryan, and liked him. In his branch he was the best man upon the works, and it was much against his desire to part with him.

 If we give way this time,'' he said, i've shall soon have another request, one impossible to comply with, perhaps. I have seen the feeling growing among the men; we have too many takers upon the works-and strike is inevitable /; it may as we'll comenow as amonth hence. "

 And so it was decided. The answer was sent to the men, and the answer was "No." r-

 This brought the storm down. A hur- ried and angry meeting was held, with Morgan and others for speakers, and

 

 and bring the masters to their senses. , Notice of the strike was given, and on the following Saturday the works were closed.

 Then followed the usual state of things. Tickets were posted in every avenue leading to the works to stop men from coming, and the men not so en- ployed stood about in groups talking over the strike, or lounged about in the bar of the pubGc-house discussing the same thing. There was little or no vio- fence at first; the men were for the most part disposed to be peaceable, and were imbued with firm conviction that they were in the right; and Ryan, who was still kept on at the works doing odd jobs, went to and fro without molestation. This did not suit Morgan, who, being a thriftless man, soou began to feel the want of the usual wages. He had an allowance from the society, but that speedily went, for people like him who talk all day cannot do without drink, and Morgan had most decided weakness | for beer. His rancor increased with his penucy, and it was not long before he persuaded himself that all his poverty and deprivations were the work of Ryan.

 There are evil spirits in every commu- nifty, and, like birds of feather, they invariably flock together. Morgan did not want for men whose thoughts coin cided with his own, and threatening letter was sent to Ryan, warning him not to go near the works again. Ryan treat ed it with contempt, and went as usual Four days later he was struck from be- hind on the road home, and fell insensi ble. MT. Collins himself discovered him there, and had him taken to his owl house, and an eminent surgeon was sent | for.

 An inquiry was instituted police took the affair in hand but nothing came of it, and the cruel attack passed into the long list of undiscovered crimes.

 But to return to Ryan. He was pro- nounced by the surgeon to be severely hurt, but not dangerously so, and the next day he was removed to his home His master, who entered it then for the first time, was astonished at it's neatness and comfort but he was still more as tonished when, on asking Mrs. Ryar if she wanted any money, she answered quietly:

 "No, thank you, sir :; we have nearly sixty pounds in the savings bank. It's bad job for Robert, but we can, witt Gods blessing, pull through"

 "Aye, sir, added Ryan, turning hi: pale face towards his master, we shal I believe pull through but we thanl you all the same. :"

 As MT. Collins walked home that nigh he tried to think of some plan by whicl he could benefit Ryan without breaking in upon his independence. Pecuniar, help was not what he wanted, but surel, there were other ways to put him up thu ladder of life. The problem puzzled hin all the evening, but he hit upon the solu tion before going to rest.

 On the morrow he visited Ryan again and fn11nd him .nnnch hntter sittino h,