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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1889)
498 WEST SHORE.' I was considerably stirred up, you see, and I did it. Sho's the dearest girl, and we are to be married at Christmas." The man who carried the intelligence to Red Hill was grim and gaunt with fasting. His step was slow and labored, and his face wore an expression of des pondency pitiful to look upon. It was the same man whom Tom in his early morning walk some weeks be fore had accosted, but tho sunken cheeks told of the fearful ravages of that hopeless wait for succor from starvation. Stumbling through the street, he sank ex hausted on tho steps of his cheerless home. A groan issued from him as the crooning tones of his wife came from within where she tried to dull the cravings of her children's hunger by soothing them to sleep. " Hush, me durlints! Yer father '11 bring ye the bread ye'r cryin' fer, plane (lod. Ve'll have yer fill. Ye was never born to starve." There was a prophetic weirdness in her voice, that not only quieted the clamoring of the thin, feeble voices, but brought a momentary rest to the father's heart. A few minutes later the mother appeared in the door way. One glance and she understood all. " Is it bad news?" she asked, her face gray and wan, but her voice so strong and calm that he turned to look at her. " I was at tho station and saw him myself," he said, gloomily. " Tho mills won't start up again." " Tho wait's alxiut over," said tho woman. "They'll start or we'll die!" Sho had shaded her eyes with her hand and was looking off toward the Millbury road, where arose a cloud of dust. The man, observing her fixed look, turned that way, and saw coming toward them a team. The horse's paco was so furious that the enrriage was thrown from side to side of tho road, in momentary danger of being overturned. Seated in the vehicle was Old Tom. A few sharp, irregular jerks, and the team drew up loforo the watching couple. " Hello!" said Tom, then paused to noto tho effect of his presence in this new role. " D'ye remember wot I told ye? I told ve there was plenty ter eat 'n' drink down yonder, didn't I ?" The man nodded. " V I said ye'd no need ter starve, didn't I ?" Again the man nodded. " l-ook o' me! " said Tom. " I don't go hungry." " How'd yo conic by Hrigham's team?" asked tho man. " llorrered it," answered Tom, showing his great tucks of twth in a grin. " I was walkin' along peace able like, when Mr. Hrigham come out o' the Essex road. There wa'n't 'nough room fer him ter pass, I i'Ke, fer he hit mo over tho head 'ith tho whip. I Intrrered tho team, then. He's lay in' off, 'sleep, I shouldn't wonder, down by Pepxr' pond." Tom'r grimaces as he related his adventures were frightful to behold. His mouth pouted and twisted, his eyes glittered, but ho kept up his steady grin. " It's jest tho same 'ith all o' us. There ain't room 'nough in tho world fer us!" he continued. Tom waited a few minutes, cunningly watching the effect of his words, then, olwerving that the woman seemed alxiut to go in doors, he beckoned the husband and asked " Who's the woman? Yer wife? " "Yes! "shortly. Tom reached under the seat and brought out a large loaf of bread. " Here, woman!" he called, and he tossed the loaf. Like an animal she sprang for it, and catching it up, hugged it to her breast. " God love ye! " she cried, and darted in. " Don't give it to 'em! " called the husband after her. " He's put a spell on it! " " Here! " said Tom, "what are ye a talkin' 'bout? I thought ye had more sense, by yer holdin' out bo agin me. There ain't no sich things as spells. What I does I thinks out, V them that don't think says they're spells." " I don't think they're spells," said the man. "It's the hunger that's weakened me so's I ain't myself." " Eat that! " throwing another loaf. " I allers hev 'nough." " Ye steal it?" said the man, ferociously attacking the bread. Tom grinned. " No matter which way things goes, ye have got 'nough," said tho man. " 'X' ye could, too," said Tom, "V ye wouldn' hear ver chillun a cryin' like that! Ye hold the men back! What d'ye git by it? Nothin'l Wot's it ter ye if some one's killed? Some one's gut ter be killed, 'n' as it's a goin' now ye're the some one. D'ye know why ye are starvin'? It's 'cause ye hain't gut no work! I works! I worked ter-day Y yesterday, Y last night! I works overtime, I does!" He was talking to some one behind the man, who, looking back, observed that his wife had returned and was an attentive listener. " I works in the mills, I do," continued Tom; and then, as the man stopped eating and stared angrily, " Oh, I ain't cuttin' in on yer job! I ain't a workin' fer tho bosses; I'm a workin' fer Tom. I'm a capital ist, I am! " chuckling. " Ye V Missus Dermot, ye al lers goes agin me 'n' gits the men down on me. I want ve ter go 'ith me once. If ve says the word, I'll git nough fer ye all ter eat, Y I'll stop the chillun's cry in, too!" The man hesitated; the woman came down tho steps and whispered. Tom, seeing the wavering, said: " All ye've gut ter do is ter hev the men here ter night. e can tell 'em Tom's goin' ter work a spell. He's a goin ter make night day, Y if night comes day it's a sign as they'll git all they wants ter eat." Still the. man hesitated, rudely pushing away the woman, who had recommenced her whisperings. " What hev ye made by waitin the last month?" continued Tom, in his most persuasive tones. " Ye starved 'cause ye was afraid o' tho law! I'm a lawyer, I am! I'm cverythin', Y I'll tell ye somcthin' as won't cost ye nothin. If a hundred men went down there," pointing toward tho town, " Y took what they wanted ter eat, the oflieeta couldn't do nothin' to 'em if they caught 'em! The officers could on'v tech the leader, Y I'm the leader! That's mob law, that is. Will ye come? " "Yes!" " Tell 'em Old Tom told ye somethin' was a goto' ter happen. Ye'llcome?" " Yes! " repeated the man, and Tom drove away.