No more tender and devoted7 nurses could be found than the rough women, who hushed their voices, and stole with quiet feet around the little beds, letting fall many a silent tear when the sufferer asked for little things, for tea or lemonade, which there were no means to purchase, or when the doctor shook his head and said that good food and not medicine was needed.
The pitmen themselves would saunter aimlessly in and out of the houses, so changed from the cottages well [Pg 97]stocked with furniture, with gay-coloured pictures on the wall, an eight-day clock, and many another little valuable, and all gone one after another. Very many of them lived upon the scantiest8 allowance of dry bread which would keep life together, in order that the allowance might all go for the children, retaining as their sole luxury a penny or two a week for the purchase of a pipe or two of tobacco daily. Had it not been for the soup-kitchen scores of children would have died, but the pint9 of soup and the slice of bread enabled them to live.
There was no talk of surrender yet, although compromises, which would at first have been indignantly rejected, were now discussed, and a deputation had waited upon Mr. Brook10, but the owner refused to enter into any compromise.
"No, never," he said; "you have chosen to join the hands of the other pits in an endeavour to force your employers into giving you a higher rate of wages than they can afford to pay. I, therefore, have joined the other employers. We know, what you cannot know, what are our expenses, and what we can afford to pay, and we will accept no dictation whatever from the men as to their rate of wages. If I prefer, as I do prefer, that the colliery should stand idle, to raising your rate of wages, it is a clear proof that I should lose money if I agreed to your demand. If needs be I would rather that the pit was closed for a year, or for ten years. We have bound ourselves together to make [Pg 98]no advance, just as you have bound yourselves not to go to work at the old rate. When you choose to go in at that rate there are your places ready for you, but I will give way in no single point, I will not pay a halfpenny a ton more than before. You best know how long you can hold out. Don't let it be too long, lads, for the sake of your wives and children; remember that the time may come, when, thinking over some empty chair, recalling some little face you will never see again, you will curse your folly11 and obstinacy12 in ruining your homes, and destroying those dependent upon you in a struggle in which it was from the first certain that you could not win, and in which, even if you won, the amount at stake is not worth one day of the suffering which you are inflicting13 upon those you love."
Left to themselves the men would have much sooner given in, would indeed never have embarked14 on the strike, but the influence of the union being over them, they feared to be called "black sheep," and to be taunted15 with deserting the general cause, and so the strike went on.
The tale of the suffering over the wide district affected16 by the strike was told through the land, and the subscriptions of the benevolent17 flowed in. Public opinion was, however, strongly opposed to the strike, and for the most part the money was subscribed18 wholly for soup-kitchen, for children, and for relief of the sick. But the area was wide, there were scores of villages [Pg 99]as badly off as Stokebridge, and the share of each of the general fund was very small. A local committee was formed, of which the vicar was at the head, for the management of the funds, and for organizing a body of nurses. All the women who had no children of their own were enrolled19 upon its lists, and many of the girls of the sewing-class volunteered their services.
No one during this sad time devoted herself more untiringly and devotedly20 than Nelly Hardy21. The quiet manner, the steady and resolute22 face, rendered her an excellent nurse, and as her father and mother were, perforce, sober, she could devote her whole time to the work. A portion of the funds was devoted to the preparation of the articles of food and drink necessary for the sick, and the kitchen of the schoolroom was freely employed in making milk-puddings, barley-water, and other things which brought pleasure and alleviation23 to the parched24 little lips for which they were intended.
The distress25 grew daily more intense. The small traders could no longer give credit; the pawnbrokers26 were so overburdened with household goods that they were obliged absolutely to decline to receive more; the doctors were worn out with work; the guardians27 of the poor were nearly beside themselves in their efforts to face the frightful28 distress prevailing29; and the charitable committee, aided as they were by subscriptions from without, could still do but little in comparison to the great need. Jane Haden and the other women [Pg 100]without families, did their best to help nurse in the houses where sickness was rife30. The children were mere31 shadows, and the men and women, although far less reduced, were yet worn and wasted by want of food. And still the strike went on, still the men held out against the reduction. Some of the masters had brought men from other parts, and these had to be guarded to and from their work by strong bodies of police, and several serious encounters had taken place. Some of the hands were wavering now, but the party of resistance grew more and more violent, and the waverers dared not raise their voices. The delegates of the union went about holding meetings, and assuring their hearers that the masters were on the point of being beaten, and must give way; but they were listened to in sullen32 and gloomy silence by the men. Then came muttered threats and secret gatherings33; and then Jane Haden, obedient to her promise, but very doubtful as to its wisdom, posted the letter Jack34 had left with her.
It was three o'clock next day before he arrived, for he had not received the letter until he went out for his breakfast, and he had to go back to his work and ask to be allowed to go away for the afternoon on particular business, for which he was wanted at home.
"Well, mother, what is it?" was his first question on entering.
"I oughtn't to tell 'ee, Jack; and I do believe Bill would kill me if he knew."
[Pg 101]
"He won't know, mother, and you must tell me," Jack said quietly.
"Well, my boy, yesterday afternoon Bill came in here with eight or ten others. I were upstairs, but I suppose they thought I were out, and as I did not want to disturb 'em, and was pretty nigh worn out—I had been up three nights with Betsy Mullin's girl—I sat down and nigh dozed35 off. The door was open, and I could hear what they said downstairs when they spoke36 loud. At first they talked low, and I didn't heed37 what they were saying; then I heard a word or two which frighted me, and then I got up and went quiet to my door and listened. Jack, they are going to wreck38 the engines, so as to stop the pumping and drown the mines. They are going to do for the 'Vaughan,' and the 'Hill Side,' and 'Thorns,' and the 'Little Shaft39,' and 'Vale.' It's to be done to-night, and they begin with the 'Vaughan' at ten o'clock, 'cause it's closest, I suppose."
"They are mad," Jack said sternly. "How are they to earn bread if they flood the mines? and it will end by a lot of them being sent to jail for years. But I'll stop it if it costs me my life."
"Oh, Jack! don't 'ee do anything rash," Mrs. Haden said piteously. "What can one lad do against two or three hundred men?"
"Now, mother," Jack said promptly40, not heeding41 her appeal, "what police are there within reach?"
"The police were all sent away yesterday to Bamp[Pg 102]ton. There were riots there, I heard say. That's why they chose to-night."
"Now the first thing, mother, is to prevent dad from going out to-night. He must be kept out of it, whatever others do. I've brought a bottle of gin from Birmingham. Tell him I've come over for an hour or two to see schoolmaster, and I'm going back again afterwards, but I've brought him this as a present. Get the cork42 out; he's sure to drink a glass or two anyhow, perhaps more, but it will send him off to sleep, sure enough. It's the strongest I could get, and he's out of the way of drink now. I don't suppose they'll miss him when they start; but if any one comes round for him, you tell 'em I brought him some Old Tom over, and that he's so dead sleepy he can't move. Later on, if you can, get some woman or child to come in, and let them see him, so that there'll be a witness he was at home when the thing came off, that'll make him safe. I've thought it all over."
"But what be'est thou going to do, Jack?"
"Don't mind me, mother. I'm going to save the Vaughan colliery. Don't you fret43 about me; all you've got to do is to make dad drink, which ain't a difficult job, and to stick to the story that I have been over for an hour to see schoolmaster. Good-bye, mother. Don't fret; it will all come out right."
As Jack went down the street he tapped at the door of his friend's house.
[Pg 103]
Harry was in, and came out at once.
"How's Annie?" was Jack's first question.
"Better, much better, Jack; the doctor thinks she'll do now. The broth45 put fresh life into her; we're all better, Jack, thanks to you."
"That's all right, Harry. Put on your cap and walk with me to the schoolroom. Now," he went on, as his friend rejoined him, and they turned up the street, "will you do a job for me?"
"Anything in the world, Jack—leastways, anything I can."
"You may risk your life, Harry."
"All right, Jack, I'll risk it willing for you. You risked yours for me at the old shaft."
"Dost know what's going to be done to-night Harry?"
"I've heard summat about it."
"It must be stopped, Harry, if it costs you and me our lives. What's that when the whole district depends upon it? If they wreck the engines and flood the mines there will be no work for months; and what's to become of the women and children then? I'm going to Mr. Merton to tell him, and to get him to write a letter to Sir John Butler—Brook's place would be watched—he's the nearest magistrate46, and the most active about here, and won't let the grass grow under his feet by all accounts. The letter must tell him of the attack that is to be made to-night, and ask him to send for the soldiers, if no police can be [Pg 104]had. I want you to take the letter, Harry. Go out the other side of the village and make a long sweep round. Don't get into the road till you get a full mile out of the place. Then go as hard as you can till you get to Butler's. Insist on seeing him yourself; say it's a question of life and death. If he's out, you must go on to Hooper—he's the next magistrate. When you have delivered the letter, slip off home and go to bed, and never let out all your life that you took that letter."
"All right, Jack; but what be'est thou going to do?"
"I'm going another way, lad; I've got my work too. You'd best stop here, Harry; I will bring the letter to you. It may get out some day that Merton wrote it, and it's as well you shouldn't be seen near his place."
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1
subscriptions
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| n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助 | |
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2
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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4
prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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5
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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6
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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7
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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8
scantiest
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| adj.（大小或数量）不足的，勉强够的( scanty的最高级 ) | |
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9
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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10
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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11
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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12
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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13
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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14
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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15
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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16
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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17
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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18
subscribed
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| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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19
enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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20
devotedly
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| 专心地； 恩爱地； 忠实地； 一心一意地 | |
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21
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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22
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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23
alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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24
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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26
pawnbrokers
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| n.当铺老板( pawnbroker的名词复数 ) | |
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27
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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28
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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29
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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30
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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31
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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32
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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33
gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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34
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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35
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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37
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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38
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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39
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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40
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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41
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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42
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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43
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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44
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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45
broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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46
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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