diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/69218-h/69218-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/69218-h/69218-h.htm | 6078 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 6078 deletions
diff --git a/old/69218-h/69218-h.htm b/old/69218-h/69218-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index ea24f1f..0000000 --- a/old/69218-h/69218-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6078 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html lang="en"> -<head> - <meta charset="utf-8"> - <title> - The worship of the golden calf, by Charles Sheldon French—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel='icon' href='images/cover.jpg' type='image/x-cover'> - <style> - -/*<![CDATA[ */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tiny {width: 5%; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; -} - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 20.75%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -.x-ebookmaker .blockquot { - margin-left: 7.5%; - margin-right: 7.5%; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.marginleft {margin-left: 8em;} - -.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} - -div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} -div.titlepage p { font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} - -p.drop-cap { - text-indent: -0.35em; -} - -p.drop-cap:first-letter -{ - float: left; - margin: 0em 0.15em 0em 0em; - font-size: 250%; - line-height:0.85em; - text-indent: 0em; -} -.x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap { - text-indent: 0em; -} -.x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap:first-letter -{ - float: none; - margin: 0; - font-size: 100%; -} - -.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} -.large {font-size: 125%;} - -.hangingindent {text-indent: -3.25%; } - -.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - -.poetry-container {text-align: center;} -.poetry {display: inline-block; text-align: left;} -.poetry .verse {text-indent: -2.5em; padding-left: 3em;} -.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} -.poetry .indent {text-indent: 1.5em;} -.poetry .center {text-align: center;} -@media print { .poetry {display: block;} } -.x-ebookmaker .poetry {display: block;} - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; - padding: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - - /* ]]> */ - </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The worship of the golden calf, by Charles Sheldon French</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The worship of the golden calf</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>A story of wage-slavery in Massachusetts</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Charles Sheldon French</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: October 23, 2022 [eBook #69218]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Steve Mattern, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORSHIP OF THE GOLDEN CALF ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt=""></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1><i>The</i> Worship <i>of<br> -The</i> Golden Calf.</h1> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p><span class="xlarge"><span class="marginleft">A Story <i>of</i></span><br> -<span class="marginleft">Wage-Slavery</span><br> -<span class="marginleft"><i>in</i> Massachusetts.</span></span></p> -</div></div> - -<p class="center"><span class="xlarge"><i>By<br> -Charles Sheldon French.</i></span></p> - -<p class="center">DALTON, MASS.:<br> -C. Sheldon French, Publisher,<br> -35 John Street.</p> - -<p class="center">PITTSFIELD, MASS.:<br> -William J. Oatman, Printer,<br> -536 North Street.<br> -1908.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center">COPYRIGHT,<br> -1908,<br> -<span class="smcap">By</span> CHARLES SHELDON FRENCH.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="blockquot"> -<div class="hangingindent"> -<p>NOTE. Since Chapter VIII was written Massachusetts -law has been so amended that -$10,000, instead of $5,000, may now be -collected for a human life lost through -the negligence of a railroad or street -railway corporation.</p> -</div></div></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">THE snows had begun to disappear -from the far-famed valleys of -Berkshire; the mountain-tops and slopes -were still white; in the softening air was -the promise of the return of birds and -flowers; Nature was relenting from her -winter harshness, but man was less -kindly than Nature.</p> - -<p>On Beauna Vista, one of the hillocks -rising slightly above the level of the -Housatonic Valley, the day’s work was -done, and John Wycliff, a farm-laborer, -was awaiting the pay for his last month’s -work before returning home.</p> - -<p>There was nothing prepossessing about -Wycliff’s appearance. Short of stature, -minus one eye which he had lost in an -encounter with the Indians, with a bent -nose, a souvenir of a cattle-stampede on -the plains,—he was tough and wiry as a -lynx, and his features betrayed almost -as little emotion as that animal.</p> - -<p>His experience had been largely of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> -kind to make him suspicious of his fellows, -and alert for self-defence. He had -knocked about the East in a variety of -occupations, and in the West had been -editor, cow-boy and gold-miner. He had -seen varying fortunes, having been -once part owner of a gold mine. He had -lost all and was now a common laborer -again. Although he still retained his interest -in the mine, it was considered -worthless. He had hopes that sometime -it might become valuable again through -the invention of cheaper methods of separating -the gold from the rock.</p> - -<p>Jacob Sharp, the farm-superintendent, -was, in appearance, a typical Yankee. -He was tall and angular, with blue eyes, -which sometimes kindled with a kindly -light, but which oftener showed a steely -luster suggesting something of the serpent. -The nose was the most prominent -feature. It was large and sharply defined, -and he had a habit, when excited, -of blowing it vigorously.</p> - -<p>On this occasion a trumpet-like blast -first warned John Wycliff that Boss Sharp<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> -had something on his mind. He blew -his nose loudly several times, while the -blue eyes seemed to retreat more deeply -into their sockets and to give out a snaky -leer. After an unusually loud blast, -which testified to the healthy condition -of his lungs, he pulled some bank-notes -from his pocket.</p> - -<p>“Twenty-five dollars,” he said, handing -the notes to Wycliff. “I have retained -five dollars for Mr. Bothan on the -bill which you owe him.”</p> - -<p>“But you agreed to pay me thirty-five -dollars per month,” replied Wycliff. -“I am very poorly situated at this time -for losing any part of my earnings. I -should be glad to pay all my debts in full -at once, but at present my wages will -barely supply the necessities of life for -my family.” Then, turning to Mr. -Bothan, who stood near by, he continued, -“Both law and gospel make it a -man’s first duty to provide for his family. -Besides, you should have no preference -over my other creditors.”</p> - -<p>But the words were wasted. Wycliff<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> -might as well have appealed to the flint -boulders on the mountain side. Sharp -insisted that he had agreed to pay him -only thirty dollars per month, and he -also insisted on paying five dollars of that -sum to Richard Bothan on Wycliff’s debt. -He even threatened to discharge Wycliff -if the latter should take advantage of the -Bankruptcy Law and thus place Mr. -Bothan on a level with other creditors. -Wycliff received twenty-five dollars and -walked away.</p> - -<p>Mr. Sharp then passed a five dollar -note to Mr. Bothan, who returned him -one of smaller denomination with the remark, -“Here’s a dollar for collecting.”</p> - -<p>The men then separated, unconscious -that there had been any witness of their -conversation. Only a few steps distant, -where a rustic watering-trough was hidden -from sight by a clump of low hemlock -bushes, two horseback-riders, a lady -and a gentleman, had paused to let their -horses drink.</p> - -<p>“What a spectacle that is!” exclaimed -the gentleman; “Congressman Baldwin,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> -one of the owners of this farm, belongs -to the national legislative body which -passed the Bankruptcy Law, and here we -see his foreman threatening to discharge -a workman for accepting the benefits of -that law. The law is designed to relieve -those who are unable to pay their debts. -Congressman Baldwin is sworn to uphold -the law. His foreman, Jacob Sharp, -is doing his best, in this instance, to destroy -the law. I don’t believe David -Baldwin, the Congressman, would feel -very proud of his foreman if he witnessed -this scene.”</p> - -<p>“Would his brother and partner, -Zechariah Baldwin, approve of it?” asked -the lady.</p> - -<p>“I cannot say,” replied the gentleman. -“Zechariah Baldwin has less sense -of justice or love for his workmen than -his brother David. But this is a mean act, -at any rate. Mr. Sharp has no moral or -legal rights to withhold the workman’s -wages and it is contemptible at this time, -because Mr. Wycliff has a child very sick -and needs every dollar he can earn. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> -am surprised that such a man as Sharp, -who is notorious for cheating his workmen, -should hold so high a position in -the church.”</p> - -<p>“It is much easier to criticise the -church than to help in the good work -which the church is doing,” answered -the lady tartly.</p> - -<p>“We have a right to criticise the church -if she fails to take up the work which -the Master left for her to do;” replied -the gentleman, but the lady was offended, -and the remainder of the journey -was passed in silence.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile John Wycliff found little to -comfort him on his return home.</p> - -<p>“Robert has been growing worse all -day;” were the first words of his wife: -“The Doctor gives very little encouragement. -He says that to-night will decide -and that he is so frail and sensitive that -we must gratify all his whims. Whatever -he wants we must promise to get it -for him. The Doctor says we must not -cross him the least bit in any of his -wishes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span>The wife and mother—a slight, sensitive -thing—dropped upon her knees, -buried her face in the bed-clothes, and -prayed for her son in words which reached -no ear but the Almighty’s. Then she -lay down upon a couch, exhausted by -days and nights of watching.</p> - -<p>The mother slept. The boy lay for the -most part quietly, his spirit fluttering as -lightly as a butterfly’s wing between life -and death. The father sat beside the -crib where his child lay, and watched -his every movement, bending down frequently -and placing his ear close to the -little sufferer’s face, to learn if he were -still breathing. Once he woke his wife -hurriedly, thinking that the end had -come. But life still lingered.</p> - -<p>There was a distant rumble of wheels. -John Wycliff recognized the sound of -that vehicle, and it made him for the -moment desperate. Some of the rough -points of his Western life had ingrained -themselves in his nature, and one characteristic -memento of that strenuous -time was at hand in a bureau-drawer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>He glanced at his wife. She was in a -sound sleep. He bent down and caught -the sound of the boy’s breathing. Then -he sprang to the bureau and rushed, coatless -and hatless, into the street.</p> - -<p>Jacob Sharp was alone on his way to -the mid-weekly evening prayer meeting. -When he came into the shaft of light -thrown from the sick-room window, his -horse was grasped by the bridle, while a -low voice said: “Pay me the wages you -defrauded me of!” and a pistol gleamed -in Sharp’s face.</p> - -<p>“Be quick!” the voice added, as Mr. -Sharp’s right hand went up, as was his -habit when excited, to blow his nose. -The hand dropped quickly to his pocket, -and a ten-dollar note was handed over.</p> - -<p>“Take legal action about this if you -choose, Mr. Sharp,” said Wycliff. “I -can land you in prison and for more than -one offense.”</p> - -<p>“Say nothing, and I will say nothing;” -replied Sharp as he drove on. -Wycliff’s challenge uncovered a chapter -in Sharp’s history which he had fancied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> -covered up and which he did not wish -exposed. This adventure filled only a -very brief time, and again Wycliff was -by the bedside.</p> - -<p>The little lips moved feebly. He placed -his ear close to them.</p> - -<p>“Pop—will I—have—pony—cart—heaven?”</p> - -<p>It was with great difficulty that he -gathered the words. Heaven! What -did he know about heaven? What did -he care about it if such men as Jacob -Sharp and Richard Bothan were its representatives -here on earth? But he answered -instantly, recalling the doctor’s -warning, and bending close to the child’s -ear:</p> - -<p>“Yes, you will have everything you -want there.”</p> - -<p>And then, very slowly and very feebly—so -slowly and so feebly that his coarse -senses could hardly be sure of the scarcely -whispered words—came the -“Pop—will I—ever—have—pony—cart—here?”</p> - -<p>There was but an instant’s hesitation,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> -as the father recalled his inability to fulfil -his promise, and he replied, watching -his child’s face as the fluttering spirit -caught the meaning:</p> - -<p>“Yes, Robbie, if you will stay with us -you shall have a pony and a cart.”</p> - -<p>This had been the height of the child’s -desire, his highest idea of happiness, his -heaven—to have a pony and a cart. In -sight of the other shore, and with voices, -perhaps, which his father’s coarse ear -could not hear, calling him thither, he -was willing to stay on this side if his desire -might be gratified.</p> - -<p>The father thought he saw the slightest -trace of a smile on the thin face. The -boy slept. More than once there were -brief intervals when the father could not -detect his son’s breathing, but as the -hours wore away there seemed to be a -gain.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the father’s memory was -busy. As a lightning-flash, in the night, -for an instant illuminates the entire landscape, -so his son’s question flashed his -whole life in review before him. He recalled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> -the day, when, with high ideals, -he had pledged himself to Christ in the -little country meeting-house, and the -church had pledged friendship to him. -Later some of these comrades in the -church had defrauded him of all he possessed. -To-day the worst enemies of -himself and of every other workingman -in the town of Papyrus, were pillars in -the fashionable church of that place. -These things stood out in bold relief to-night, -as bold as the mountain’s rugged -outline when the lightning’s flash illumines -it.</p> - -<p>“The First Church of Papyrus,” Wycliff -had once said to Deacon Surface, -“does not stand for righteousness. It -will whitewash any wrong done by its -wealthy members. Our pastor is eloquent -in condemning the disfranchisement -of the negroes of the South, but -does not say one word to condemn the -disfranchisement of mill-hands in Papyrus. -Employees in the Baldwin Mills are -prevented from voting appropriations for -schools, roads, street-lights, and other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> -public benefits in their own town. To -be consistent, you should place the sign -of the Almighty Dollar on the pinnacle -of your beautiful church, and inscribe -over the altar these words: ‘The rich can -do no wrong.’”</p> - -<p>Deacon Surface, who belonged, body -and soul to the Baldwins, had been horrified -at Wycliff, whom he regarded as -little better than an infidel. Wycliff regarded -Deacon Surface and his kind, as -followers of the Master only for the -‘loaves and fishes.’</p> - -<p>But the night wore away. The boy -was better. The mother was worn out, -and Wycliff remained at home to care for -his wife and child.</p> - -<p>Jacob Sharp was an early caller.</p> - -<p>“Your position will be open to you, at -thirty-five dollars per month, whenever -you can come back;” he said.</p> - -<p>But Wycliff was never to return.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">“GOOD afternoon, Mr. Moriarty.”</p> - -<p>It was Deacon Surface who -spoke, a gentleman who owed such influence -as he possessed to the fact that -he was an agent of the Baldwins, collecting -their rents, superintending in a -general way some of their enterprises, -and administering their local charities.</p> - -<p>He was a man of excellent intentions, -but shallow. One of his best friends -thus described him:—“The Deacon has -as many sides as a barrel. He doesn’t -want to make any enemies, but when he -is cornered, he will roll toward the money -every time. If the Deacon were a judge, -and a man were brought before him -charged with stealing one hundred dollars, -and the charge were proved, he -would order the money divided equally -between the thief and his victim. That -is just about his idea of justice.”</p> - -<p>The Deacon’s critics, if put in his -place, would perhaps do no better than<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> -he. Being the personal and confidential -agent of the Baldwins, he must accept -their ideas of right and wrong, adopt -their conscience, as it were, or else surrender -a fat job such as seldom comes -to a man of common ability.</p> - -<p>“The top of the afternoon to you!” -replied the Irishman addressed, whose -traits were quite different from the Deacon’s.</p> - -<p>“Of course you are going to vote for -Jacob Sharp for Selectman,” remarked -the Deacon.</p> - -<p>“The divil a bit will I vote for Jake -Sharp for any office, Deacon Surface.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed, Mr. Sharp is a fine Christian -gentleman.”</p> - -<p>“Do yez call the likes of old Jake Sharp, -the slave-driver, a fine Christian gentleman? -A liar, a thief, and a murderer -is what he is.”</p> - -<p>Good Deacon Surface was shocked.</p> - -<p>“Those are pretty hard names to apply -to a neighbor, Mr. Moriarty. I think -you would find it very difficult to prove -that Mr. Sharp is what you call him.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>“Indade I would not,” replied the indignant -son of Erin. “A liar? Did he -ever pay a man the wages he agreed to? -Not if he could help it. Didn’t young -Mike Silk knock him down flat in his -tracks before Old Sharp could remember -that he promised to pay him two -dollars a day in haying? He remembered -it all right after Mike flattened -him. Oh, it’s a bad memory he has, -all right.</p> - -<p>“A thief? Sure it’s yourself he was -after st’aling a shovel from. And sure -it’s your own memory needs bracing up, -too. It’s your own shovel he was st’aling, -whittling off your name and branding -on his own with a red-hot iron. Forgot -all about it, have yez? Do yez forget -the time when he stole his own -daughter’s money, that he was guardian -for, and lost it, and the poor girl was -nigh going crazy over it? It’s surely a -poor memory ye has, Deacon Surface.</p> - -<p>“A murderer? I haven’t forgotten -the day when he hurried young Pat -Flynn in the hay-field till the poor fellow<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> -dropped dead by the side of me with -sun-stroke. I niver shall forget it in this -world. And when David Baldwin, the -Congressman, asked Sharp why did he -hurry the lad such a hot day, wasn’t the -old villain after saying it was liquor that -killed him? And the poor lad never -tasted liquor. If that wasn’t murder, -what would yez call it? An awful poor -memory yez have, all at once, Deacon -Surface.</p> - -<p>“And ye’ve forgot, too, how old Sharp -sold the dis’ased meat in the city, haven’t -yez? Ye’ve forgot intirely how two children -were killed by that same meat, so -the doctors said? And that is what yez -call a fine Christian gentleman in the -First Church, is it?”</p> - -<p>“But the meat charge was never -proved,” protested Deacon Surface.</p> - -<p>“And it’s yerself knows as well as -anybody why it wasn’t proved—because -Zach Baldwin wanted it hushed up. It -can be proved to-day if John Wycliff and -meself, and one other man I could name, -were called as witnesses.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>Deacon Surface realized that he was -not gaining ground, and changed his -tactics.</p> - -<p>“You had work on Congressman Baldwin’s -new streets at Maple Heights, last -fall, did you not?”</p> - -<p>“Indade I did, and I earned ivery cint -I got, too, so I did, Deacon Surface.”</p> - -<p>“But there will be no work at Maple -Heights this year unless Mr. Sharp is -elected Selectman.”</p> - -<p>“Maple Heights may go to Perdition. -I’ll not vote for old Jake Sharp if I niver -get another day’s work from the Baldwins. -The likes of yerself cannot drive -Dave Moriarty one inch. Ye may stand -there and threaten till doomsday. I’ll -not vote for that slave-driver, Sharp. -He ought to be behind the bars.”</p> - -<p>Deacon Surface moved on, to appeal -to workmen who would “hear to reason,” -as he expressed it.</p> - -<p>As for David Moriarty, he hurried over -to his neighbor, John Wycliff, to tell him -of this latest game of the Baldwins. He -had barely left Wycliff’s, to return, when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> -Hugh Maxwell called to see John Wycliff.</p> - -<p>This gentleman was fully as easy and -gracious in his manner, fully as well -qualified to get through the world without -provoking opposition, as Deacon Surface; -but, unlike the Deacon, he had to -depend upon his own resources, with no -millionaires to back him. He had a good -business as a retail merchant, and in -building up his trade had won many -friends and very little enmity. Mere -formalities over, Mr. Maxwell asked:</p> - -<p>“What would be my chances in a campaign -against Jacob Sharp?”</p> - -<p>“If it were a perfectly fair election, -they ought to be the very best,” replied -Wycliff. “The workingmen, who form -the large majority of the voters of Papyrus, -are favorable to you. But Mr. -Sharp is the candidate of the millionaire -paper-makers, and they practically own -the town. You know the methods which -the Baldwins will use as well as I do. -Coaxing and threatening, of the kind -which Deacon Surface knows so well -how to use, will have their effect. Any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> -employee of the Baldwins who openly -advocates your election will lose his job. -The Baldwins are already promising employment -if you are defeated, and threatening -to take away employment if you -are elected. Work on the new streets at -Maple Heights, will not be the only job -held up to the unemployed as a bribe and -a threat in this election. The cry is already -raised by the Baldwin agents: -‘Elect Sharp, and the Baldwins will -build a sewer for Papyrus; defeat Sharp, -and the Baldwins will defeat the sewer.’ -This cowardly sort of bribery and threat -is permitted by Massachusetts Law, and -the Baldwins know full well how to use -it. Still, if you wish to run against -Sharp for Selectman, I will place your -name before the voters of Papyrus, -through the columns of the Elmfield -<i>Star</i>.”</p> - -<p>Wycliff obtained from Hugh Maxwell -a few facts which he needed, and his -caller departed; not, however, without -leaving a ten-dollar note, in appreciation -of the service which Wycliff was to undertake<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> -for him. Wycliff then attended -to household duties, and performed little -services for the sick ones, who were improving -very slowly.</p> - -<p>Then he wrote a letter to the <i>Star</i>, advocating -Hugh Maxwell’s election as Selectman. -The task was a pleasant one. -He mentioned Mr. Maxwell’s lifelong -residence in Papyrus; his courtesy,—“He -is always and everywhere a gentleman;” -his honesty,—“Who ever heard -Hugh Maxwell’s word questioned in the -smallest particular?”—his qualifications -for office from a business point of view,—“The -man who has built up, from nothing, -a good business of his own, has some -qualities needed in the public service;” -his popularity,—“He has the good will -alike of the employer and the workingman.”</p> - -<p>Experience had taught Wycliff the folly -of exaggeration, and his nomination of -Hugh Maxwell for Selectman was recognized -by readers of the <i>Star</i> as a correct -description of the man, and not overdrawn.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>Wycliff’s home duties were interrupted -in the evening by another aspirant for -political honors—Herman Schuyler, an -extensive farmer, and also a dealer in a -variety of goods. In one respect Schuyler -was the only honest man of means in -Papyrus. He had broken all known records -by appearing at the office of the -assessors of Papyrus, and demanding -that ten thousand dollars be added to -his assessed valuation.</p> - -<p>“I am worth fifty thousand dollars,” -he had said to the Assessors. “My -property will sell for that, to-day. I am -not so mean as to be unwilling to pay a -tax on every dollar God has given me.”</p> - -<p>Herman Schuyler was the most liberal -employer in the town of Papyrus. It -was not unusual for him to pay a higher -wage to a workman than had been agreed -upon, if the workman earned it. But he -was accustomed to giving orders, and -having them obeyed promptly. He -wanted a service from Wycliff, and he -called for it very much as he would have -ordered a roast or steak at the butcher’s.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span>“I want to run for Assessor. I want -you to write a letter to the <i>Star</i> in my -favor. I want you to write it, because -there is nobody, not even Congressman -Baldwin himself, who can put words together -as you can. Understand, now, -I am not asking you to vote for me. A -man has got pretty low down, in my own -opinion, when he will ask another man -to vote for him. I want my name placed -before the voters in the columns of the -<i>Star</i>, and I ask you to do it, very much -as I would ask a lawyer to make out a -mortgage or a deed for me.”</p> - -<p>The speaker was a heavy, square-built -man, clad to-night, as he usually was at -this season, in a bearskin coat, which he -did not remove. When he made a point, -in speaking, the square jaws closed like -a trap, and he brought a muscular fist -down heavily upon the arm of the rocker -in which he was seated.</p> - -<p>“Well, Mr. Schuyler,” Wycliff replied -at length, “I will do my best for you, and -it will be a congenial task. Everything -that I know of you is in your favor; but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> -I fear that your very honesty will be used -against you. Our leading citizens do not -want a thoroughly honest man in the -office of Assessor. They want the property -of the town assessed at only a fraction -of its true value, so that the town -will not have to bear its just share of -state and county taxes. It is strange -that men who are leaders in the church -and in society, will argue the longest for -a dishonest valuation.”</p> - -<p>“If I am elected Assessor,” exclaimed -Schuyler, and he brought his fist down -upon the rocker-arm so that everything -about him shook, “I shall be true to my -oath. It is strange, as you say, that -Christian men will defend the violation -of an oath. Every assessor swears that -he will ‘neither overvalue nor undervalue’ -property for taxation.”</p> - -<p>Then Schuyler presented to Wycliff -certain facts which he wished embodied -in the letter:—How he came to Papyrus -forty years before, with only a dollar in -his pocket, and had built up his present -fine property by industry and fair dealing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>“I tell you what,” he said, as his hearer -excused himself to perform some service -for the sick ones, “You write the letter -to-morrow, when you have leisure. I’ll -drive over in the evening and get it. By -the way, how’s your coal-bin?”</p> - -<p>“Pretty low,” replied Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” said Schuyler, “I’ll send -a ton to-morrow and a receipt by the -driver. Good night.”</p> - -<p>And out into the night went this last -candidate for political honors.</p> - -<p>“A pretty good day financially, my -dears,” said Wycliff, as he kissed his -wife and son, and made everything secure -for the night.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">“JOHN, do you know where Pulpit -Rock is?”</p> - -<p>“Indeed I do. It’s two or three miles -into the Wilderness.”</p> - -<p>“How near can you drive to it?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps within a quarter of a mile.</p> - -<p>“There’s an old wood-road, which perhaps -runs as near as that to Pulpit Rock.</p> - -<p>“The road is very rough, gullied out by -water. There might be some danger of -breaking a carriage in it.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind. I’ll run the risk. Be -ready in fifteen minutes.”</p> - -<p>It was black-eyed Eva Baldwin who -gave the order, and within an hour they -had left the public highway, and were -following the ancient and unused wood-road -through the Wilderness. The wheel -of the buckboard bounded high over -stones that blocked the way, and then -dropped as suddenly into deep holes worn -by the freshets. The riders often dodged -or bent low to avoid being brushed from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> -their seats by branches of trees. It was -very far from being a pleasant ride, but -never a word of complaint from the lady.</p> - -<p>She was anxious to secure the earliest -blossoms of the fragrant trailing arbutus, -to grace the pulpit on the morrow.</p> - -<p>She might send some rare and costly -flowers from the greenhouse, but every -one of the Baldwin greenhouses would -contribute to the decoration of the church, -and she, being fond of wild flowers and -of nature at first hand, wished to bring -something direct from the Wilderness.</p> - -<p>Eva Baldwin was a sister of David and -Zechariah Baldwin, and was worth a -couple of millions easily, but she never -realized how poor she was until the eloquent -young clergyman, the Reverend -Ralph Cutter, came to preach at the First -Church.</p> - -<p>“Many a poor girl,” she said to an intimate -friend, “is richer than I am, in the -love of a good honest man.”</p> - -<p>If the Reverend Ralph Cutter had -made any advances in her direction, he -would have been met, frankly and honestly,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> -by a good true woman. She admired -the new preacher the moment she -first saw him, and that admiration grew -with every service of his which she attended, -and with every opportunity for -becoming acquainted with him.</p> - -<p>The coachman noticed the fire in the -black eyes, as she alighted.</p> - -<p>“You see that path?” he asked. “It -leads through a hemlock grove, over a -flint ledge, and into a little valley beyond. -Pulpit Rock is across the valley -from the ledge. The earliest arbutus is -found across the valley, on the slope below -Pulpit Rock, among scattered bushes. -Shall I help you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no; I’ll find it easily,” she replied, -and taking the basket which the -coachman handed her, she followed the -path, humming a favorite song, and was -soon out of sight in the hemlocks.</p> - -<p>On that same Saturday morning the -Reverend Ralph Cutter entered the -Wilderness from the opposite direction. -Perhaps none of those who listened to -the impassioned and earnest appeals of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> -the young minister, knew that he helped -to keep both his spiritual life and his -oratorical powers at white heat by this -weekly journey to the Wilderness, where -he spent an hour in secret prayer and in -speaking to the rocks and trees from the -text he was to use on the morrow.</p> - -<p>Leaving the public road, he made his -way through the Wilderness, along a -path not very well marked, through somber -groves of pine and hemlock, through -other groves of red oak, rock-maple and -beech, across brooks, among large flint -boulders, and through tracts where the -wood had been cut off, and the thorny -blackberry canes had taken its place. -Part of the way the snow still covered -the ground, and part of the way the floor -of the Wilderness was carpeted with the -blooms of the hepatica, or liverwort, -with here and there an early blossom of -the trailing arbutus.</p> - -<p>He made the same journey each Saturday, -that he might be alone for secret -prayer, where he expected no interruption -and also where he might, in the freedom<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> -of the Wilderness, give the morrow’s -sermon. I do not mean that he would use -the same words on Sunday that he hurled -at the white birch trees and flint boulders -on Saturday. But the ideas would be -the same. He never used any written -sermon.</p> - -<p>One of his deacons once said of him:—“He -seems to have everything connected -with his subject so completely under his -control, that he has only to reach out and -grasp the idea that comes next, and hurl -it at you with the force and speed of a -thunderbolt. We used to have sleepy -hearers. I have seen no one nodding -under Ralph Cutter’s preaching. We -used to have complaints from people who -were hard of hearing. Ralph Cutter -seems to think it is a part of his business -to make the people hear.”</p> - -<p>How much of Ralph Cutter’s power on -Sunday was due to his hour of prayer in -the Wilderness, and to his Saturday sermon -to the crags and bushes from Pulpit -Rock, I cannot tell.</p> - -<p>He was heavy-hearted to-day, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> -first words which were echoed back to -him by the flint ledge across the valley -were these:—</p> - -<p>“This is my farewell to you. There -are people in this church who attempt to -dictate what I shall say from this pulpit. -Not only do they attempt to dictate what -I shall say here, but they attempt to dictate -my actions outside. They tell me -that I must not exercise the right, belonging -to every citizen, of expressing -my opinions in private or public, on questions -of public policy.</p> - -<p>“There is no person on this earth rich -enough, or powerful enough, to dictate -what I shall say, or what I shall not say, -as a preacher of the gospel. You may -have this pulpit, and you may secure, to -fill it, some one who will be your slave; -but I will wear no other bonds than those -of the Master, whether in the pulpit or -out, and no man, even though he be a -thousand times a millionaire, will shape -my words or actions, as a minister of the -gospel, or as a private citizen.”</p> - -<p>There was much in Ralph Cutter’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> -mind that did not find expression in -words. He had been disgusted with the -First Church in Papyrus, or rather with -its bosses, before he had been with it a -fortnight. Only the magical charm of a -pair of black eyes, and the lovable personality -behind them, had made life in -the Paper Town endurable to him. Recently -Zechariah Baldwin had given the -young preacher plain notice that if he -continued to occupy the pulpit of the -First Church, he must cut out some of -his pet hobbies from future sermons. -He must cease to meddle with the relations -between labor and capital, both in -the pulpit and out—and, in short, he -must omit everything which could possibly -offend the Honorable Zechariah. -This dictation the young preacher positively -refused to submit to.</p> - -<p>He tried to imagine the changed attitude -of the people toward him at the -close of to-morrow’s sermon. There -would be faces averted from him which -had always before been friendly. There -would be hands withheld which had always<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> -before sought his in friendly greeting.</p> - -<p>There was one peculiarly sharp thorn -in this thorny affair. How he wished -that those searching black eyes did not -belong to a member of the “Royal Family”, -as the Baldwin family was sometimes -called.</p> - -<p>Nature was not disturbed by his eloquence. -A hawk sailed with unmoved -wings, in mighty circles, high above him. -The noisy blue jays were mobbing an -owl in the oak grove close by. The -blossoms of the trailing arbutus were as -lavish of their fragrance as if no one in -the world were troubled, or perplexed, -or in love.</p> - -<p>All unconscious that any human being -was within hearing, the preacher continued:—</p> - -<p>“When I first came to Papyrus I delivered -a sermon against the disfranchisement -of negroes at the South. After -the service a workingman asked me -why I did not ask a full and free ballot -for the white paper-maker of Massachusetts,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -as well as for the negro cotton-planter -of Mississippi? I was much surprised -when the workman told me that -mill-hands in Papyrus, who are legal -voters, do not have a full vote in town-government, -and cannot secure it.</p> - -<p>“I have since investigated actual conditions -here, and find that the Papyrus -mill-hand, even if he owns his home, -cannot vote appropriations for schools, -highways, street-lights, sewers, and -other public improvements for which he -is taxed. The mill-hand, it is claimed, -is given two hours in which to attend -town-meeting. That period of two hours -always includes the dinner-hour. The -trip to and from the town-hall, in some -cases, takes nearly the whole of the two -hours.</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Two hours</span> for the rightful monarch -of Papyrus to say how the town shall be -governed! A two-hour limit to prevent -the real creator of all your wealth from -saying how that wealth shall be taxed! -<span class="smcap">Two hours</span> limit for a free citizen of -the grand old Commonwealth of Massachusetts<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> -on Town-Meeting-Day—the day -that taught New England to be free! -In reality, not two hours, not one hour. -Barely time for the rightful monarch to -mark a ballot for town-officers and return -to the mill, while the usurper remains -and dictates what sums shall be -spent by the town for schools, highways -and other needs.</p> - -<p>“I have consulted one of the best lawyers -in the state. He says: ‘The Commonwealth -of Massachusetts does not -guarantee to its mill-hands, who may be -legal voters, the right to vote in town-affairs. -The paltry two-hour provision -only makes a farce of free government -in mill-towns. It does not apply to town-meetings. -In some towns the workman’s -full rights are secured by shutting -down the mills on town-meeting day, -and in others by holding the business -meeting, for appropriations, in the evening. -But where the town authorities -and the employers, as in Papyrus, are -both opposed to allowing the mill-hands -to vote on appropriations, they have no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> -legal remedy. The political leaders, or -bosses, of the State have been asked to -correct the law, but they say the matter -is of no importance,—as if anything -could possibly be more important than -the principle of equal rights, upon which -our nation is founded.’”</p> - -<p>“And this,” shouted the speaker in -the Wilderness, “this is the boasted -equal rights of Massachusetts. I do not -wonder that you, manufacturers of Papyrus, -are ashamed,—so ashamed that you -have forbidden me to mention this subject -in the pulpit,—so ashamed that you -have muzzled every newspaper within -fifty miles, even the usually independent -Springdale <i>Democrat</i>. You ought to be -ashamed. The State of Massachusetts, -which disfranchises its own workmen, -while demanding political equality for the -Southern negro, ought to be ashamed.”</p> - -<p>Soon after Miss Baldwin left the coachman -heard a voice, and fearful for her -safety, hurried to the ledge, where he -saw and heard the speaker. He did not -stay long, but long enough to learn that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> -it was the minister’s farewell, and a very -unusual discourse.</p> - -<p>“My last word to you,” rang out the -powerful voice across the valley, “shall -be in favor of a pure church. Ask on -the street, for the worst libertines and -adulterers in town, the wreckers of happy -homes, the men whose social life is a -stench,—and members of this church, -protected by their wealth, will be pointed -out to you. Search for the employers -most unjust to their workmen, and you -will find them sheltered by this church. -My parting advice is, to purify your -church,—to drive out of it the thieves and -adulterers, or to cease calling it a church -of Christ.”</p> - -<p>The lady returned with a basket of arbutus, -but there was no song on her lips, -and the fire had burned out of the black -eyes.</p> - -<p>“John,” she said, “drive me to the -home of the Widow Fordyce. She is sick -and may be glad of these flowers.”</p> - -<p>To an acquaintance, that evening, the -coachman said:—“If you want to hear<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> -Reverend Ralph Cutter’s farewell and -the greatest sermon ever preached in -Papyrus, go to the First Church to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>The news spread rapidly, and Ralph -Cutter was surprised when he met a congregation -for which the building could -not furnish standing-room. But even -those in the street heard him.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">CONDITIONS improved steadily with -the Wycliffs. Mrs. Wycliff and -Robert were both gaining slowly, but -surely. From various sources, some of -them unexpected, came sufficient income -to pay all bills promptly when due. Wycliff -had dabbled in literature since boyhood, -and his income from this source, -though small, was helpful.</p> - -<p>While he was still at home, helping -about the house, and frequently consulted -by Hugh Maxwell, and by those whose -political fortunes were linked with his, -a stranger called. He was a keen-looking -man, who wasted no time in ceremony.</p> - -<p>“John Wycliff, I believe?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I am Wilfrid Terry, of the Elmfield -<i>Star</i>. We are not satisfied with our sales -in Papyrus. We sell only a thousand -papers here, whereas we ought to sell -fifteen hundred. We are told that you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> -have had experience in newspaper work, -and a gentleman who is acquainted with -your former work, thinks you could bring -our sales in Papyrus up to what they -ought to be.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe that I could work for -you.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed, and why not?”</p> - -<p>“As I have learned it, good journalism -is no respecter of persons. I could not, -or rather I would not, work under your -system, which tells the truth about the -poor man, but conceals the truth about -the rich man.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t understand you.”</p> - -<p>“I can tell you in a way that you will -understand,” replied Wycliff sharply: -“When Rudolph Hartland, a small contractor, -had trouble with his workmen, -and a dozen of them went on a strike, -you devoted columns of valuable space to -the occurrence; but when hundreds of -employees in the Liberty Mill of the Baldwin -Paper Company, struck against a cut -in wages, your paper never mentioned it. -Here was an important event, in which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> -the public had a vital interest, but you -would not allow any reference to it in the -paper. You have never allowed the facts -to be presented in your publication regarding -the partial disfranchisement of -workingmen in Papyrus, by which all -mill-hands are prevented from having any -voice in town-government, except to vote -for town-officers, being shut out from -voting for appropriations. Only a short -time ago you refused to publish Reverend -Ralph Cutter’s farewell sermon, the most -notable sermon, perhaps, ever preached -in Papyrus. Why have you refused publicity -to these things, which the people -want to know, and which the people are -entitled to know? Simply because you -are afraid of offending the Baldwins. -You ought to wear a brass collar, with -your owner’s name on it.”</p> - -<p>John Wycliff’s voice and features -were not expressive. He could never -have been an actor. But he was getting -waked up, and a little light was creeping -into his one lonesome, dull gray eye. -Such expression as there was in his features<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> -was of loathing and contempt. He -looked as if he would have been glad to -take up his visitor with a pair of tongs, -deposit him gently in some out-of-the-way -place, and cover him up so that he -would not offend the senses of decent -people.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t come here to listen to abuse -of this kind,” exclaimed Terry angrily.</p> - -<p>“Never mind what you came here -for,” retorted Wycliff. “If you stay -around me you will hear a grain of truth -occasionally. There may be something -to be said for a man like Deacon Surface, -who serves the devil for a fat salary, -but you serve him for nothing. The -Baldwins despise you, as such men always -despise their slaves, and the public -despises you, too. And what do you get -out of it? You complain that you are -selling only one thousand papers in Papyrus. -Why not give the facts that the -people are entitled to know, and sell fifteen -hundred?”</p> - -<p>Terry was angry, but the money was -what he was after, and possibly Wycliff<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> -was right, after all, in what he said.</p> - -<p>“Let’s talk business,” he said. “Come -out to Lawyer Sturgis’ office to-morrow, -and we’ll sign an agreement. If you can -bring our circulation in Papyrus up to -fifteen hundred copies, you shall have -fifteen hundred dollars a year, and one -year’s salary guaranteed. You shall -handle the Papyrus news and comment -upon it as you see fit, so long as you do -not render the publisher of the paper -liable to an action at law. If we differ -on this point, Lawyer Sturgis’ decision -shall be final.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a bargain,” said Wycliff, and -his caller departed.</p> - -<p>The details were arranged, and contract -signed, the next day. A few evenings -later Wycliff was sitting in what he -humorously called his “office.” It contained -a few books, mostly for reference, -a convenient desk, a small safe, a -stuffed cougar, or mountain lion, from -the Rockies, and a mounted moosehead -from Maine—all of these things being -reminders of more prosperous times.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> -Frowning upon all, and seemingly out of -place, was a good likeness of Congressman -Baldwin, of whom Wycliff had been -a great admirer.</p> - -<p>Answering a timid knock, Wycliff -found a fellow-laborer at the door, a -weak-minded French Canadian, a mere -boy, who went by the name of “Half-witted -Joe.”</p> - -<p>“How do you do, Joe?” he asked when -his old comrade was seated.</p> - -<p>“Mad.”</p> - -<p>“What is the trouble?”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Sharp no pay me. He say me -no worth ten dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Did he pay you anything?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, five dollars for clothes.”</p> - -<p>“You worked one month?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he promise me ten dollars and -board.”</p> - -<p>“I heard him.”</p> - -<p>“Me get up early; me work late—eight -o’clock, sometimes. Me work -hard. Mr. Sharp say me no earn only -five dollars. Damn.”</p> - -<p>“What will you do?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>“Me go home, Canada.”</p> - -<p>“Have you money enough to take you -home?”</p> - -<p>“No. Me sell watch, five dollar.”</p> - -<p>He exhibited a watch, for which Wycliff -thought he could safely pay that -amount, and he handed Joe the money.</p> - -<p>“Thank,” said Joe, as he stepped over -the threshold, “Me fix old Sharp.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t hurt Mr. Sharp,” Wycliff cautioned -him. “Mr. Sharp has a good wife, -and good children. Besides, you would -go to prison.”</p> - -<p>The tone of his visitor changed. He -seemed to realize that he had blundered -in making the threat.</p> - -<p>“Me no hurt Mr. Sharp,” he finally -promised, and then he went out into the -darkness.</p> - -<p>“Don’t lose your money,” was Wycliff’s -parting advice.</p> - -<p>When he was out in the night again, -Joe’s anger kindled anew, as he remembered -the farm-superintendent’s injustice. -Although Wycliff’s warning prevented -him from doing Sharp bodily<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> -harm, he was still bent on revenge. Revenge -was still the uppermost idea in -Half-Witted Joe’s unbalanced mind, as -he approached Beauna Vista, and the -dark night had its strong influence upon -his thought and purpose.</p> - -<p>He glanced in at the farm-house windows. -The family and the farm-hands -were busy reading. Mr. Sharp, he knew, -had gone to a public meeting. The coast -was clear. He stole around to the side -of the barn farthest from the house. He -went through an unused stable, to where -the lower part of a great mow of hay -was exposed.</p> - -<p>There was the flash of a match, the -sudden darting upward of the flames on -the edge of the hay-mow, and then Joe -hurried out through the yard, across the -meadow, and reaching the railroad track, -followed it to the edge of a piece of -woods.</p> - -<p>Here he halted, cowering in some -bushes, and looked. He saw the light -gleam from the big barn-doors, saw the -flames break through the roof, saw the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> -inmates of the house rush out, and heard -the alarm sounded from farm-house to -farm-house. Soon a neighboring farmer -rushed past Joe, on his way to the -fire, and as the flames now lit up the landscape -all around, Joe realized that he -might be discovered, and passed on. But -while he looked, he feasted his eyes as -greedily as a former savage might have -done, on the destruction of a pioneer -home.</p> - -<p>“Me fix you, Jake Sharp,” he said, -in a whisper, as he shook his fist in -farewell at Beauna Vista. He did not -realize that the loss fell upon others, -and not upon Sharp. An hour later he -was aboard a train on his way to Canada.</p> - -<p>The farm-building which is fired is -usually doomed. It could not be otherwise -on this occasion, when the flames -had their start in a forty-ton mow of -hay, dry as tinder.</p> - -<p>The farm-laborers first saved the horses. -Their next move was such as might have -been expected from excited men, unused -to such emergencies—they began dragging<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> -out the vehicles, until Mrs. Sharp, -with more forethought than the men, exclaimed: -“The cows! the cows next!”</p> - -<p>“But we cannot get at the door of the -cow-stable,” the laborers protested.</p> - -<p>“Take crowbars and break in the side -of the barn!” she ordered, and under a -woman’s direction the work of rescue -went on.</p> - -<p>The fire-department of Papyrus responded -tardily, owing to distance, and -could do but little, except to protect the -farm-house. Finally, as the glowing pageant -lit up the landscape for miles in -every direction, half the men of Papyrus -were on the scene, but could do nothing -except listen to the crackle of burning -timbers, and the bellowing of imprisoned -and roasting cattle.</p> - -<p>John Wycliff knew very well that the -Baldwins would not wish the story of the -relations of Jacob Sharp and Half-Witted -Joe published, but he considered that the -public was entitled to know it. The story -of the poor Canadian boy, and his treatment -by Jacob Sharp, was told in the <i>Star</i><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> -as graphically as the story of the fire itself. -In his narrative Wycliff made a -clear distinction between known facts -regarding the fire, and mere suspicions -or rumors.</p> - -<p>The <i>Tribune</i>, the <i>Star’s</i> Elmfield rival, -the property of Congressman Baldwin, -made this announcement:—</p> - -<p>“Not a clue is obtainable regarding -the origin of the fire. Mr. Sharp, the -foreman of Beauna Vista, is a man who -always keeps the good will of his employees, -so that not a shadow of suspicion -can lie in that direction.”</p> - -<p>This way of dealing with news was entirely -in harmony with the usual policy -of the Baldwins, where their own interests -were involved. There were several -persons who were angry at the course -taken by the <i>Star</i>. The Baldwins were -angry, partly because they regarded it -as an intrusion upon their private affairs -and partly because the fire-story had -dealt Sharp a hard blow in his fight for -the office of Selectman.</p> - -<p>As for Sharp, he threatened various<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> -things, but his own attorney told him to -“pocket his wrath and say nothing,” as -he could not maintain an action against -the <i>Star</i>.</p> - -<p>Terry was happy, as the sales of the -<i>Star</i>, in Papyrus, had been lifted between -two and three hundred, and the -increase promised to prove permanent.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">“HOW are you and the lad, this -morning, Mrs. Wycliff?” asked -that good neighbor, Mrs. Clyde.</p> - -<p>“Getting along nicely, thank you, and -very glad to see you,” replied Mrs. Wycliff. -“But how does it happen that you -are not working to-day?”</p> - -<p>“The strike. Haven’t you heard of -the rag-cutters’ strike? Three hundred -rag-cutters walked out of the Baldwin -Mills an hour ago.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know that the Baldwins ever -had a strike in their mills.”</p> - -<p>“They don’t often have one, and when -they do, the world at large does not know -about it, they have such a strong grip -on the newspapers about here. My son, -Tom, works on the Springdale <i>Democrat</i>, -and he has told me a lot about these -things. Springdale is about fifty miles -from here, and the <i>Democrat</i> pretends to -be an independent newspaper, and yet it -never prints any news from Papyrus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> -which can possibly hurt Congressman -Baldwin. Some years ago, Tom began -work as correspondent here for the -<i>Democrat</i>, and there was a big strike -here, in the Liberty Mill, which belongs -to the Baldwin Paper Company. Tom -didn’t know any better then, and he -sent them a long article about the strike. -Not a word of it was printed, and the -editor wrote Tom that they never printed -any news of that kind about the Baldwins. -Then the other Springdale paper, -the <i>Universe</i>, is owned by Congressman -Baldwin; so, of course, that does not -print a word regarding troubles in the -Baldwin Mills.”</p> - -<p>“But what was the cause of the strike -to-day?” inquired Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“There were a good many things that -had something to do with it,” replied the -neighbor, “but fines were the worst.”</p> - -<p>“Fines! Do you have to pay fines?” -asked Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“Yes, in this way. Perhaps you do -not understand how fast we have to -work to earn what we get. We earn<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> -about one dollar per day, and to do this -we must cut in the neighborhood of one -hundred and twenty-five pounds of rags. -Now, in cutting these rags, if we overlook -a button, or a bit of rubber, we are -fined a pound of rags.”</p> - -<p>“That is, if you put in a piece of cloth -having a button on it, no matter how -small, you must cut an extra pound of -rags, to punish you for overlooking that -button. Am I right?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you have it exactly right, and -it’s just the same if I put in a piece of -cloth which has a bit of rubber in it. -And here, see here is a bit of cloth that -came back to me this morning,—just -this little bit of a letter, sewed into the -cloth.” And she showed Mrs. Wycliff a -bit of white cloth, on which was a small -initial, such as is used in marking garments.</p> - -<p>“There are hundreds of pieces and -consequently hundreds of motions we -must make in cutting one pound of rags, -for which we receive less than a cent. -Working so rapidly as we are obliged to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> -do, to accomplish our day’s task, is it -any wonder that a piece of cloth, containing -a button, or a bit of rubber, slips -through our fingers unnoticed now and -then?”</p> - -<p>“And this is what the strike is about?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, this is the main thing. We are -willing to pay something of a fine for -failure to notice rubber and buttons, but -we think that the fine is now too heavy. -There are some other things we don’t -like—some brutal bosses, not fit to drive -oxen, let alone women. Our scythes are -often poorly ground. The Baldwins seem -to think anything is good enough for a -woman to cut one hundred and twenty-five -pounds of rags a day on. Sometimes -it is very dark for our work.”</p> - -<p>“Is no light furnished at such times?”</p> - -<p>“Never. The office force, or other -departments of the mill, may have lights -at noon of a cloudy day, but we are of -no account. It is often too warm in our -room. We don’t need much heat because -we have plenty of exercise. We -must be kept too warm on account of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> -‘lookers over,’ who don’t have much exercise, -except when they jump up on the -tables, to get away from a mouse.”</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t the ‘lookers over’ have a -separate room, which could be kept -warm enough for them, so that your -room could be cooler and more comfortable -for you?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. If the matter of fines -is made right, we will say nothing about -the rest. When we make complaints, -we are usually told that the Baldwins -could get machines to cut rags, cheaper -than we cut them, and that they only -hire us out of charity.”</p> - -<p>“I am surprised at the way the rag-cutters -are treated,” said Mrs. Wycliff; -“I have always heard that the Baldwins -were very generous.”</p> - -<p>“They are generous,” replied her visitor, -“but they are not just. There is an -old saying, ‘Be just before you are generous,’ -which, if lived up to in Papyrus, -would make a wonderful difference in favor -of the working class. How have the -Baldwins made their millions? Of course<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> -the whole world knows that they make a -very high grade of paper. It is said that -this is due, in some measure, to the pure -water found in Papyrus, which is the -gift of God. Then, too, it is claimed -that Mack Baldwin laid the foundation -of the Baldwin millions by manipulations -in Wall Street, during the Civil War. -But some of those millions are the fruit -of low wages. If the Baldwins pay -twenty-five cents a day less than a fair -wage, to two thousand hands, three hundred -days in a year, what is the result? -It’s a yearly saving of one hundred and -fifty thousand dollars, of money due the -laborer, is it not? Then, perhaps, the -Baldwins may spend fifteen thousand -dollars a year in pensions to a very few, -and in charity to the working class. -Nothing can exceed the cleverness of the -Baldwins, in making one dollar in charity, -look bigger to the laborer, than ten -dollars in wages withheld. I think the -time is coming when the law will require -the accounts of all such concerns as the -Baldwin Paper Company, to be as open<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> -as town accounts, and then the lion’s -share of profits will go to the laborer. -But I guess you have had all the rag-room -and paper-mill you want for one -day.”</p> - -<p>“No, I have been very much interested, -and I wish you women might get -justice,” replied Mrs. Wycliff. “I think -there cannot be any harder or more disagreeable -work in the mill than yours, -and I wish that you might have better -pay and kinder treatment. The Baldwins -are well able to pay. I hear that -this new library that Zechariah Baldwin -is giving to the city of Elmfield will cost -a half a million dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I try to restrain my anger, as -a Christian woman should,” said Mrs. -Clyde, “but my blood boils every time I -see that building. We poor women must -slave in Zack Baldwin’s rag-room, and -the money which ought to go to the mill-help, -in higher wages, is given, with a -great flourish of trumpets, to the city of -Elmfield, which is already rich enough. -As to our work. If we try to work a bit<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> -faster than usual, we are liable to get cut -on the scythes, and there’s many a terrible -gash been got in the rag-room. Then -how often do you hear of contagious diseases -spread by the rags of a paper-mill.</p> - -<p>“The worst slap the Baldwins ever -got was from a wealthy Southern lady, -who visited their mills last summer. -She said to Zack Baldwin:—‘The slaves -on my father’s plantation in Georgia, -were treated with more consideration, -and were more contented and happy at -their work than your rag-cutters. But -the slave-holding system was wrong, and -it fell. I think also, the system under -which you Northern millionaires eat the -apple, and give your employees the core, -is wrong and will fall, too,’ But I have -stayed too long.” And Mrs. Clyde vanished.</p> - -<p>John Wycliff sat in his den, within -easy ear-shot, and the pith of the women’s -talk was woven into his account of -the strike, for the <i>Star</i>.</p> - -<p>More than two thousand copies of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> -<i>Star</i> were sold that day in Papyrus, and -its circulation was raised permanently to -a point near those figures.</p> - -<p>The Honorable Zechariah Baldwin was -furious when he read the <i>Star’s</i> account -of the strike. Never before had a local -newspaper dared to print the news of a -Baldwin strike, much less to hold those -“captains of industry” up to public criticism, -as it had done to-day.</p> - -<p>But Terry was happy. He had sold -extra thousands of his paper, the largest -edition ever sold of a Berkshire newspaper, -and scores of citizens, in all walks -of life, had congratulated him on his -bravery in defying the Baldwins.</p> - -<p>The most important result of the <i>Star’s</i> -article was that it was copied, more or -less fully, by other papers throughout -the country, owing to Congressman Baldwin’s -prominence as a public man. A -strike in his mills is not a good asset for -a Congressman, and David Baldwin telegraphed -his brother, from Washington, -to grant the rag-cutters’ demands immediately. -Zechariah Baldwin reluctantly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> -complied with the order sent by wire.</p> - -<p>The Honorable Zechariah Baldwin appeared, -a very angry man, at the office -of the <i>Star</i>.</p> - -<p>“I want you to discharge that Wycliff,” -was his first greeting to Mr. Terry, -the proprietor.</p> - -<p>“How long have you owned this office, -that you assume to run my business?” -rejoined Mr. Terry.</p> - -<p>“But you know that we’re not used to -being treated as the <i>Star</i> treated us yesterday,” -protested the paper-manufacturer.</p> - -<p>“Then the best thing that you can do -is to get used to it,” retorted the publisher, -who was now beginning to get -angry on his own account. “You’ve -been treated as if you were superior beings, -but you are no better than other -people. I have been suppressing the -truth about you millionaires for years, -and losing thousands of dollars by doing -so. I might have sold thousands of copies -of the <i>Star</i>, in Papyrus and throughout -the county, had I not truckled to you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> -Baldwins, like a dog, instead of being a -man. Hereafter the truth is to be published -about you, just the same as about -other folks, and Wycliff is under contract -to do it for a year. He is recommended -as being entirely competent to deal with -such cases as yours. Perhaps I shall go -out and tell you how to run your mills. -There’s the door, Zack Baldwin,” and -the proprietor of the <i>Star</i>, now thoroughly -angry, motioned the millionaire out.</p> - -<p>But the lord of Papyrus, although more -surprised than he had been before in -years, was not to be thus easily thwarted.</p> - -<p>“What will you take for your newspaper—for -the entire plant?” he asked, -in a more conciliatory tone.</p> - -<p>“Twenty-five thousand dollars,” replied -the publisher, immediately, naming -a price so far beyond its true value -that he felt sure it would be declined.</p> - -<p>“A pretty steep price, isn’t it?” asked -Baldwin.</p> - -<p>“Who asked you to buy?” retorted -Terry.</p> - -<p>“Come over to Lawyer Stimson’s and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> -draw the writings,” said the paper-manufacturer, -withdrawing.</p> - -<p>Next day John Wycliff received this -note:—</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Wycliff</span>:</p> - -<p>“You’re a jewel. I’ve sold the <i>Star</i> to Zack -Baldwin for $25,000. (It’s actual value is around -$15,000.) I didn’t even sign the usual agreement, -not to engage in the same business again in the -same city.</p> - -<p>“Enclosed you will find check for $1,500, according -to agreement by which I guaranteed you -one year’s salary.</p> - -<p>“When I first met you, I thought you were a -discourteous crank, but my finances and my self-respect -were both badly in need of the rebuke -which you gave me. Your way of dealing with -such cattle as the Baldwins beats mine out of -sight.”</p> - -<p class="right">“Yours always,            <br> -<span class="smcap">Wilfrid Terry</span>.”</p> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">“WHERE are you going, pop?” -asked Robert, as Mr. Wycliff -drove into the yard, with a horse and -carriage, one fine morning.</p> - -<p>“Going to take you and ma for a little -ride into God’s country,” replied the father.</p> - -<p>“But I thought everywhere was God’s -country,” replied the little fellow in surprise.</p> - -<p>“Surely,” replied the father. “All -this beautiful world is the Lord’s, but -He seems to have given the greater part -of the land about here to the Baldwins, -or perhaps it would be more nearly correct -to say that He has allowed them to -grab it. I expect to take you to-day to -see a place, which seems to me to be -more especially God’s country, because -He has not allowed one man, or one family, -to get possession of all of it.”</p> - -<p>“And you think it is a better country?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>“Indeed I do, in some respects.”</p> - -<p>After passing out of the paper-manufacturing -village of Papyrus, eastward, -they came to a big, deserted, wooden -mill, with many tumble-down houses -near it.</p> - -<p>“Say, pop, what village is this?”</p> - -<p>“Sodom.”</p> - -<p>“And what is that old stone mill beyond?”</p> - -<p>“That is Gomorrah.”</p> - -<p>“Quite a place for Bible names,” broke -in Mrs. Wycliff. “Those ruins of another -old stone mill, also broken down -and deserted, I suppose are Babylon?”</p> - -<p>“Exactly so, my dear, and farther up -stream we shall pass Tyre and Sidon, also -broken down and deserted. This entire -river-valley along here is often called the -Valley of Desolation.”</p> - -<p>“Who owns it?” asked Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“The Baldwins, who bought it, for a -very little, from the Quiet Valley Woolen -Company.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t the Baldwins build paper-mills -here?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span>“I cannot tell you. It has always -seemed to be the Baldwin policy to build -up the other end of the town, at the expense -of this end. Certainly the Baldwins -have played the part of the ‘dog -in the manger,’ in regard to East Papyrus. -They will neither build mills here -themselves, nor will they sell the property -so that anyone else can build here. -The Wessons, who own the paper-mills -at Papyrus Center, would have built mills -here, giving employment to a large number -of people, if they could have secured -the property. The Baldwins have already -made plans for robbing East Papyrus -of her water-power, which is all that -this end of the town has left.”</p> - -<p>“But how can they do that?”</p> - -<p>“Very easily. The water-power can -be transformed into electricity, and then -the electricity can be transferred by -wire, to the Baldwin Mills, at the west -end of the town. The plans are already -made. It will increase the dividends of -the Baldwin Mills, which already pay -enormous profits, but it makes the prospect<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> -for rebuilding East Papyrus much -blacker than before.”</p> - -<p>“But wouldn’t it be better for the town -of Papyrus to have all its mills rebuilt -and running at a fair profit, than to have -a part of them running at an immense -profit?” protested Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“Certainly; it is not the good of the -town, but the enrichment of the Baldwins, -which is to be considered. These -shrewd financiers rarely spend a dollar, -unless they feel sure that it will come -back, leading several other dollars with -it.”</p> - -<p>“But they gave that beautiful big -building to the town, pop,” put in Robbie.</p> - -<p>“Yes. It cost the Baldwins one hundred -thousand dollars, and it has cost the -town twice that.”</p> - -<p>“How is that, pop?”</p> - -<p>“In taxes lost. The Assessors say:—‘we -must tax the Baldwins lightly, because -they are so generous to the town.’ -Some of the Baldwin properties are not -assessed for more than one-third value,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> -an enormous loss to the town in taxes.”</p> - -<p>Soon they left the valley, and began to -climb the mountain, still going eastward.</p> - -<p>“Wild flowers, pop. Please hold up, -and let me get some.” The boy soon returned -to the carriage, with his hands -full of the blossoms of the coltsfoot, -white, blue, and yellow violets, bell-flowers, -and wake-robins. As they ascended -the mountains, they found the -trailing arbutus and the spring-beauty, -which had bloomed earlier in the valleys.</p> - -<p>A beautiful farm was reached.</p> - -<p>“Who owns this?” asked Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“Thomas Bothan. He has retired -from business, and spends some of his -time here. I hope I may find him.” -Then, for the first time, he told his wife -of the last day at Beauna Vista,—how -Sharp and Bothan had conspired to keep -back a part of his wages on Bothan’s old -debt. He had not dared to tell her at -the time.</p> - -<p>He soon found Mr. Bothan.</p> - -<p>“I want a receipt in full,” he said, as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> -he produced the money due Bothan, and -then, taking leave of him, he added:—“The -last debt I owe will be paid to-day, -and I have paid every debt as fast as I -was able to do so. You would have received -yours just as promptly, had you -not tried to take the bread away from -my family to get it.”</p> - -<p>For a distance their route lay through -a grand old forest of large trees. The -boy was jubilant as he saw, first a striped -squirrel, then a red one, then a gray, -and then:—</p> - -<p>“Oh, look quick, pop; what was that? -It looked like a squirrel, but it flew, or -rather it sailed, from one tree to another.”</p> - -<p>“A flying squirrel.”</p> - -<p>“And there’s a rabbit. Oh, now I begin -to see why you call this God’s country.”</p> - -<p>About noon they reached their destination, -the farm of Phillips Porter, in -Sprucemont, where they were expected, -and where a substantial meal was awaiting -them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span>“You have been very patient with -me,” said Wycliff, as he paid Porter -about one hundred dollars, the last debt -he owed. Mr. Porter told again to-day, -(and he seemed to enjoy telling it,) the -story of how he came to leave Papyrus.</p> - -<p>“It was many years ago, and Mack -Baldwin, father of the present generation -of paper-makers, was in control, although -Zechariah and David were young -men then, just learning the business. -The Baldwins were not then so completely -in control of the town of Papyrus as they -are now. Captain Bolton Wesson, who -built the paper-mills at Papyrus Center, -was a broader and better man than Mack -Baldwin, and the two were often opposed -to one another in town-affairs.</p> - -<p>“Captain Wesson wanted the town-hall -located at the Center, the natural -and proper place for it, but Mack Baldwin -demanded that it be built at the -West End, the part of the town which -he owned. At the approaching town-meeting, -every employee of Mack Baldwin -was warned to vote for locating the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> -hall at the West End. At the town-meeting -Baldwin had spotters to take -the names of any of his employees who -voted against him. I was working in -his mill then, but I voted for building the -hall at the Center. Next morning I was -called into the mill-office, where I met -Mack Baldwin and his sons, Zechariah -and David. David is the present Congressman.</p> - -<p>“Mack Baldwin handed me my pay, -at the same time calling me a vile name. -Now, in those days I had never met a -man who could handle me,—”</p> - -<p>“They are not plenty, even now,” -said Wycliff, interrupting him.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps not; but in those days I -looked at such things in a different light -from what I do now. Since then I have -learned the gospel of forbearance, and -to-day I almost despise mere brute force; -but in those days I did not allow anyone -to call me a vile name, and Mack Baldwin -had scarcely spoken the word when -he lay on the floor at my feet. The two -sons interfered, but they followed their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> -father in double-quick time. I had the -three wolves in a heap, in their own den, -in much less time than I am telling you -of it. Then the book-keepers interfered -and followed their employer.”</p> - -<p>“But I was terribly frightened when -I heard of it,” said his wife. “I thought -Phillips would have to go to jail. We -were only engaged then.”</p> - -<p>“Of course I was arrested,” continued -Mr. Porter, “and taken before the district -court at Elmfield. Judge Tuttle, -who presided over that court, had been -a colonel in the Union army, and lost a -leg at Gettysburg. He despised Mack -Baldwin, who made a million out of the -government’s distress, by gambling in -stocks in Wall Street. The Judge listened -patiently while all the evidence -was given, although there seemed to me -to be a far-away look in his eyes, as if -he were thinking of the days when he -and Captain Wesson were fighting for -the Union, while Mack Baldwin was -making a fortune out of the war at -home.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>“‘Mack Baldwin,’ said the Judge, -‘you discharged the accused because he -did not vote as you ordered him to, did -you not?’ Baldwin could not deny it. -‘And you called him a vile name, to -boot?’ continued the Judge. Baldwin -admitted it.</p> - -<p>“‘Discharged,’ thundered Judge Tuttle, -as if he were again giving orders on -the battle-field, and picking up his hat -and cane, he stumped out of the courthouse -to dinner, while there were roars -of applause in the room which he had -left.</p> - -<p>“Captain Wesson was in the courtroom, -so as to go bail for me if necessary, -and I never saw a man more pleased -than he was. He offered me work, if I -wanted, but the girl I had left behind -me, here in the country, didn’t want to -live in Papyrus, so I bought this farm, -and I have never been sorry I did so. -We are comfortably off here, and I do -not have to ask how I shall vote. Many -of the mill-hands in Papyrus are little -better than slaves when it comes to voting.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> -Under the Australian ballot, they -may vote for the men they prefer for -town-officers, but not for town-appropriations -and other measures, without -making themselves liable to the wrath -of their employers. The Baldwins never -ceased their ancient policy of discharging -and driving out of town, if possible, -any of their workmen who opposed their -policy in town-affairs by voice or vote.”</p> - -<p>In the afternoon the entire party of -Porters and Wycliffs drove to Twin -Mountain, near by, there being a wood-road, -almost to the summit, nearly as -good as the average mountain highway.</p> - -<p>Sixty miles eastward was Mount Wachusett, -seen to-day very dimly, and -only visible at all in the clearest weather. -Nearer, guarding the Connecticut Valley, -were Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke.</p> - -<p>“Say, pop, what mountain is that? -It looks like a pyramid from here.”</p> - -<p>“That is Monadnock. What state is -it in, Robbie?”</p> - -<p>“In New Hampshire,” answered the -boy, proud to exhibit his knowledge of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> -the geography of the states hereabouts.</p> - -<p>“And there, very dim, scarcely more -than a blue line in the west, are the -Catskills and Adirondacks. I don’t believe -you remember where they are.”</p> - -<p>“Surely I do. What did I go to school -for? They are in New York.”</p> - -<p>“And that beautiful mountain close by. -Can you tell the name of the highest -mountain in our own state?”</p> - -<p>“Greylock, or Saddle Mountain.”</p> - -<p>“We have a view here of portions of -New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire -and Vermont, besides a large portion of -Massachusetts.”</p> - -<p>“And this mountain-top is to be sold -very cheap,” said Mr. Porter. “Mr. -Daniels, the owner, is in California, in -poor health, and has directed me to sell -it for fifteen hundred dollars. There are -three hundred acres in the farm, one -hundred acres being heavy wood and -timber, one hundred and fifty acres pasture, -and fifty acres good tillage land. -The house is comfortable, and the barn -excellent. But I hardly need to tell you,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> -as you are familiar with farms about -here. Only for its location, so far from -railroad, it would bring many times the -price asked. As it is, it is the best bargain -I know of. I would be glad to pay -two hundred and fifty dollars for fifty -acres of the pasture, which joins mine, -but I don’t want the whole.”</p> - -<p>“What do you say, ma?” asked Wycliff -of his wife. “It’s the best bargain -I’ve heard of in many a day. We’re not -obliged to live on it, you know, we can -rent it.”</p> - -<p>“Buy it if you think best,” replied his -wife. “We may be glad to use it for a -summer home, if we are prospered.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to live here the whole year,” -said Robbie. “It must be fine coasting -here in the winter.”</p> - -<p>“We get snow in July from the Bear’s -Den,” said Mrs. Porter.</p> - -<p>“I will take the farm at fifteen hundred -dollars, and you may have the fifty-acre -tract on your own terms,” said Wycliff.</p> - -<p>Just then Robbie, who had wandered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> -a few rods in advance of the rest of the -party, came running back.</p> - -<p>“Oh, ma, come quick! Here are some -deer, just like those we used to see on -Mrs. Colt’s grounds, in Hartford. Pop -is right. This is God’s country, all right.”</p> - -<p>Sure enough, there at the foot of the -bluff were a half dozen of the beautiful -creatures.</p> - -<p>“They seem to understand that the -law protects them,” said Mrs. Porter. -“Sometimes they come into the barnyard -with the cattle.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">“ZECHARIAH, I want you to give -Joel Byron his old place in the -mill. I do not approve of discharging -workmen for their politics.”</p> - -<p>“I shall do no such thing, Sister Eva. -Byron was not discharged for his politics, -but for attempting to create discontent -among his fellow-workmen.”</p> - -<p>“The petition to the Selectmen, which -Byron circulated, asking for an evening -session of town-meeting, was a perfectly -respectful one, was it not?”</p> - -<p>“If you mean respectful to the Selectmen,—yes; -if you mean respectful to -us,—<i>no</i>!”</p> - -<p>“How so?”</p> - -<p>“We, who own the town, ought to say -what its taxes should be. Our employees, -who pay only poll taxes, should not vote -taxes for us to pay. If the appropriations -for town expenses were made at an -evening session, as they are in some -Massachusetts towns, our workmen could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> -vote, and load us down with taxes. -Under Massachusetts law, mill-hands -can remain away from their work only -<i>two hours</i>. This law does not apply to -town-meeting, but we give our workmen -the benefit of it. Our workmen can -come and vote for town-officers by secret -ballot, and get back to the mills -within the two hours. After they are -safely away from town-meeting, and at -work again, we pass the appropriations.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t believe in popular government, -then?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe that a man who pays -only two dollars tax, should be the equal -of one who pays ten thousand dollars -taxes, when it comes to voting appropriations.”</p> - -<p>“But what would become of popular -government, and of our free institutions, -if your ideas prevailed?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know and I don’t care. You -have about as much sense as a hen, Eva, -when it comes to business.”</p> - -<p>“Have I? Very well. I have about -as much influence as a hen, if you please,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> -in the management of the Baldwin Mills, -although my father left me a two-million-dollar -interest in these mills. Now, -Zechariah, I have been a mere cipher in -this business long enough. There is a -New York gentleman who will gladly -pay me every dollar my interest in the -Baldwin Mills is worth. He will not be -a cipher in the concern as I have been, -and he has opinions of his own as to the -rights of workingmen. He will not see -his employees’ interests trodden under -foot without uttering a protest which -will be heard, not only throughout the -State, but throughout the Nation.</p> - -<p>“I give you fair warning. One week -from to-day, unless you and David make -a fair division of the property with me, -I shall deed my interest in the Baldwin -Mills to the New Yorker. Don’t say I -didn’t give you fair warning. You will -have a partner, if I sell out, who will be -able to protect both himself and his -workmen. We’ll see whether I have as -much sense as a hen in this business.”</p> - -<p>The black eyes snapped fiercely, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> -Eva Baldwin swept out of the room without -giving her brother a chance to reply. -He immediately summoned David home -from Washington. The Congressman -had often made peace between his brother -and sister, but he found it impossible to -patch up any kind of a truce this time. -In vain he made promises.</p> - -<p>“You’ve made promises before, David -Baldwin, and then you’ve let Zechariah -cheat the workingmen out of their votes -again, just the same as before. You’re -standing before the country as the workingman’s -friend, when really you are an -impostor. Some day the country will -find you out. The man who stands by -and sees his workmen defrauded of the -right to vote appropriations for their -own homes, is just as big a villain as the -man who does the dirty work himself.”</p> - -<p>These were Eva Baldwin’s plain words. -Only one day was left of her week’s notice, -and still no agreement.</p> - -<p>“You are not going to carry out your -threat, are you Eva?” asked the Congressman.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>“It is not a threat. I am simply not -going to be a partner in this iniquity any -longer. If I sell out it will be to a man -who thinks as I do about the workman’s -rights. I’m ready to draw the papers.”</p> - -<p>“I think it is a bad move, both for you -and for us,” was the brother’s reply; -“but you have the advantage of us. Of -course we cannot admit a stranger to -ownership in the Baldwin Mills, so we -make this proposition: Calling your interest -two millions, we will give you the -Liberty Mill, at one and one-half million -dollars, and pay you the balance.”</p> - -<p>This offer was accepted and Eva Baldwin -became owner of the Liberty Mill.</p> - -<p>Town-meeting day arrived. The movement -for an evening session had apparently -died.</p> - -<p>Back of the town-hall was the office of -Ford Hulbert, auctioneer and real estate -agent. On the morning of town-meeting -Hulbert’s front entrance was closed, -locked, and a curtain drawn. In the rear -his office opened upon a long alley running -back to an unfrequented street<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> -called Back Lane. Had anyone watched -Back Lane that morning from daylight -to ten o’clock, he would have seen an occasional -lonely voter pass quietly along -the street, up the long alley, and into -the rear door of Hulbert’s office. They -did not attract suspicion. One by one -they passed in, like flies into a trap, but -none of them came out.</p> - -<p>Ten o’clock came. In the town-hall -less than twenty voters were present, -mostly Baldwin sympathizers. Every -word spoken was heard in Hulbert’s -office.</p> - -<p>“The time has arrived for calling this -meeting to order,” said the town clerk, -who then read the warrant.</p> - -<p>“Prepare your ballots for a moderator,” -commanded the Clerk. But now -the rear door opened, and in filed forty -voters from Hulbert’s office. After the -choice of a moderator and a few minor -town-officers, Mr. Hulbert arose and -said:—</p> - -<p>“I move that this meeting, except the -balloting for town-officers, be adjourned<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> -to seven-thirty o’clock this evening.”</p> - -<p>“I second the motion,” said John -Wycliff.</p> - -<p>A chorus of objections arose from the -Baldwin party.</p> - -<p>“Question!” shouted Hulbert with his -auctioneer’s lungs. “A motion to adjourn, -Mr. Moderator, is not debatable.”</p> - -<p>“Question! question! question!” the -forty followers yelled, at the top of their -lungs.</p> - -<p>“Right you are; a motion to adjourn -is not debatable,” said the Moderator, as -soon as he could make himself heard. -“You hear the motion; all in favor of -adjourning this meeting to seven-thirty -o’clock this evening, will signify it by -saying <i>Aye</i>; contrary minds, <i>No</i>. It is a -vote.”</p> - -<p>“Disputed! disputed!” the Baldwin -forces yelled, as they now saw other -voters coming, and hoped for reinforcements -by delay.</p> - -<p>“All in favor of this motion raise your -right hands,” said the Moderator. “I -see forty-two hands. Now all opposed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> -raise your right hands. I see seventeen -hands. The motion is carried. This -meeting is adjourned until seven-thirty -o’clock this evening.”</p> - -<p>The trap of Ford Hulbert’s setting had -sprung neatly, and caught the Baldwins -napping. It had been customary to adjourn -until two o’clock, hence the small -number present, and the ease with which -Hulbert’s strategy succeeded. For the -first time in many years the mill-hands -would have a chance to vote on the -money to be spent for their schools, highways, -and other expenses.</p> - -<p>At the evening session Zechariah Baldwin -took the floor, and said:</p> - -<p>“It was a mean, contemptible trick to -adjourn town-meeting to this hour. No -decent man would take part in such a -game.”</p> - -<p>Ford Hulbert sprang to his feet.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Moderator: There is <i>one</i> gentleman -by the name of Baldwin, whom we -all delight to honor. Let us hear from -our Congressman.”</p> - -<p>Amid cheers the Congressman rose<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> -and said: “I am satisfied with this arrangement -if it meets the popular will. -Let us get to business.”</p> - -<p>He was too wise to show the anger -which he felt.</p> - -<p>The business of the town-meeting was -marked out by a committee consisting of -all the larger property-owners in the -town, and one common laborer. It was -through this “Financial Committee” -that the Baldwins largely controlled -town-meeting, and the one lonely laborer -showed how lightly they esteemed the -class that had made them wealthy.</p> - -<p>To-day the improvement of a certain -street, the home of laborers, was under -discussion. Sheriff Burse, an agent of -the Baldwins, arose, and in a husky -voice, like the whisper of the wind thro’ -the pine woods, said that the Financial -Committee did not approve the appropriation. -True, a dozen vehicles had -been overturned on that street recently, -but, according to the Sheriff, it was the -fault of the drivers. The matter was considered -settled, when a sleepy-looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> -little man arose and addressed the Chair.</p> - -<p>“Uncle Jerry Barnaby,” whispered -the crowd. “There’ll be fun now.”</p> - -<p>Uncle Jerry was the wit of the town. -It is hard to define wit. In Uncle Jerry’s -case his appearance had much to do with -the laughter which greeted him. He -was a sad-looking, wild-eyed little man, -whose “little body,” as he expressed it, -“was tired carrying around his big -brain.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Moderator.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Barnaby.”</p> - -<p>“It is true, as Sheriff Burse has said, -that a man may drive through Hodgson -Street safely. By using great care, by -dodging rocks and sand-banks, and by -the special favor of Divine Providence, -he may live to drive through that street; -but I would advise him, before attempting -it, to place a good big insurance on -his life, and to kiss his wife and children -farewell. As has been said, Mr. Moderator, -a man may drive through Hodgson -street safely; a perfectly sober man -may drive through a wood-lot, but—”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>In the uproar which followed, Uncle -Jerry never finished his sentence. It -was voted to repair Hodgson Street.</p> - -<p>The secret balloting, during the day, -elected Hugh Maxwell Selectman, and -the Baldwins failed in their efforts to -force Jacob Sharp upon the voters.</p> - -<p>There was a proposition to increase -the pay of the police from two dollars to -two dollars and a half per night. There -was much opposition to the increase, its -general drift being that the policemen -were already well paid, when Uncle Jerry -was again recognized by the Moderator. -Congressman Baldwin frowned, and a -reflection of his frown was seen upon -the face of the Moderator, who was -obliged to recognize the mirth-provoking -Barnaby.</p> - -<p>He immediately began a somewhat -rambling oration, which he had been -declaiming in his own house for weeks, -and which was intended to set forth the -faithful services of the policemen. The -audience was soon convulsed with laughter, -and it was impossible for the Moderator<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> -to check him, as almost everybody -in the hall was encouraging him by -laughter and applause.</p> - -<p>Uncle Jerry was thoroughly in earnest. -He could see no occasion for mirth.</p> - -<p>“When all sounds of industry are -stilled,” said Uncle Jerry, “when the -fond mother lies asleep with the darling -babe on her bosom,—”</p> - -<p>“Speak on the question, Mr. Barnaby!” -roared the Moderator.</p> - -<p>“I am speaking on the question, Mr. -Moderator—when the demon tongues of -fire leap up in the basement, and threaten -your lovely home, threaten to envelop in -their horrible embrace all that you hold -dearest on earth,—that fond wife and -loving mother and that darling infant on -the mother’s breast,—”</p> - -<p>“Come to the point, Mr. Barnaby!”</p> - -<p>“I am coming to the point, Mr. Moderator, -just as fast as I can, but you -make me lose my place. When the devouring -flames, Mr. Moderator, threaten -to embrace that fond wife and loving -mother and darling infant on the mother’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> -breast,—it is the watchful eye of the -vigilant policeman, Mr. Moderator—,”</p> - -<p>The allusion to the “vigilant policemen” -of Papyrus was the last straw. -The audience reveled in such a fit of uncontrolled -laughter that Uncle Jerry -never proceeded further. Meanwhile -the friends of the policemen thought it -a favorable time to take a vote.</p> - -<p>“Question!” shouted one.</p> - -<p>“Question!” echoed a hundred. The -policemen won.</p> - -<p>The most important question taken up -was that of a sewer. Physicians and -others testified to the wretched sanitary -conditions which made Papyrus one of -the most unhealthy towns in the state, -for the lack of a sewer. Deacon Surface, -the most adroit speaker in Papyrus, -answered them. He said that the -taxes were too high. At the proper -time the “men who owned the town” -would be ready for a sewer, but not yet. -He omitted to say that the Baldwins -paid taxes on less than half the true -value of their property in Papyrus. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> -omitted to say, also, that the Baldwins -had recently given to the city of Elmfield, -for something much less needed -than a sewer, a larger sum than it would -cost to build several sewer-systems for -Papyrus. The Deacon’s speech was eloquent, -polished, and well-rounded—a -beautiful bubble, needing only the pinpoint -of truth to explode it. Ford Hulbert -was just thinking it his duty to apply -the pin to the bubble, when the irrepressible -Barnaby rose.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Moderator,” piped the wild-eyed -little man.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Barnaby,” groaned the Moderator.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Moderator. I want to congratulate -Deacon Surface on making the most -eloquent speech I have ever heard in this -hall. Among all the facts which he -gave us, it is strange that he overlooked -one fact—one cold, scientific truth—bearing -on the question.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked a hundred voices. -Even Deacon Surface arose, turned toward -Uncle Jerry, and joined in the question.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> -Then, when you could have heard -a pin drop, and the silence was becoming -oppressive, the piping voice said:—</p> - -<p>“One cold, scientific fact, Mr. Moderator, -just as true as the facts he gave -us,—the moon is made of green cheese, -Mr. Moderator.”</p> - -<p>Deacon Surface collapsed with his bubble -argument, while the audience went -wild. But the sewer was lost. The employees -of Zechariah and David Baldwin, -in a matter involving so large an outlay, -dared not openly vote against their masters.</p> - -<p>Not until we have the secret ballot for -measures, as well as for men, will there -be political freedom in Massachusetts -towns.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">JOHN WYCLIFF’S den had become -well known as a resort for workingmen, -and people in other walks of life -were occasionally to be found in consultation -with him. Ford Hulbert, a real -estate and insurance agent, was an occasional -caller.</p> - -<p>“You knew Wells Boardman, who was -recently killed in an accident on the Papyrus -Electric Street Railway?” asked -Hulbert.</p> - -<p>“Yes, very well; an old neighbor -when we lived out in the country. His -daughter, Lena, was one of the best girls -I ever met. Her laugh would do one -more good than medicine sometimes. A -half hour with her was a sure cure for -the blues.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t need to tell you much about -her, then.”</p> - -<p>“No, you do not. I have known her -from the cradle up. A better girl or -woman was never raised on the hills.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> -She was a rollicking, laughing, singing -sunbeam, and never a thought of wrong in -it all. Many a heart has been tangled -in those brown curls of hers, though. It -seems strange to me now, as I look back, -that I was not one of the victims; but, -then, we were too much like a sister and -brother for that.”</p> - -<p>There was a pause, broken by Mr. Hulbert.</p> - -<p>“She made an early and unfortunate -marriage, I believe?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; she left the hills, and came -down into this dull valley. She brought -the sparkle of the mountain brook, and -the melody of the bobolinks with her. -Wherever she went there was a ripple of -laughter, a burst of sunshine, a peal of -music. Such a girl could not be without -admirers. She had plenty of them. -And then,—what did she do? Deliberately -picked out the worst one in the -whole lot,—a drunken libertine, a man -with whom scarcely any other respectable -woman would be seen crossing the -street.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>“Why did she do it?”</p> - -<p>“I cannot tell. Some thought it was -because he had more money than her -other admirers, but that may have been -unjust to her. Whatever the reason, -she had plenty of reason to regret her -decision when it was too late.”</p> - -<p>“And then?” queried Hulbert, as Wycliff -remained silent for several minutes, -and showed no disposition to resume the -conversation.</p> - -<p>“Just what might have been expected. -The scoundrel cared nothing for her and -was soon running after other women, -just as though he had no wife, to whom -he had vowed fidelity. They had children,—two -of them, and she remained -several years for her children’s sake. -But it became more than flesh and blood -could endure. He was continually abusing -her, in the hope that she would leave -him. When I was a boy I heard of a -man who turned his son out of doors, -and then whipped him for leaving home. -Lena’s husband was just about as consistent -as that. He treated her so contemptibly,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> -that if she had not left him, -she must have gone crazy. Then he -said that his wife ‘could not have had -much love for the children, else she -would not have left them;’—the lying -wretch. I have lived in places where he -would have had a coat of tar and feathers.”</p> - -<p>“And then?” pursued Mr. Hulbert, -who seemed anxious to have Wycliff continue.</p> - -<p>“Well, not exactly what the villain -had been planning for. He expected to -secure a divorce for desertion, and to -marry another woman who had attracted -his wandering affections, but his wife -secured the divorce, and the care of the -children.”</p> - -<p>“And now,” said Hulbert, in a low -tone of voice, “an honest man who actually -loves her, will find it very difficult -to convince her of his loyalty to her.”</p> - -<p>Wycliff glanced up quickly.</p> - -<p>“You are an admirer of Lena?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but we had a break. We had a -falling-out the evening you left Beauna<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> -Vista. We were watering our horses, -sheltered from your sight by the hemlock -bushes. I made a remark about Mr. -Sharp, in connection with the church, -which offended her.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, she is very loyal to the church; -but the church has hardly kept its -pledges to her in her trouble. I did not -know that there were any disinterested -witnesses of my difference with Sharp, -else I might have proceeded differently.”</p> - -<p>“But now I must do my errand,” resumed -Hulbert. “I came to see you because -Miss Boardman could not come, -and she wishes your advice. Zechariah -Baldwin, for the Papyrus Electric Street -Railway Company, has offered her three -thousand dollars in settlement for her -father’s death.”</p> - -<p>“The company acknowledges its liability, -then?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; the only question is as to the -amount which shall be paid.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t Congressman Baldwin a stockholder -in the company?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; he is the heaviest stockholder.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>“Of course, you know that the State -of Massachusetts, some years ago, obeying -the demands of the railroad corporations, -which were killing a great many -people, made a law that not more than -five thousand dollars could be collected -for a human life, lost through the fault -of a railroad corporation. It’s an infamous -law, but it’s there, all the same.”</p> - -<p>“Miss Boardman wants your advice -as to whether she shall accept the three -thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Has she called upon Congressman -Baldwin?”</p> - -<p>“No, and she will not do so. She has -too much independence for that. She -will not go to him.”</p> - -<p>“Tell Lena not to be in a hurry, to -wait a few days, and I will see if I can -do anything for her.”</p> - -<p>“All right; if you can help her any she -will do the fair thing by you. She ought -to receive much more than they offer -her. Good night.”</p> - -<p>Wycliff sat alone some time after his -visitor had gone, looking into the fire,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> -and thinking of many things. One of -his long-cherished idols had been gradually -dethroned. He had been, before -coming to Papyrus, a great admirer of -Congressman Baldwin. It was hard for -him to give up his political idol, but he -had seen the workingmen of Papyrus -defrauded of their votes, and Congressman -Baldwin a silent and satisfied witness -of the robbery. One word from -Congressman Baldwin, who was the political -boss of the State, would have -blotted from the statute books of Massachusetts -the damnable “Five-Thousand-Dollar -Law;” but Congressman Baldwin -never spoke the word. Instead, -his puppets at Boston voted to retain -the law, which shielded railroad and -street railway corporations from just -punishment for deaths caused by them, -and robbed families of their victims. -Wycliff himself, by David Baldwin’s orders, -had been blacklisted in all the Baldwin -industries. The spotless Deacon -Surface had notified every concern controlled -by the Baldwins not to give employment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span> -to John Wycliff. This was -more than his idolatry would bear. A -man will forgive many things, but ought -he to forgive the man who tries to take -the bread away from his family?</p> - -<p>John Wycliff looked up at the face of -Congressman Baldwin, on the wall opposite. -He arose and took down the portrait.</p> - -<p>“What on earth are you doing, John?” -asked his wife, summoned from another -room by the noise of breaking glass and -splintering wood.</p> - -<p>Bare feet came pattering down the -stairs from the chamber above.</p> - -<p>“Say, pop; what’s up?”</p> - -<p>“Robbie, what did the Israelites do -every time they got a chance? What -did the Lord have to punish them for, -very often?”</p> - -<p>“Worshipping idols.”</p> - -<p>“And once in a while, after being punished -enough, what would they do?”</p> - -<p>“Burn up their idols.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right. That’s what I’ve been -doing. Now I’ll kiss you both if you’ll<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> -clear out, and leave me alone, to write.”</p> - -<p>He then wrote a letter to an old friend -and schoolmate, now an editor in Charleston, -South Carolina. From that letter -the following is extract taken:—</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“You have frequently requested me -to write something for your paper, a request -which I have been very slow to -comply with. I do not suppose you wish -me to write your editorials, and the enclosed -article is only intended as a hint -of the way in which I would use the facts -referred to.”</p> -</div> - -<p>Within a week the whole country -echoed with the first public attack ever -made upon Congressman Baldwin. The -attack was made by a Charleston, South -Carolina, newspaper, and every political -paper in the country was immediately -drawn into the combat, either as an assailant -or defender of the Congressman. -Congressman Baldwin in a public speech, -had commented bitterly upon the cheapness -of human life in the South; and -now every Southern newspaper, and -many of their Northern sympathizers, -were revenged upon him. The following<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> -paragraphs from the Charleston paper -formed the key-note of their attack:—</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“We have listened, and so has the -rest of the country, while this immaculate -and infallible Baldwin upbraided us -for the cheapness of a human life in the -South. What is the value of human life -in Congressman Baldwin’s own model -town of Papyrus, in the model state of -Massachusetts? Congressman Baldwin’s -trolley company takes the life of a man -earning fifteen hundred dollars a year, -and in full payment for that life, it offers -the victim’s family three thousand dollars. -The Savings Banks offer the safest -investment for widows and orphans. -Should they accept, they would receive -from the savings bank, at three and a -half per cent.,—one hundred and five -dollars a year.</p> - -<p>“To sum up the case: Congressman -Baldwin’s railway takes a life worth fifteen -hundred dollars a year to the victim’s -family, and offers that family one -hundred and five dollars a year in full -settlement. And yet Congressman Baldwin -says that human life is cheap,—in -the South. Under Massachusetts law a -railway company cannot be obliged to -pay more than five thousand dollars for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> -taking a human life, while under a just -law, like that of New York, a railroad -corporation has been compelled to pay -one hundred thousand dollars for a human -life, lost through its negligence. A -jury awarded that sum against the New -York Central for a victim of the Park -Avenue tunnel disaster of 1902.</p> - -<p>“Congressman Baldwin is the political -boss of his state, and responsible for that -law which says to all the world that Massachusetts -has no man whose life is worth -more than five thousand dollars. Yet -South Carolina once had slaves whose -masters would not part with them for -that sum. The explanation is simple. -Baldwin has millions in railroads.</p> - -<p>“One more item and we are done. -Baldwin and other Massachusetts statesmen -declaim loudly against negro disfranchisement -in the South: ‘Consistency -is a jewel.’ Baldwin’s own mill-hands -cannot vote on town-appropriations. -Under the Massachusetts law -they must stay in the mills and add to -the Baldwin millions, while he ‘runs the -town.’ Southerners say the black man -is not fit to run the State. Baldwin of -Massachusetts says his white mill-hands -are not fit to run the Town. And he has -Massachusetts law with him. ‘People<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> -who live in glass houses should not throw -stones.’”</p> -</div> - -<p>For weeks David Baldwin was the recipient -of more unfriendly criticism than -any other public man in Washington. -The humble cause of all this trouble -rolled his one gray eye, saying:—</p> - -<p>“Blacklist me again for telling the -truth, will you? Shut your eyes again, -while your workmen’s votes are stolen, -Dave Baldwin!”</p> - -<p>Long before the battle was over the -Congressman became very weary of it, -and sent the following directions to -his brother, Zechariah:—</p> - -<p>“Pay Wells Boardman’s daughter -twenty thousand dollars. Charge five -thousand dollars to Papyrus Electric -Railway, and balance to me.”</p> - -<p>The news of this generous payment -was spread throughout the country, and -took the edge off the criticism of Baldwin.</p> - -<p>“Is that you, Lena?” asked Mrs. Wycliff, -one evening.</p> - -<p>“I think it is,” was the answer.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> -“Here’s a check for a thousand dollars, -for your husband. Tell him he has -earned it. I have said all along that -John could make the Baldwins toe the -mark. He is almost the only one about -here who is not afraid of them, and he is -the only one who hits them in the only -place where they feel it,—in the newspapers. -They don’t care anything about -right and wrong, God, man or the devil, -but they don’t like to have their injustice -shown up in the newspapers, or in -the courts. They don’t fear God, or His -Word, or the Judgment Day, but they -are afraid of newspapers and courts. I -don’t care for the twenty thousand dollars -myself, but with the income from it -I can give my boys a good education. -Tell John I hear that Zack Baldwin will -give a thousand dollars to get him out of -town. This thousand is for him to -stay.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">A FREQUENT caller at the Wycliff -home was “Uncle Jerry” Barnaby. -He was always welcome, being -an old friend, the acquaintance between -the two families dating back to the time -when both occupied farms in Sprucemont—the -little hill-town, richer in broad -views and fresh air than in salable commodities.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I was a king, then!” said Uncle -Jerry. “Only think of those beautiful -fields of grass and grain that I used to -have.”</p> - -<p>“And how much labor you spent in -getting out the rocks and improving the -land, before you could have those crops,” -replied Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I was the first farmer in all -that region to use dynamite, both on my -farm and on the highways. Oh, I was a -king then; king of my own farm, anyway. -And now I am a slave to these -sleek villains, the Baldwins. The tears<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> -come to my eyes whenever I think of -those old times; and of those sleek cattle -that had been petted so much by my -wife and the girls that it seemed like -sacrilege to sell them; they seemed to -belong to the family.” And Uncle Jerry -burst into tears at his own recital of -former glories.</p> - -<p>“To think that I should have come to -this,” exclaimed Uncle Jerry. “To be -a slave,—a poor, despised, down-trodden -slave for the Baldwins,—and I used to -be a king of two hundred acres in Sprucemont.</p> - -<p>“And those colts, the beautiful creatures. -When I went into the pasture -they would come up to me and lay their -noses on my cheeks, and almost talk to -me. How many colts I have raised to -be fine horses, and sold for good prices, -and my wife and daughters could always -ride anywhere they chose, and to-day—” -and Uncle Jerry could not proceed for -some minutes for sobbing.</p> - -<p>“To-day,” he continued, at length, -“My poor dear girl is pining away for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> -the fresh air. I heard yesterday that -Zack Baldwin had an old horse that he -was going to kill. I might have known -that I would be refused, but I was thinking -only of my poor dear girl, and I -went and begged him to let me have the -old horse. I promised him it should -never do anything but draw the poor -girl the little way she is able to ride.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t he let you have it?” asked -Mrs. Wycliff, full of sympathy.</p> - -<p>“Of course not. It wouldn’t make -any big sound, you know, like giving a -half a million dollars to a library. It -might, possibly, have saved my daughter’s -life. He ordered the horse taken -out and shot before my eyes. I felt as -if those shots sounded my daughter’s -doom. I might have known that a man -who would discharge me for getting the -policemen’s pay raised, would refuse me -an old horse which might save my daughter’s -life.”</p> - -<p>“Did he discharge you for that?”</p> - -<p>“Surely. He came to me after town-meeting, -and said:—‘A man who works<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> -against my interests in town-meeting -will never get another day’s work from -me. I have no use for such men as you -and Wycliff. He got offended at me -once before. It was a year ago. Fifty -of us were making a lawn for him. He -paid us only a dollar and a half a day, -although everybody else about here was -paying a dollar and three-quarters for -that kind of work. I circulated a petition, -which most of the workmen signed, -asking for one dollar and seventy-five -cents per day, and presented the petition -to Zack Baldwin. He finally agreed to -split the difference with us, and pay us a -dollar and sixty-two and a half cents a -day, but he was revenged on us. Those -who refused to sign the petition were -given work much longer than the rest. -That is the Baldwin brand of Christianity,—paying -lower wages than other employers -pay, and discharging those who ask -for fair wages; and at the same time -making princely gifts to public libraries -and other institutions. It was because -outside work was dull, just then, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> -Zack Baldwin took advantage of us, to -get our work at less than market price.’”</p> - -<p>“But I thought,” said Mrs. Wycliff, -“that Zechariah and David Baldwin -were in company.”</p> - -<p>“They are,—in the mills. Congressman -Baldwin isn’t a bit better than Old -Zack, the old Shylock. The man who -shuts his eyes to tyranny isn’t a bit better -than the tyrant. Since town-meeting -I’ve had to walk three miles up to -the Wendell Farm, for work. These -little hands were not made for handling -heavy stone.” And he exhibited a pair -of hands almost as small and fine as a -lady’s.</p> - -<p>“You look like a light and feeble man -to walk six miles and handle stone all -day, and you must be getting a little too -old for hard work. How old are you, -Uncle Jerry?”</p> - -<p>“I can’t tell. I’ve even written back -to the old country,—I was born in Ireland,—and -tried to find out, but I think -the records must have been destroyed. -I could not get any information about it.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> -I can remember once shaking hands with -Abraham Lincoln, in the city of Hartford. -That is a landmark in my life. I -was grown up then and able to do a -man’s work.”</p> - -<p>John Wycliff arose, took down a volume -from his bookcase, and examined it -a moment.</p> - -<p>“Lincoln was in Hartford on the fifth -day of March, 1860, and, I think, never -at any other time. Very likely you are -about sixty-five years old now.”</p> - -<p>“What is the matter with your daughter?” -asked Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“I cannot tell you, because the doctors -cannot tell me. It seems to be a -sort of melancholy.”</p> - -<p>“What caused it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, there’s a point I don’t like to -speak of.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t mention it, then. Please forgive -me for asking.”</p> - -<p>“After all, it doesn’t matter, seeing -there are no strangers here;” and Uncle -Jerry lowered his voice and looked inquiringly -toward the doors.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span>“There is no one except ourselves -within hearing,” said Mrs. Wycliff, reassuringly.</p> - -<p>“It was years ago, but after you left -the hills,” continued Uncle Jerry, in a -low voice. “Pet,—that’s what we called -her,—was gay as a bird till then. Pet -got acquainted with a fine young man up -in the country,—a fine fellow he was -every way. I’d say that if ’twas the -last thing I was to say in this world. -Never a likelier fellow ever grew up on -the hills, if I do say it. Well, he took a -liking to our Pet, and I guess there was -as much love on Pet’s part as on his.”</p> - -<p>Uncle Jerry paused. After a little Mrs. -Wycliff ventured to ask:</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t they marry?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you see,—” and Uncle Jerry’s -voice dropped lower still. “I said he was -as fine a fellow as ever grew up on the -hills, and I wouldn’t take it back if it -was to be the last thing I ever said, but—he -was a Protestant.” Uncle Jerry -was silent a few moments.</p> - -<p>“Looking back now, it seems to me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> -that we were both, Pet’s mother and I, -willing to ruin Pet for life rather than -have her marry a Protestant. While I -cannot say positively that this is the reason -for Pet’s long sickness, yet of one -thing I am certain—she has not been -like her former self since that time.”</p> - -<p>“But what became of him?”</p> - -<p>“He went away, to the West it was -believed. No one on the hills, so far as -I know, has heard from him since. But -this whole subject is one which I do not -like to think about, much less talk about. -I have learned one lesson, and a pretty -costly one,—when God has taught two -persons to love one another no one should -be guilty of keeping them apart.”</p> - -<p>“And here am I,” continued Uncle -Jerry piteously, “Sixty-five years old, at -least, discharged by those sleek villains, -the Baldwins, because I dared to champion -the policemen, and obliged to walk -six miles a day to work, and then,—only -think of it,—this slender body and these -weak hands to build stone wall all day. -The only work I can get to do with these<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> -little hands is to lift and tug at heavy -stone all day. Merciful God! What -shall I do? I can’t stand this work a -great while. My back is almost broken. -These thin arms are as sore as boils. -These little hands are covered with -blisters. And my poor, dear girl pining -for the fresh air. That horse that Zack -Baldwin ordered shot to-day, might have -saved my daughter’s life. What does -he care? He will kill me, in time, too, -for I can’t walk six miles and build stone -wall all day, and follow it up a great -while.” And Uncle Jerry paced the -floor in agony, his face drawn and white, -and wringing his small, thin hands.</p> - -<p>“You have a fine house, Uncle Jerry,” -said Mrs. Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“Yes; but we can’t eat or drink it, or -if we could, how long would it last? If -I began to use up the value of my home -how long would it be before I should be -‘on the town?’”</p> - -<p>“But I mean could you not rent furnished -rooms?”</p> - -<p>“No; Pet is so nervous I can hardly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> -live with her myself, much less have -strangers in the same house with her. -We try to economize, but economy is -difficult to practice with sickness. There -is only one thing I can do. I must sell -my place, and buy a little farm back in -the country again. I was born under -king-rule. I am not going to die under -it.”</p> - -<p>“But you are not able to do the work -on a farm,” protested Mrs. Wycliff, “or -even if you are able to do it to-day you -will not be able to do it long. Your wife -and daughters used to help you a great -deal on the farm. They are not able to -do it now. I think I know of a better -arrangement.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Uncle Jerry, -much as a drowning man might grasp at -a straw.</p> - -<p>“You have a good house, which would -bring you in a large rent. Then you -could get a job at superintending a small -farm. You would not need to work, -yourself, any more than you felt able -to.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span>“Who would give old Jerry Barnaby -a job as a farm boss, especially when he -could not get a recommend from the -Baldwins? Don’t try to fool a poor old -man. It’s cruel, and besides it isn’t like -you, either, John Wycliff.” And Uncle -Jerry looked reproachfully at the younger -man.</p> - -<p>“It’s no fooling, Uncle Jerry,” said -Wycliff rising, and placing his hands on -Barnaby’s shoulders. “Do you know -the Twin Mountain Farm?”</p> - -<p>“Every rod of it.”</p> - -<p>“Now, if you are not too steep with -your price, you can take charge of that -farm. You will have your fuel, vegetables, -meat, maple sugar—indeed, most -of your living off the farm. You will -not need a very big cash salary, along -with your rent, to take care of you and -your family in good shape, and your wife -and daughter will have a horse to drive -whenever they wish.”</p> - -<p>“Who owns the place?” asked Barnaby.</p> - -<p>“A one-eyed crank named Wycliff.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span>“Do you own that place? Well, we -shan’t have any trouble about the price, -if you think I can fill the bill.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, Uncle Jerry. Come around -in the morning and we will make a bargain -in five minutes. Then we will drive -off and buy stock and tools.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. I must get home and -tell Pet and her mother. We are willing -to shake the dust of Papyrus off our feet -any day.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">EVA BALDWIN was the most independent, -the most democratic, and -the most religious member of the Baldwin -family. I use the word religious in -its most practical sense. The Baldwins -were all religious; they were all church-members; -they all had the outside, the -husk, the wrapper, of religion. With -them, a costly house of worship, a silver-tongued -preacher, the repetition of some -high-sounding passages from God’s Word -and the payment of a certain amount of -money for church expenses—these things -constituted religion.</p> - -<p>The Baldwins, when it came to religion, -were like a certain boy, who went -chestnutting. He had never seen a -chestnut, and he eagerly filled his basket -with the great prickly burs, which -the frost had opened, but never noticed -the nuts themselves, which lay hidden -under the leaves.</p> - -<p>The Baldwins were very religious,—but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> -if the Christ had come into Papyrus, -the town which belonged to them, they -would have given Him twenty-four hours -notice to get out. He was a disturber in -the vales of Judea, and He would have -been too radical for the Lords of the -Berkshire Hills. It would have become -the painful duty of the round and sleek -Deacon Surface, and the gaunt and -spectral Sheriff Burse, on notice from -the Baldwins, to order Him out.</p> - -<p>But Eva—black-eyed Eva—differed -from her kindred. She was not satisfied -with the husk of Christianity. She was -a constant thorn in the side of her -brother, Zechariah, and in a less degree -of her brother, David, the Congressman. -Even between these two there was a -great gulf. The Congressman believed -in equal rights, except at home, and for -his own workmen. None of the devices, -some of them of almost Satanic ingenuity, -by which the mill-hands of Papyrus -were prevented from enjoying their -just share in town-government, none of -these devices, I say, could have succeeded,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> -without Congressman Baldwin’s -approval, through his confidential agent, -the hundred-faced, oily-tongued Deacon -Surface. None of these devices for -stealing the workman’s vote won Eva -Baldwin’s approval.</p> - -<p>In looking—and she had not far to -look—for worthy objects upon which to -bestow her help, in a practical and sensible -way, Eva Baldwin had long since -found in Sprucemont, that little “deserted -town” on the mountain-tops, an -outlet for some of her benevolent impulses -and surplus funds. A few generations -ago Sprucemont had been one of -the most prosperous towns on the hills, -but influences which it would take too -long to describe here had brought her very -low, both in population and wealth. -The church in Sprucemont had long since -ceased to be self-supporting, and was -dependent upon the generosity of Eva -Baldwin and others of her kind.</p> - -<p>To awaken the interest of natives of -the town who had removed, to stir the -pride of those remaining, and to attract<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> -buyers for the abandoned farms, a celebration -was planned in honor of the -town’s settlement. For such an occasion -it was only natural that the most distinguished -native of the town, Reverend -Ralph Cutter, filling a pulpit in Springdale, -should be selected as the principal -speaker.</p> - -<p>The day came. Up the long hills toward -Sprucemont Center climbed teams -and vehicles of various descriptions. The -newest automobile, the stylish and luxurious -up-to-date carriage with liveried -driver and sleek, well-groomed pair, and -the pleasure-seeker’s four-horse tally-ho, -these shared the mountain road with ancient -specimens of the carriage-makers’ -art, broken and repaired with conspicuous -lack of skill, and drawn by animals -to whom the currycomb and oat-bin -seemed alike strangers. Between these -extremes were the comfortable and tidy -conveyances of the middle classes.</p> - -<p>It was a perfect June day. The rock -maples, the red beeches and the various -birches were in their full summer luxuriance,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> -and their light green foliage contrasted -prettily with the darker, more -somber shades of the spruce, the hemlock, -and the balsam fir. The verdure -of mowlands and pastures was sprinkled -with the commonplace buttercups and -daisies, while the roadside thickets were -eloquent to the eye with the pink and -white blossoms of the mountain laurel.</p> - -<p>The forests echoed with the silver bell -of the wood thrush, while the rollicking, -bubbling melody of the bobolink, and the -clear, sweet whistle of the meadow lark -filled every wayside field.</p> - -<p>The ancient meeting-house, where the -services were held, was a fine specimen -of old style, country church architecture. -It had been built, nearly a century before, -to accommodate eight hundred people, -but the population of the town, -had dwindled to half that number.</p> - -<p>“The strength of the hills is His also.”</p> - -<p>It was with these words of the Psalmist -that Reverend Ralph Cutter began -his review of the town’s history. No -one seemed to realize that he spoke an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> -hour. A library has been written about -the best way to hold the attention of an -audience. It might all be boiled down -to this:—“Have something to say worth -saying, and then say it in a way worth -hearing.” Ralph Cutter knew his subject -thoroughly. He could only give an outline -of it in the time allotted to him; but, -as little ten-year-old Jimmy Stetson said, -“When Mr. Cutter tells an Indian story -you feel as though the Red Skins were -skulking around the church, and when -he talks about bears you almost expect -to hear ’em growl.”</p> - -<p>“Aunt Lyddy” Buxton, who came -early and had a seat near the pulpit, -said:—“That’s the first time I have -heard a minister in a year, although I -go to church every Sunday. Thank -God there’s now and then a minister -who thinks it a part of his duty to make -people hear.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the minister I always like to -hear,” said Farmer Gray. “I don’t -have to go to a dictionary to find out -what he means, and it’s all good, sober,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> -solid sense, every word he has to say.”</p> - -<p>The speaker did not occupy a minute -more than the time allotted to him. For -a minister, or any other speaker, to take -time which belonged to others, Ralph -Cutter considered no better than any -other kind of stealing, and he never -practiced it. He always kept within his -allotted time. He had saved a few minutes -in which to consider the future of -the town.</p> - -<p>“Every valley shall be exalted, and -every mountain and every hill shall be -made low.”</p> - -<p>“I understand these words of Isaiah,” -he said, “to be prophecy full of blessing -to us all. These hills shall be brought -low—that is to say, they shall be more -easily reached. Not only this, but the -working people in the cities shall be able -to reach them. The time is coming, -when the poorest one of our millions of -laborers shall be able to enjoy a summer -vacation, with his family, on these hills, -or at the sea-shore, or wherever else on -God’s beautiful earth he chooses to spend<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> -it. The multitudes, now scarcely earning -their daily bread, shall not always -toil to maintain the few in idleness and -luxury. The good things, the best things -of God’s bountiful earth shall be within -reach of the toiling masses, not occasionally -and sparingly, but at all times and -in generous measure. The workman -shall enjoy the full fruit of his labors. -There shall be no idlers, as now, to fatten -upon the laborers’ toil. God has provided -an abundance for all His children, -and the avarice of the few shall not always -keep his gifts away from the many.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you will call this socialism, -but it is Christianity also. I believe, in -practice, we have scarcely learned the -a b c of Christianity. I am not attacking -the rights of property. I have no -pet theories to advance. The present -system, which allows one man to pile up -hundreds of millions by getting control -of steel or oil, while the working multitude -are little better than slaves—this -system, I say, cannot endure. It must -fall. When we have learned, by experience,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> -what true Christianity means, it -may be that we shall get back very near -to the starting-point of Christianity, -when the disciples had all things common.</p> - -<p>“Every mountain and hill shall be -brought low—brought within reach of -the toiling hosts of the valley. All these -abandoned acres shall be tilled again. -This temple shall again be filled with -glad worshippers, as of old. The electric -railway, which is leveling the hills -everywhere, shall bring to these beautiful -heights the tired and dusty dwellers -in the city, for summer rest. This leveling -process shall benefit the dwellers and -toilers in the vales. Already the farm-house -feels the throbbing life of the -city, through the telephone and the -daily mail. This is only the beginning. -No one knows what the end may be.”</p> - -<p>It was an eloquent address; eloquent -in its pictures of history; eloquent in its -present comfort; eloquent in its promise -for the future, and it had a fitting and -appreciative word for those outside the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> -town who had kept the fires of religion -burning on this ancient altar. It had -none of the marks of much of our present -oratory—no foreign phrases; no -words difficult to understand; no carefully -poised periods; no words dropped -nearly to a whisper. The prize pupil in -elocution sometimes cannot be heard in -the rear of the hall, while the speaker -who makes himself clearly heard in all -parts of the house goes home without -even honorable mention. While mere -noise is not oratory, yet Daniel Webster, -Charles Sumner and George William -Curtis always made themselves heard. -The speaker’s concluding words were:—</p> - -<p>“Let us be true to the God of our fathers, -and the God of our fathers shall -bless us.”</p> - -<p>There was not a more interested listener -than Eva Baldwin. All the old -feeling which she had experienced during -the speaker’s stay in Papyrus, and -which she had tried to suppress since, -came rushing back. She thought: -“Why could not God have given to me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> -to be the help-meet of such a man, even -if He gave my millions to some one -else?”</p> - -<p>As for Ralph Cutter, he had been unjust -to Miss Baldwin in allowing her -wealth to place a barrier between them. -The sight of her to-day fanned into -flame again the old fires of his admiration, -and he more than half resolved to -seek an opportunity of renewing her -acquaintance.</p> - -<p>After the exercises, which closed early, -several small parties visited Twin Mountain, -which was near by. One of the -parties included Reverend Ralph Cutter -and another included the Baldwins. -For a moment, and only for a moment, -the parties met. The minister and the -heiress saluted each other cordially and -lingered after their parties had separated. -She expressed regret that he had -left Papyrus. He expressed regret that -it had seemed best for him to leave, and -then, something in her eyes seeming to -warrant it, he added:</p> - -<p>“I had hoped to become better acquainted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> -with you, had I remained.”</p> - -<p>“Did I place any obstacles in the way -of our further acquaintance? I certainly -did not intend to do so,” she replied, -and there was no mistaking the frank, -honest meaning in the black eyes.</p> - -<p>“No, you did not. May I correspond -with you?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly.” She was laughing now; -a laugh of relief and pleasure. “But do -not forget, when circumstances permit, -that a face to face meeting is a long way -ahead of a letter.”</p> - -<p>But the parties to which they belonged -were getting farther and farther apart.</p> - -<p>“You might return home with us,” she -suggested. “You could take an evening -train for Springdale.” And he very -gladly assented.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">IT would be unjust in this narrative to -class David Baldwin, the Congressman, -with his brother, Zechariah. David -meant to be just. Whatever of justice -there was in the relations of the Baldwins -to their workmen was usually credited -by the workmen to Congressman -Baldwin, and probably they were right. -Such reforms as had been granted in the -mills had usually been secured by appealing -from Zechariah, the resident manager, -to David, whose public duties kept -him much of the time in Washington. -David Baldwin was generous. If there -was anything of the “milk of human -kindness” in the treatment of the Baldwin -workmen it was due largely to -David.</p> - -<p>Zechariah Baldwin was generous when -he thought his generosity would make -a big display, and be heralded in the -public press. In the church and in the -press, especially the religious press, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> -name of Zechariah Baldwin was acclaimed -loudly as a philanthropist. In -private circles, particularly among his -own workmen, in those small circles -where the laborer dared to speak his -honest feelings, he was oftener spoken -of as a “skinflint,” or simply a “skin,” -a term in common use which is full of -meaning, and that not of the best kind. -Zechariah Baldwin was the last to raise -the wages of his help and the first to cut -them down.</p> - -<p>David Baldwin was rarely known, -where the decision lay with himself -alone, to refuse any reasonable request -of a workingman. While his public -gifts were not as large, nor trumpeted -as loudly as his brother’s, still, the unfortunate -employee or neighbor who -needed help, knew where to get it. But -David was absent much of the time, -either in Washington, performing his -official duties as Congressman, or attending -to large financial interests outside of -Papyrus. Hence it happened that Zechariah -Baldwin was usually the boss of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> -Papyrus and political independence was -not tolerated among the workmen. Few -workingmen had ever remained long in -Papyrus after showing in any way their -independence of the Baldwins.</p> - -<p>Zechariah Baldwin defended the position -of the paper manufacturers in this -way:</p> - -<p>“We have built up the town; we own -it and we claim the moral right to drive -out of it any man who is offensive to us. -That one-eyed Wycliff is a mischief-maker -and trouble-breeder and he has -got to get out.”</p> - -<p>But Wycliff did not get out. He did -not even promise to get out. He seemed -to have no intention of getting out. The -methods which usually succeeded in driving -a workingman out of town—blacklisting -him in all the Baldwin industries -and warning other employers not to hire -him—these methods had failed utterly in -the case of John Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“We cannot tolerate him much -longer,” said Zack Baldwin. Certainly -not. Where one workingman<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> -dares to do his own thinking and to express -his own opinions there is danger -that others will catch the distemper. -What if they should form a union and -demand the same wages paid elsewhere -for the same work? Such a thing was -not to be thought of for an instant.</p> - -<p>“We must fight the devil with fire,” -said Zack Baldwin. Accordingly he -offered a few Papyrus roughs a large -sum if they would drive Wycliff out of -town. He was not particular as to the -means employed, so long as they avoided -publicity and arrest. Zack Baldwin’s -own son, Jehu, might be classed with -other Papyrus roughs, in spite of a thin -veneer of polished manners, which high -society and the schools had given him. -It is highly probable that the means employed -to rid the town of Wycliff might -have been violent but for an unexpected -incident.</p> - -<p>Zechariah Baldwin met an old acquaintance -from the West at the Taconic -House, the only hotel in Papyrus, and, of -course, the property of the Baldwins.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>“How do you do, Colonel Lathrop?” -exclaimed the Lord of Papyrus, effusively.</p> - -<p>“That you, Baldwin?” replied the -Westerner; “you have a delightful town -here.”</p> - -<p>“So we think;” and the little millionaire -paper-maker rubbed his hands in -self-congratulation; “but we have a few -evil-minded cranks among us who think -they could improve matters. However, -I think the boys will drive out the worst -one within a week.”</p> - -<p>“Who is he? Who would think of -finding fault with such a paradise as -this?” pursued the Colonel.</p> - -<p>“No one but a fool—a crank named -Wycliff. There he is now, cleaning the -street, with the rest of Maxwell’s gang—a -job just suited to him, except that -he ought not to have any employment at -all in a decent town.”</p> - -<p>“Wycliff? Wycliff? John Wycliff?—One-eyed -Wycliff?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s the man. Do you know -him?” asked the little man in surprise.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span>“I rather think I do,” replied Colonel -Lathrop, pulling out his wallet, “and -here’s a hundred dollars that says you -don’t drive John Wycliff out of Papyrus, -and that if you try it you’ll have the -biggest job for the Coroner you ever had -in Berkshire. What! Won’t put up the -money?” and the big ranchman looked -down on the little millionaire with contempt.</p> - -<p>“There’s no blood in your neck, is -there!”</p> - -<p>The dapper little churchman was -shocked that anyone should expect him -to do such a vulgar, unchristian thing as -to bet, but he controlled himself long -enough to ask:—</p> - -<p>“What do you know of Wycliff?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, not much,” sneered the big -fellow, “except that he is the most stubborn -cuss, and can shoot the straightest -and quickest of any man I ever knew.” -Then, as the little man waited, he continued:—</p> - -<p>“He was a cow-boy on my ranch. One -day the Indians tried to stampede his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> -herd. There were seven red devils, and -he all alone against them. We found -four ‘good Indians,’ Indians that would -never steal any more cattle, one just dying, -and two had returned to the reservation -to report that Wycliff was ‘bad -medicine.’ We found Wycliff, nearly -dead, with one eye shot out, behind a -breastwork of dead cattle.”</p> - -<p>The big ranchman did not attempt to -disguise his contempt for the little man, -and without a word of farewell, he strode -down into the dirt of the street, to greet -his former employee. Meanwhile one of -the loungers at the hotel had overheard -the Colonel’s story. Before night it was -repeated, with numerous additions, all -through Papyrus, and all the Baldwins’ -money would not have hired the biggest -bully in the town to approach John Wycliff -with evil intent.</p> - -<p>The ranchman stepped up to Hugh -Maxwell, who was overseeing the work, -saying:—</p> - -<p>“I want to borrow one of your men—Wycliff—for -awhile, if I may do so.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>“All right,” was the reply. “Only -return him in good condition.”</p> - -<p>Then the two walked off down the -street, and the Colonel told Wycliff of -his conversation with Zechariah Baldwin.</p> - -<p>“I’m not afraid of anything in that -direction,” replied Wycliff. “I am -blessed with lots of good friends in Papyrus, -and one of Zack Baldwin’s own -gang gave away the whole plot to me. -I have friends in Zack Baldwin’s own -house. I have taken all the precautions -I care to. I have sent away my wife -and child, for the present, up into the -country. Such of our household goods -as are valuable merely for their associations—our -pictures, my mounted cougar, -everything which money could not replace—all -these things I have taken to a -neighbor’s. As for me, I don’t know as -I should live a week if some one did not -threaten to injure me.” And Wycliff -laughed.</p> - -<p>“I came to town,” said Colonel Lathrop, -“to see about your share in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> -Rattlesnake. I hope you haven’t sold -it.”</p> - -<p>“No. When I lost my property I tried -to sell it, but could not get an offer. I -have felt that sometime it might become -of value, perhaps through cheaper methods -of mining.”</p> - -<p>“You know Walker Nichols, the mining -expert?”</p> - -<p>“By reputation. Yes.”</p> - -<p>“He thinks that by the practice of -new economies in mining, which will -lessen our expenses considerably, we -may be able to operate the Rattlesnake -Mine at a small profit. Then there is -always the possibility of striking a richer -vein. Shall I go ahead? You will not -need to advance anything.”</p> - -<p>“Certainly.”</p> - -<p>“You remember Mr. Baxter?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; ‘Old Sunshine,’ the boys used -to call him.”</p> - -<p>“He has great faith that we shall -strike something better if we open up -the Rattlesnake again. His opinion -ought to be worth something. He was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> -a ‘forty-niner,’ has worked in the mines -ever since, and has made and lost fortunes -in them.”</p> - -<p>Colonel Lathrop withdrew, and John -Wycliff returned to his work.</p> - -<p>Zechariah Baldwin, although temporarily -thwarted in his plans to rid the town -of Wycliff, was by no means inclined to -give up his efforts. He had an abundance -of resources and expedients, and -when one failed he was not usually long -in finding another.</p> - -<p>Wycliff’s family had been sent up to -Sprucemont, where they were the guests -of their old friends, the Porters. One -night, soon after their departure, Wycliff, -who had retired, was awakened by -a lusty rap at the door.</p> - -<p>“Who’s there?” he shouted, throwing -up his chamber window.</p> - -<p>“Not too loud, John,” came the answer -from a suppressed voice.</p> - -<p>“That you, Dan? Wait a minute till -I let you in.”</p> - -<p>“No; I can’t stop. There’s a big game -on foot. Jehu Baldwin will fire a revolver<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> -through his Uncle David’s bedroom window. -Then he will run in the middle of -the street to your house, where he will -take to the grass and throw the weapon -upon your lawn.”</p> - -<p>“To-night?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; just after midnight. But I -must get back.”</p> - -<p>Congressman Baldwin was the idol of -the masses, and if it could be made to appear -that Wycliff had assaulted him there -would be a riot, and the victim of its -fury would be fortunate if he escaped -alive. Frontier methods would not avail -at this crisis. Wycliff was somewhat resourceful -himself. He got his camera -and prepared for a flashlight photograph. -He had been writing a magazine article -on the whippoorwill—(one of these birds -sang in the lilacs every night)—and he -had the materials ready for a flashlight -of the bird, to illustrate his article. He -would now use them to photograph a different -object. He set his camera so that -it would sweep the highway, and waited -under cover of the midnight darkness.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>The town clock struck for twelve. -A thunder-shower was coming up. There -was an occasional flash and roar from -the cloud. The whippoorwill sang in -the lilacs. There were pistol-shots down -the road, and then the sound of running -footsteps. They drew nearer until they -were directly in front of Wycliff. The -flashlight did its work. Wycliff boarded -a trolley-car for Elmfield, carrying the -precious camera, and leaving this notice -on his front door:—</p> - -<p class="center">“<i>Gone to visit my old friend,<br> -Sheriff Coggswell, at the Jail.</i><br> - -                “<i>JOHN WYCLIFF.</i>”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">ON that same evening mentioned in -our last chapter there was a social -gathering at Farmer Porter’s, in Sprucemont. -It was a festival known among -the Green Mountain farmers as a “sugar-eat,” -but it was held very much out of -season. Maple sugar is usually made -during the months of February or March. -The sap drawn from the rock-maple, or -sugar-maple trees is boiled until it reaches -a consistency which is called wax. Tin -pans are pressed full of snow, and the -maple wax, dipped boiling from the kettles, -is poured upon the snow. The wax -hardens upon the snow, and is then esteemed -the greatest delicacy of country -epicures.</p> - -<p>For many years Farmer Porter had -treated his neighbors to an annual sugar-eat; -not in winter or spring, but in midsummer, -the snow being obtained from -the cave on Twin Mountain, known as -the “Bear’s Den.” On this occasion,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> -besides his country neighbors, there were -present some friends from Papyrus, Ford -Hulbert and Lena Boardman, and John -Wycliff’s wife and child. Uncle Jerry -Barnaby was a neighbor, and was present -with his wife and daughter.</p> - -<p>The farmers, and their wives, daughters, -mothers and sweethearts for miles -around, thronged the hospitable home of -Daniel Porter. In the old-fashioned fireplace -in the kitchen, on a stout iron crane, -hung the ancient copper kettle filled with -maple syrup. A crackling wood fire -kept the syrup leaping and dancing, until -it was boiled down thick enough to -“stand,” or harden, upon the snow. A -number of experts decided this point, -and when, according to their verdict, it -was just brittle enough, the boys brought -in the pans of snow which they had secured -from the cave.</p> - -<p>The guests were seated at long tables, -each group of two or three having a pan -of snow, on which the maple wax had -been poured in fanciful figures, which -were gathered off the snow and eaten<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> -with forks. There was a moment’s hush, -as the preacher arose and invoked the -Lord’s blessing upon the occasion. Then -began a season of social intercourse and -merry-making.</p> - -<p>An outburst of laughter from all occasionally -testified to a fresh triumph of -Uncle Jerry’s wit and called attention -anew to the pale young woman beside -him. There was circulated among a few -near friends a photograph of a young -man, a Westerner apparently, and it was -whispered about that he was a prosperous -ranchman and lumberman, and that -he would soon return to revisit the home -of his youth. The picture, and the neighborly -remarks called forth by it, brought -a momentary color to the pale face by -Uncle Jerry’s side.</p> - -<p>Old neighbors and friends were no less -interested in Miss Boardman, whose girlhood -had been spent among them, and -who was here to-night, accompanied by -Ford Hulbert, the Papyrus real estate -agent. If Lena Boardman were at all -observant, she must have noticed the respect<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> -shown her companion by all present, -and the slightest inquiry would have -revealed the fact that he was universally -respected in the little farming community.</p> - -<p>It was a weird occasion, for the snows -of winter and the sweets of spring contrasted -strangely with the warmth of the -midsummer evening, and it was soon -over. The last sentiment expressed at -the tables, as the party broke up, was -this of Uncle Jerry: “Our Berkshire -women,—God bless ’em,—the sweetest -things of God’s creation.”</p> - -<p>Lena Boardman and Ford Hulbert had -come on horseback, a favorite method of -travel with them, and as soon as the -party began to break up they returned -to Papyrus in the same way they had -come. Down the long slopes the riders -cantered, sometimes through deep woods, -sometimes in the open. It was quite -dark, but where the riders could not be -sure of their way the horses could be -trusted to find it.</p> - -<p>An owl shouted his greeting from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> -tall spire of a spruce tree. The hurried -whistle of a whippoorwill rang out from -a thicket of wild cherry bushes. Up -from the deep aisles of a hemlock woods -came the snarl of a wildcat.</p> - -<p>The roadside bushes had a spicy breath. -A minty fragrance was wafted from the -brookside. From fields freshly cut came -the scent of hay newly mown.</p> - -<p>Hulbert reined up his horse, and -stopped his companion’s, also.</p> - -<p>“Lena,” he said, “haven’t I been on -probation long enough? You have known -for a long time that I love you. How -long are you going to hold me off at -arm’s length?”</p> - -<p>“A burnt child dreads the fire,” replied -his companion. “I said yes once, -to my sorrow. I don’t want to be hasty -again.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t like to be compared to Clif -Borden,” he replied. “If you made a -bad choice once, I don’t know who was -to blame for it but yourself. You knew -the man, or you ought to have known -him; you knew, or you ought to have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> -known, for your friends told you, that -Borden had no respect for any woman, -and no respect for virtue. You went -into the fire, as you express it, with full -knowledge of the risk you were running. -I have served a good long apprenticeship -for your hand. You ought to know, -also, whether I am an honorable man. -It is a long time since I first asked you -to be my wife. Don’t be in a hurry -about answering. I shall never ask you -again.” And Hulbert’s horse resumed -its canter down the mountain road.</p> - -<p>There was just the least bit of the coquette -about Lena Boardman. She had -fully decided to accept Ford Hulbert, -but she wanted to play him for awhile -yet.</p> - -<p>A thunder-shower was coming up rapidly -in the south, and the blackness there -was crossed by zig-zag chains of light.</p> - -<p>The hoof-beats were out of harmony -with the music of the mountain brook. -Lena thought of the little spring near -Phillips Porter’s, where the brook started. -The little stream seemed uncertain,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> -at first, which way to go. Soon it left -the level meadow of its parent spring, -and came to the steep hillside. It rippled -and sparkled and tumbled alongside the -mountain road for miles. Then another -brook tumbled into it. Then the larger -stream splashed noisily down the mountain -till it joined the river. The river -knew where to go. It took a strong dam -to stop it and make it turn the mill-wheel.</p> - -<p>Lena thought of the time when she -had first met Hulbert. She remembered -that spring of admiration for the big, -handsome, courteous fellow, whom everybody -respected, and who ought not to be -dishonored by mention at the same time -with the libertine whom she had married. -She knew that he loved her, and she -knew that her own love had grown, like -the mountain brook, till it was too strong -to be turned aside.</p> - -<p>During the remainder of the ride Lena -was considering how she might most -easily surrender. They reached her -own door, where Ford helped her to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> -alight. Just then a number of pistol-shots -rang out at a little distance down -the street, but he paid little attention to -them, for her arms were reached out toward -him. She spoke but one word,—“Ford,”—but -it was enough.</p> - -<p>A few minutes later, when Hulbert remounted -his horse, a lightning-flash -made the street below brighter than -noonday, and showed to Hulbert and his -companion Jehu Baldwin hurrying past, -pistol in hand. Perhaps they would -have thought more of this, had they not -noticed by another flash, illuminating a -verandah across the street, the parting -of Eva Baldwin and Ralph Cutter.</p> - -<p>Riding his own horse, and leading the -one his companion had ridden, Hulbert -hurried away to escape the shower. His -home was a large farm, quite away from -the village.</p> - -<p>Next morning, upon taking up a daily -paper, he was quite surprised at the -headlines reproduced on the following -page from the Elmfield <i>Star</i>:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> </p> - -<p class="center"><span class="large"><i>SHOTS FIRED AT DAVID BALDWIN</i></span></p> -<hr class="tiny"> -<p class="center"><span class="large"><i>John Wycliff the Man Who Committed -the Assault.</i></span></p> -<hr class="tiny"> -<p class="center"><i>WYCLIFF’S DWELLING DESTROYED</i></p> -<hr class="tiny"> -<p class="center"><i>By a Papyrus Mob—He Gives Himself Up to -Sheriff Coggswell.</i></p> -<hr class="tiny"> -<p>He did not stop to read further, but -mounted his horse, and was soon at Congressman -Baldwin’s office.</p> - -<p>“I guess we are rid of John Wycliff -for awhile,” remarked the Congressman.</p> - -<p>“See here, Dave Baldwin, your nephew, -Jehu, fired those shots, and I’ll give you -just ten minutes in which to call your -dogs off from Wycliff. If you don’t do -it in that time I’ll telegraph the truth -about this affair to a New York paper -which you cannot command.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>“How do you know that Jehu did it?” -asked the Congressman.</p> - -<p>“Because I saw him coming from this -direction, the pistol still in his hand, -shortly after I heard the shots.”</p> - -<p>“Why have you waited until now before -saying a word?”</p> - -<p>“I did not suspect anything wrong -until I saw this morning’s paper. There -is at least one crisis in a man’s life when -he is too full of satisfaction himself to -suspect anyone of wrong-doing.”</p> - -<p>Just then the telephone bell rang.</p> - -<p>“Is this David Baldwin?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Who is this?”</p> - -<p>“This is Ralph Cutter at Springdale. -I am sorry for you in your experience of -last night. If you will excuse an old-fashioned -country expression, you are -barking up the wrong tree. You are entirely -wrong in your charge against -Wycliff. Your nephew, Jehu, is the real -culprit. I heard the shots, and was just -taking leave of your sister, when a flash -of lightning showed Jehu distinctly, in -the middle of the street, and the weapon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> -still in his hand. Probably it was very -dull of me, but I never thought anything -was wrong. When a man has just found -the greatest blessing of his life he may be -forgiven for being dull to common -things.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me that Cupid was working -overtime last night,” remarked the -Congressman to himself.</p> - -<p>“I do not wish to make public what I -know about Jehu Baldwin,” continued -the voice from Springdale, “because I -think that some older person put up the -job, and has used Jehu merely as a tool; -but unless you shall promptly withdraw -your charge against Wycliff, justice will -compel me to make a public announcement.”</p> - -<p>“The charge will be withdrawn at -once,” replied the Congressman.</p> - -<p>Baldwin then rang up the jail at Elmfield.</p> - -<p>“Is this Sheriff Coggswell?”</p> - -<p>“It is.”</p> - -<p>“This is David Baldwin. Is Wycliff -under arrest?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>“He is not. He is my guest. I shall -not arrest him unless the law compels me -to do so, as I have full proof of his innocence, -and of Jehu Baldwin’s guilt. I -have a witness who can’t be bribed or -brow-beaten, and whose testimony would -stand against all the Baldwins that ever -lived.”</p> - -<p>[Congressman Baldwin and Sheriff -Coggswell were political enemies.]</p> - -<p>“A pretty good witness that. Who is -he?”</p> - -<p>“I have no right to tell. You’ll know -soon enough.”</p> - -<p>“I withdraw my charge against Wycliff,” -concluded Baldwin. And Ford -Hulbert withdrew.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">DEEP down in a narrow gorge echoed -the sound of the miner’s pick.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Baxter,” said Colonel Lathrop, -one of the owners of the Rattlesnake -Mine, “this is too hot a place for an old -man like you. If you are determined to -work as long as you live I’ve got other -jobs that are easier for you than swinging -a pick-axe in this heat all day. You -know you are not obliged to work. I’ll -see you and your wife well taken care of -as long as you live. You’ve done your -share of the world’s work. When a man -reaches seventy-five he ought to rest.”</p> - -<p>“I enjoy working,” replied “Old Sunshine.” -That was the name he was best -known by among his fellow-laborers. -“It’ll be time enough for me to stop work -when I have to. Even if I have done -work enough, I have not worked for you -so long that you can afford to pension -me off.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind that. I would enjoy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> -paying you your wages better if you -would quit mining. If you are bound to -stick to the mines, why not work in the -‘drift’ with the boys, where the sun cannot -hit you? It’s fearfully hot out here.”</p> - -<p>“Now don’t worry any more about -me,” said Old Sunshine, laughing. -“Don’t you see I’m only prospecting? -I want to find out what is under the face -of this cliff.”</p> - -<p>“Well, promise me you will quit at -four o’clock, anyway, Baxter.”</p> - -<p>And Old Sunshine reluctantly promised.</p> - -<p>“McDonald,” said the Colonel to the -foreman, as he was leaving the mine: -“Don’t forget that Old Sunshine is a -privileged character. I don’t want him -to work, and had rather pay him for -resting. He has been in the mines over -fifty years,—was a forty-niner,—but if -he’s bound to work let him take his own -time, and come and go when he pleases. -Give him full time, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye, sir,” replied the boss. -“Nobody will interfere with Old Sunshine.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> -He does more work now than -some of the young fellows, if he is seventy-five.”</p> - -<p>Old Sunshine had had a checkered career. -More than once he had been -wealthy, and that wealth, which sometimes -comes suddenly in the mines, had -flown as suddenly as it came. Had he -known the right time to stop, to turn his -mining investments into other and more -stable securities, he might be living in -luxury on his interest money. As it was, -he was dependent upon his day’s wages -at seventy-five, and partly because of his -independent spirit, and partly from his -robust health and love of work, he refused -to let Colonel Lathrop make life -easier for him.</p> - -<p>It was two o’clock. Still the clink of -Old Sunshine’s pick sounded steadily in -the gulch. The other miners were working -in the drifts or levels. Still the torrid -heat rained down upon the solitary -miner, upon the heated rocks, and upon -the rattlesnakes, the original settlers and -owners of the gulch.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span>Soon Old Sunshine’s practiced eye told -him that he was reaching a richer rock -than before. Near the foot of the bank -he was gradually uncovering a broad -band of dull yellow. He knew what that -meant,—one of the richest veins he had -ever seen in his half-century of gold-mining. -Another man would have dropped -his pick and called the other miners -to witness his discovery. But not a word -from Old Sunshine.</p> - -<p>It was three o’clock. He began to -wield the pick-axe higher up the bank. -The material there was soft or “rotten -rock,” and at four o’clock he had his -rich find at the base of the cliff completely -hidden from sight with the worthless -rock which he had loosened from -above.</p> - -<p>“I promised the Colonel I’d quit at -four o’clock,” he said to the boss who -passed just then. “I suppose I must -keep my word.”</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye, that’s all right, Old Sunshine; -perfectly right. You’ve had a -scorcher here to-day,” replied the boss,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> -without a suspicion of the wealth which -lay near him. Old Sunshine never gave -him a hint of his find.</p> - -<p>Then began the weary climb out of the -gorge. This was the point at which Old -Sunshine most realized that he was well -on the down-hill side of life. He could -still do a fair day’s work, but he could -not, as formerly, do a day’s work and -still have a large reserve of strength left -over. He climbed awhile, and then sat -down to rest. Then he climbed again. -Occasionally a serpent made way for -him, shaking his rattles, more as a -warning than a threat. He reached his -own cabin at last.</p> - -<p>“What brings you home so early?” -asked his wife.</p> - -<p>“The Colonel made me promise to quit -early. He don’t like to have me work. -He says he would take care of us and I -guess he would, but I don’t like to let -him. Please get me a lunch and then I -must go down and see the Colonel.”</p> - -<p>“What? Walk six miles to-night?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I can do it; it may make a big<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> -difference to the Colonel. After he went -home I struck a rich vein, and I want -him to know it as soon as possible. The -other miners do not know it. Do not -tell them. I think the vein runs off -across the old ‘Dead Open and Shut’ -claim. The Colonel can buy that claim -for a few thousand dollars now, but -after this strike gets noised abroad he -may not be able to buy it at all. If I can -give the Colonel warning so he can buy -the Dead Open and Shut claim cheap, and -if he makes a good thing out of it, then -I can accept a pension from him, not as -charity, but as my just due. Don’t expect -me till morning. Good night.”</p> - -<p>Luckily for the old man his journey -was almost all down hill. The whole -country thereabouts was a desert for the -want of water. In those small sections -where irrigation had been employed the -land was very productive.</p> - -<p>Old Sunshine plodded on. The sands -were hot. The air was hotter. There -was little beside his path to attract -attention except here and there a cactus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> -plant. Beyond the distant mountains, -across the valley, the sun was setting -in glory. The memory of the past -years, of fortunes he had made and lost, -came to him again. It was because these -memories did not make him gloomy and -sour, but because his hopeful nature triumphed -over them, that he had won the -title of Old Sunshine, and none of earth’s -monarchs had a grander title.</p> - -<p>It began to grow dark in the desert, -but the western mountain-tops were still -glorious. And then there came to the -old man the words which had cheered -him so often:</p> - -<p>“At evening time it shall be light.”</p> - -<p>The day of his life had been full of -storms. Would its evening be peaceful -and light?</p> - -<p>Steady plodding brought him to Emerald -Valley, or as it was better known, -Lathrop’s Miracle, a desert like the rest -until the Colonel’s enterprise had made -it a paradise. He had dug a canal, tapping -the river miles above, and the water -had turned the desert into a very Eden<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> -of luxuriance. Everything which the -Colonel could grow brought a high price -in the near-by mining camps. He had -spent many thousands of dollars in this -private enterprise of changing the desert -into a garden, and his efforts had -met the success which they deserved. -Every dollar spent by Colonel Lathrop -in irrigation had returned to him leading -others with it.</p> - -<p>The Colonel and his family were at -their evening meal.</p> - -<p>“If here isn’t Old Sunshine!” exclaimed -little Daisy Lathrop.</p> - -<p>“Have you walked all the way from -the Rattlesnake?” asked the Colonel. -“Nothing wrong at the mine, I hope. -Make room at the table, children, for -Mr. Baxter.”</p> - -<p>“Nothing wrong, Colonel—but can I -see you alone a few minutes?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly. Come this way.” The -Colonel led the way to a room which was -both office and library to him.</p> - -<p>“What’s up?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I struck a rich vein after you left,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> -but I managed to keep it hidden from -the other men. I believe the vein runs -off across the old Dead Open and Shut -claim. I thought perhaps you would like -to buy that claim before the public gets -wind of the strike.”</p> - -<p>Old Sunshine then exhibited specimens -of the gold which he had found.</p> - -<p>“Of course I can’t say how far the -vein extends. You will have to take -your chances on that, but it is the richest -vein I have ever seen in all my fifty -years of mining.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a brick, Old Sunshine. I’ll -close a bargain for the Dead Open and -Shut to-night if I can. Winklereid tried -to sell it to me to-day for ten thousand -dollars. Here, Martha,” he called to his -wife, “please take the best care you can -of our friend here. He must be pretty -well used up.”</p> - -<p>In five minutes the Colonel was astride -his best horse and galloping toward the -village. He dismounted in front of the -real estate office, hitched his horse, stood -still a moment to cool down and to brush<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> -off the appearance of hurry and excitement, -and then entered. He seated himself -leisurely and began exchanging banter -with the loungers in the office.</p> - -<p>Presently Mr. Winklereid, the real estate -dealer, spoke to him:</p> - -<p>“Here’s Mr. Hammersley, who has -just bought the Coyote Mine. I hope he -may make a million out of it. And this -man,” continued Winklereid, waving his -hand toward Colonel Lathrop, “can make -more money out of desert land and river -water than anyone else in the state can -make out of gold-mining.”</p> - -<p>“All joking aside,” replied Colonel -Lathrop, “irrigation is a dead sure thing -when compared with gold-mining, which -is scarcely better than a lottery.”</p> - -<p>“The Colonel,” pursued Mr. Winklereid, -“is the father of irrigation in this -state. For that reason, among others, -his name is being pressed upon Governor -Brown for appointment to the United -States Senate, to succeed Senator Smith, -who died the other day.”</p> - -<p>The Colonel did not want to talk politics.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> -After wishing Mr. Hammersley -success, he said:—</p> - -<p>“Now, Winklereid, watch out for a -little place for me, near the village. -I want a place where a man of seventy-five -can spend his remaining days in ease -and comfort.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve got it now,” replied Winklereid. -“The very thing, snug and tidy, -in good repair, right in the village, convenient -to everything.”</p> - -<p>“Hold it for me till we can look at it. -I’m in a hurry to-night.” And the Colonel -seemed on the point of leaving.</p> - -<p>“You’d better take me up on that -Dead Open and Shut bargain, Colonel. -It’s worth more to you than anyone -else.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t I enough invested in desert -rocks already?” asked the Colonel. “Besides,” -he continued, “Wycliff is my -mining partner. I want him to share my -chances of making a dollar at mining. -But for his bravery I might be poor to-day. -How soon do you want your -money?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>“Pay me any sum you please to-night, -and I’ll give you a bond for a deed before -you leave the office.”</p> - -<p>“Here’s five hundred dollars I took in -for cattle to-day. I’ll pay you the rest -in thirty days. Is that satisfactory?”</p> - -<p>“Perfectly.”</p> - -<p>Half an hour later the Colonel was galloping -toward home with the precious -bond in his pocket.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">SHERIFF COGGSWELL’S family -apartments were in the front part -of the jail building, and here he entertained -his old friend, Wycliff, until the -notice came from Congressman Baldwin -that he made no charge against him. -Wycliff then thanked the Sheriff and his -family, and walked out upon the streets -of Elmfield, a free man.</p> - -<p>At the gateway of the jail-grounds he -was met by a messenger from Papyrus -bearing a telegram from Colonel Lathrop:—</p> - -<p>“Rich vein struck at the Rattlesnake. -Syndicate offers one million for mine. -Full particulars by letter.”</p> - -<p>Wycliff’s acquaintances—and he had -many among all classes in Elmfield—were -surprised at seeing him at large, -and congratulations and inquiries were -of frequent occurrence. But he saw something -which made him, for the moment, -unconscious of the attentions of friend or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> -foe,—a pretty pony, drawing a cart in -which were several children.</p> - -<p>Wycliff stopped suddenly. His memory -went back to a scene in a sick-room -not many months before, and to a promise -which he had forgotten. For a time -he had been unable to keep the promise. -Recently he had been able to keep his -promise, but had forgotten it. He wandered -down the main street of Elmfield, -and then off down a side street, to a livery -and sale stable.</p> - -<p>“Do you keep those little ponies, such -as children drive?” he asked the proprietor, -an old acquaintance.</p> - -<p>“No, there is too little call for them, -but I order them when wanted. Do you -want one?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, a perfectly gentle and safe one, -as my boy is not very strong. I am going -over to Cook’s for a cart, and to -Brandon’s for a harness. Please send -the pony to Brandon’s to be fitted with -a harness; get the cart, and send the -outfit to my place, ready for use.”</p> - -<p>When these purchases had been made,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> -Wycliff called upon his attorney, Lawyer -Sturgis. An hour later Sheriff Coggswell -was posting up a notice of attachment -in the Monadnock, the principal -hotel of Elmfield. As Zechariah Baldwin -owned both the Elmfield <i>Star</i> and -the Hotel Monadnock, the hotel could be -lawfully attached for the misdeeds of the -newspaper, while Massachusetts Law in -a measure protects the newspaper plant -from attachment.</p> - -<p>“What does this mean?” asked the -manager of the hotel.</p> - -<p>“It means,” replied the smiling sheriff, -“that those who dance must pay the -fiddler,” and straightway he started for -the “Paper Town,” to serve personal -notice upon the Lord of Papyrus himself. -Sheriff Coggswell was the only -Berkshire officer who was independent -of the Baldwins—the only one who did -not acknowledge the political authority -of Congressman Baldwin, the political -boss of the County and State. Consequently -he fully enjoyed the present -situation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>The case against Zechariah Baldwin -came up in the Superior Court, a little -later, for trial. Wycliff, the plaintiff, -was ready to proceed with the case. The -defendant, through his attorney, pleaded -for delay.</p> - -<p>Judge Selden, after hearing both attorneys -patiently, ordered an immediate -trial.</p> - -<p>“The defendant in this case,” said the -Judge, “has, through his newspaper, -charged the plaintiff with a very serious -crime—assault with intent to kill. If he -had sufficient evidence to warrant him in -making such charge, in such a public -manner, he has sufficient evidence for -defending this action, without delay.”</p> - -<p>Then Baldwin’s attorney, Lawyer Stimson, -requested time to effect a settlement -out of court. This was granted.</p> - -<p>Only the attorneys for the two parties -met. There was good reason for this, -since a meeting of the principals would -only have resulted in a wordy encounter, -with nothing accomplished at last in the -way of settlement. One could scarcely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> -imagine any business of this nature accomplished -between two men who so -thoroughly detested one another as did -Zechariah Baldwin and John Wycliff. -Nor would the settlement have fared -any better if the Baldwin end of the negotiations -had been left with Deacon -Surface, since Wycliff regarded him as -an arch-hypocrite, and he, in his turn, -was looked upon as an outlaw by the -Deacon.</p> - -<p>“Well, Sturgis,” began the attorney -for Baldwin, “your client seems to value -his reputation pretty highly. It is not -often that an attachment for one hundred -thousand dollars is placed in an -action of this kind.”</p> - -<p>“You forget, Stimson,” Lawyer Sturgis -replied, “that these millionaires think -a good deal of themselves, whatever value -the public may set upon them. Since -Wycliff is rated a millionaire, I presume -he regards himself as not being on the -bargain-counter any longer, but fit to -have his reputation rated with that of -the Baldwins. In the famous Apthorp<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> -case you pleaded, with abundant reason, -that the reputation of a millionaire was -worth more than that of a poor man.”</p> - -<p>Then, seeing a puzzled expression on -the face of his brother attorney, Lawyer -Sturgis continued:—</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you have not read all the -latest news from the gold fields. The -syndicate has raised its offer for the -Rattlesnake Mine to two million dollars.”</p> - -<p>“But how does that affect this question?” -asked Stimson, who was still in -the dark.</p> - -<p>“John Wycliff is a half owner in the -Rattlesnake mine.”</p> - -<p>“That makes a difference.”</p> - -<p>“Wycliff would prefer to have this -case go to court. He would like to show -up these immaculate Baldwins—these -Christian philanthropists—in their true -attitude toward labor. Only one reason -impels him to a private settlement. Jehu -Baldwin, who would be shown up as -the principal transgressor, is little more -than a boy, and less to blame than his -father who set him on,” said Sturgis.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>“But,” protested Stimson, “are you -not taking a great deal for granted on -very slight evidence?”</p> - -<p>“By no means,” replied Sturgis. “We -have full proof of every step of this -whole crime, from the time when Zechariah -Baldwin, on his own premises, persuaded -his son Jehu to set this trap for -Wycliff, until the instant when Jehu -Baldwin threw his pistol upon Wycliff’s -lawn. A kind Providence, more than -his own exertions, has placed full proof -in my client’s possession. You and I, -Stimson, are both too old, and have won -too honorable a place at the Berkshire Bar -to indulge in a game of bluff, and I have -something here which will convince you -that I am not bluffing.”</p> - -<p>He opened his safe, and took from it a -photograph.</p> - -<p>“Do you recognize anything in that -picture?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that is Dobbs’ Corner, in Papyrus. -The guide-board tells the story. -‘Elmfield, six miles; Sprucemont, nine -miles; Wendell, five miles.’ And that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> -old elm—there’s no mistaking that. I -was out there in my auto yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“But the person?”</p> - -<p>“Looks like Jehu Baldwin, surely, and -the pistol still in his hand. But here’s -an important point which you might be -troubled to prove. How can you prove -that this flashlight—for a flashlight -photo it is, evidently—was taken on the -night which you claim? If we assert -that it was secured on some other night -than the one of the riot, you cannot -prove that it was taken on that identical -night.”</p> - -<p>“Easily enough, Stimson. Do you -see nothing else in the picture?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, some sort of a machine, or -wagon, with the word ‘Vesuvius’ on it.”</p> - -<p>“Very well,” laughed Sturgis, “that -new Vesuvius road machine spent only -that one night in Papyrus. It was taken -on trial, proved unsatisfactory, and was -next day returned to Elmfield and exchanged -for another.”</p> - -<p>“But you are not going to exact the -whole pound of flesh, the whole hundred<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> -thousand?” asked Lawyer Stimson.</p> - -<p>“Not if you will do the fair thing. If -the <i>Star</i> will publish a suitable retraction -of its charge against Wycliff, and an -admission that the attack upon Congressman -Baldwin was part of a conspiracy -to drive Wycliff out of town, then -we will cut our claim to ten thousand -dollars. Otherwise we shall insist on the -whole sum.”</p> - -<p>“I think Zack Baldwin had rather pay -the whole demand than to make the acknowledgement -you ask,” said Stimson.</p> - -<p>“So do I,” responded Sturgis. “I -never knew a Baldwin to acknowledge -an injustice he had done, or to make any -compensation for it unless obliged to do -so by law, and being multi-millionaires, -they cannot usually be compelled to do -justly. Senator Dawes, the greatest advocate -that ever faced a Berkshire jury, -in describing a particularly mean man, -once coined the expression, ‘natural -cussedness.’ I suppose that the orthodox -term, ‘total depravity,’ would have -sounded more smoothly, but smoothness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> -was not what the great Senator was after. -When I think of the great conspiracy -against my client I cannot help using -the words of the Senator. Natural -cussedness is a proper term to apply to -the meanness of Zack Baldwin. The -words fit.”</p> - -<p>“You are rather uncharitable toward -my client, are you not?” asked Stimson, -laughing, and stepping to a window. -Lawyer Sturgis’ office was on the upper -floor of the highest block in the city of -Elmfield, and commanded a fine view of -the city.</p> - -<p>“Come here, Sturgis,” said the other, -and Sturgis stepped to the window. -“There is a side of Zechariah Baldwin’s -character which you do not appreciate. -There is the finest gift ever made to -the city. Who gave that splendid building -to Elmfield?”</p> - -<p>Before them stood the Elmfield Public -Library, given to the city by the Honorable -Zechariah Baldwin and representing, -with its contents, an expenditure of more -than half a million dollars.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>“You will probably think me a crank, -Stimson,” Sturgis replied, “but I believe -the half million dollars put into that building -had better have gone to the Baldwin -employees. One thousand each, in cash -or in a home, to five hundred workmen, -would have done more good than half a -million in this palatial building, in my -way of thinking. It would be nearer -just.</p> - -<p>“The very fact that the Baldwins have -been able, through the labor of others, -in the paper industry, to pile up millions -and tens of millions, for themselves and -their descendants, while incidentally giving -a few millions in so-called charity, -this very fact, I say, is evidence that they -might have paid their workmen more liberally. -I tell you, Stimson, the time is -coming, though you and I may not live -to see it, when the lion’s share of the -profits in any industry will go, not to the -employer, but to the worker. To accomplish -this it may be necessary for the -government to become the employer.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t that socialism?” asked the smiling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span> -Stimson of his brother of the Bar.</p> - -<p>“I believe that there is something vitally -wrong,” replied Sturgis, “in a system -which permits the employer to pile -up millions, tens of millions, and even -hundreds of millions of dollars, while -the workman, who is making these millions -for him, often receives only a bare -living, and frequently has nothing left -for old age. With apologies to Patrick -Henry, if this be socialism, make the -most of it. Let me remind you of a -very prominent illustration of our present -system. Our government framed its -tariff laws for the special benefit of the -iron and steel industry, it being claimed -that such laws would especially benefit -the workingmen in that industry. Who -received the benefit? More than two -hundred millions of dollars were piled -up in the hands of one man, who is now -trying to unload these millions upon the -public libraries of the country. Without -denying the benefit of public libraries, -that two hundred millions should most -of it have gone to the workingmen who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> -created that wealth. Give the workingmen -of America their just dues, and -there will be no need of private gifts to -libraries. Every community will be -abundantly able to build its own library, -and that will be better than accepting -gifts from men whose wealth rightly -belongs to the people.”</p> - -<p>“Would you deny the right of private -property?” asked Stimson.</p> - -<p>“The right of private property, when -grossly abused, must give way to something -higher,—the public good.”</p> - -<p>“If I stay longer I shall miss another -appointment,” said Stimson. “Your -client will probably receive a check -soon.” And Stimson withdrew.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">JOHN WYCLIFF had made his plans -for remaining in Papyrus. Zechariah -Baldwin had paid the full amount -of John Wycliff’s legal demands. The -latter, through the agency of his friend, -Ford Hulbert, had purchased the Van -Alstyne estate, comprising the old Van -Alstyne homestead, numerous tenements -located in different parts of the town, -and several hundred acres of land on the -outskirts of the town. It was the largest -piece of real estate in Papyrus, except -the Wesson Mills, which the all-devouring -Baldwins had not secured.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had Wycliff moved his family -into the old Van Alstyne homestead, -when all his plans were upset by a letter -from Colonel Lathrop, proposing that he -remove to Emerald Valley, and giving -very substantial reasons for such proposal. -The Colonel wrote in part:—</p> - -<p>“Senator Smith recently died, and -Governor Brown offers me the appointment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> -to the U. S. Senate until the Legislature -meets, when it is reasonably sure -that it will elect me for the remainder of -Senator Smith’s unexpired term. Of -course you will see the wisdom of having -one of the owners of the Rattlesnake -Mine resident here. I am not a statesman. -I am not much of a politician, except -that, in a large measure, I have -footed the bills of my party here. My -claims upon the people are two: First, -as the father of irrigation in this region. -Second, in partnership with yourself, as -one of the owners of the leading gold -mine in this section.</p> - -<p>“I should like to spend a year in the -Millionaires’ Club, at Washington, and -obtain the title of U. S. Senator for my -old age. The Rattlesnake Mine, which -now includes the Dead Open and Shut, -is forging rapidly to the front of all gold-mining -properties in the West, and there -is scarcely a doubt that after I have completed -the late Senator Smith’s term, you -could be elected to succeed me. Money -makes senators, and this is as true of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> -the East as of the West in these days.</p> - -<p>“I remember, as a young man, you -used to be proud of New England. You -used to speak of the New England love -of fair play, and you would grow eloquent -in praise of the New England -conscience. Haven’t you had enough -of New England fair play? Do you -want more of it?</p> - -<p>“I saw a leading Abolitionist dragged -through the streets of Boston. I learned -then where the New England conscience -was, and is. It was, and is, inside the -New England pocket-book. Had slavery -been profitable in New England we -should not have had the Civil War, and -slavery would still be an American institution. -I fought in that war, but I cannot -close my eyes to the truth. There -were soldiers under my command, who, -as Northern laborers, were more to be -pitied than the slaves on the better class -of Southern plantations.</p> - -<p>“I remember a young man—(do you -remember him?)—who was a great admirer -of the Springdale <i>Democrat</i>, which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> -has been called the New England Bible. -It is eloquent, in season and out of season, -in advocating equal rights for the -Southern negro and the Filipino, but -never asks equal rights for the mill-hands -of Papyrus. It does not hesitate to criticise -the President of the United States, -but its millionaire idol, Congressman -Baldwin, is exempt from criticism. Can -you defend this course?</p> - -<p>“Let me urge one consideration which -cannot fail to have weight with you. -Your physician will tell you, much better -than I can, that your son’s chances of living -to a vigorous manhood will be much -improved by coming here. Here, in all -probability, he would reach a rugged -maturity, and here is the mining property -with which he should become familiar, -as he must some day, in the natural course -of events, bear a part in its management.”</p> - -<p>Wycliff had scarcely finished reading -this letter to his wife, when she said:—</p> - -<p>“There are Eva Baldwin and Ralph -Cutter, apparently coming here.” Only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> -a few days before had the newspapers -announced the couple’s engagement.</p> - -<p>“I am told,” said Miss Baldwin, “that -you own the territory to the northward, -known as the Wilderness. There are -reasons, purely sentimental, why I would -like to purchase a portion of it, including -Pulpit Rock. Would you sell it?”</p> - -<p>“I had not intended to sell,” replied -Wycliff. “I had thought of making a -sheep-range of it. At the same time I -intended making paths through it, as our -Robert needs just the exercise which he -could get there. However, if the possession -of a portion of it would give pleasure -to you, I suppose that I ought to sell, provided -my wife agrees.”</p> - -<p>“I have no objection,” said Mrs. Wycliff. -“It seems to me that the Wilderness -is large enough to accommodate both of -us.”</p> - -<p>“We shall probably soon go West for a -time,” said Wycliff, “but my agent, Ford -Hulbert, will attend to the matter. I -think that you and he will have no difficulty. -I believe the day will come, although<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> -not in our time, when there will -be no private ownership of land, it is -subject to so many abuses.”</p> - -<p>“Amen,” exclaimed Ralph Cutter. “I -believe that the Lord made this earth for -the enjoyment of all his people, not to -have its blessings monopolized by a favored -few. Government ownership of -land must come, I believe, although you -and I will probably not live to see it.”</p> - -<p>A little later Miss Boardman and Ford -Hulbert drove up. “I don’t know what -you will think of Lena,” said the gentleman. -“She seems to be getting ambitious, -wants me to buy of you one of the -peaks of Twin Mountain for a summer -residence. I am afraid you will not care -to sell.”</p> - -<p>“It seems likely,” said Wycliff, “that -we shall go west to look after our mining -property, leaving everything here in your -care. I hope we may be able to return -occasionally. If we ever build on Twin -Mountain, I think one peak will be ample -for our use, will it not?” he asked, addressing -his wife.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span>“I hope we may be able to spend some -time here each summer,” Mrs. Wycliff -replied. “If we ever do build on Twin -Mountain it will be very pleasant to have -you there for neighbors.”</p> - -<p>When they had gone Uncle Jerry Barnaby -came to give an account of his stewardship -of Twin Mountain Farm. He -seemed to be hardly the same person as -the woe-begone, long-faced man they -had once known.</p> - -<p>“How is your daughter?” asked Mrs. -Wycliff.</p> - -<p>“You never saw such a change in anyone,” -said Uncle Jerry. “Pet is hardly -the same woman that she was when she -left Papyrus.”</p> - -<p>“What has done it? Our mountain -air?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t wish to run down our mountain -air; the fact is, I’ve seen the time -when you couldn’t run it down with an -express train. But givin’ the mountain -air all the credit that belongs to it, still -it’s those letters from Oregon that have -saved Pet. It’s the old, old story,—‘’Tis<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> -love that makes the world go ’round.’</p> - -<p>“When that first letter came to Pet, -from ’way up in the great Northwest, it -made a little spot of color on Pet’s cheeks -just about as big as the first bit of color -that shows in a rosebud, and that spot, or -that pair of spots, have been growin’ bigger -ever since till now the roses are pretty -much full-blown.”</p> - -<p>“When is he coming?”</p> - -<p>“In a fortnight.”</p> - -<p>“And then?”</p> - -<p>“They will be married, and go to his -home in the Oregon woods. Pet always -did like the woods, and she’ll have woods -a plenty there. He has hundreds of acres -of forest.”</p> - -<p>“Pop,” said Robbie later, as he climbed -on to his father’s knees, by the window, -“see that pretty pony and little cart -coming down the street. Say, Pop, when -I was so sick did you promise me a pony -and a cart, or did I dream it?”</p> - -<p>“I promised,” replied the father, but -now the pony and cart were at the door.</p> - -<p>Still later a very tired boy was resting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> -comfortably in his kind father’s arms.</p> - -<p>“Pop,” he said, “are we really and -truly rich?”</p> - -<p>“It looks like that,” replied the father, -“but I was rich before.”</p> - -<p>“How is that?” asked the boy.</p> - -<p>“Please bring me that old scrap-book, -Robbie.”</p> - -<p>The boy brought it, and the father read -aloud these lines:—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“<i>I have thought myself poor since God withheld</i></div> -<div class="indent"><i>From me His lands and gold,</i></div> -<div class="verse"><i>Forgetting that some of his gifts excelled</i></div> -<div class="indent"><i>Mere wealth a thousand fold.</i></div> -</div> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">“<i>For what is the wealth of the teeming fields</i></div> -<div class="indent"><i>Beside thy love, wife mine?</i></div> -<div class="verse"><i>And measured by joy a child’s love yields</i></div> -<div class="indent"><i>What worth is a golden mine?</i>”</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> -</div></div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORSHIP OF THE GOLDEN CALF ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. -</div> - -<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person -or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the -Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when -you share it without charge with others. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work -on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the -phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: -</div> - -<blockquote> - <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most - other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions - whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms - of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online - at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you - are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws - of the country where you are located before using this eBook. - </div> -</blockquote> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg™ License. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format -other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain -Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -provided that: -</div> - -<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation.” - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ - works. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. - </div> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right -of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread -public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. -</div> - -</div> -</body> -</html> |