human
What you think of it? Real diamond horseshoe nails--what say?
gpt
Now, Captain, sit down here, said Mr. Brotherton.
human
You'll do, Captain--you'll do. But the subject nearest the big man's heart would not leave it.
gpt
Cap, he said,
human
That's just it, put in the Captain.
gpt
That's just what I said to Emmy this morning. I was out to see her after you left and stayed until Laura Van Dorn came and chased me off. Emmy's mighty happy, George--mighty, mighty happy--eh? Her mother always was that way. I was the one that was scared. George nodded assent.
human
But to-day--well, we just sat there and cried--she's so happy about it--eh? Wimmin, George, ain't scared a bit. I know 'em. I've been in their kitchins for thirty years, George, and let me tell you somepin funny, continued the Captain.
gpt
Old Ahab Wright has taken to smoking in public to get the liberal vote! Let me tell you somepin else. They've decided to put the skids under Grant Adams and his gang down in the Valley, and the other day they ran into a snag. You know Calvin & Calvin are representing the owners since Tom's got this life job, though he's got all his money invested down there and still advises 'em. Well, anyway, they decided to put a barbed-wire trocha around all the mines and the factories. Well, four carloads of wire and posts shows up down in the Valley this week, and, 'y gory, man,--they can't get a carpenter in town or down there to touch it. Grant's got 'em sewed up. But Tom says he'll fix 'em one of these days, if they get before him in his court--what say?
human
I suppose he will, Captain, replied Mr. Brotherton, and took up his theme.
gpt
But getting back to the subject of children--I've been talking all morning about 'em to all kinds of folks, and I've decided the country's for 'em. Children, Cap, Mr. Brotherton rose, put on his coat and took the Captain's arm,
human
he repeated, as they reached the sidewalk and were starting for the street car,
gpt
Say, Grant, called Brotherton,
human
Oh, smiled Grant,
gpt
I've just about settled it. The boys will begin on it this afternoon. A lot of them were angry when they heard what the owners were up to, but I said, 'Here: we've got justice on our side. We claim a partnership interest in all those mines and factories down there. We contend that we who labor there now are the legatees of all the labor that's been killed and maimed and cheated by long hours and low wages down in the Valley for thirty years, and if we have a partnership right in those mines and factories, it's our business to protect them.' So I talked the boys into putting up the trocha. I tell you, George, said Grant, and the tremor of emotion strained his voice as he spoke,
human
Ah--you're crazy, Grant, snapped the Captain.
gpt
This class of people down here--these ignorant foreigners--why, they couldn't run a peanut stand--eh?
human
Well, Benny, we got here in time for the car! Then craning his long neck, the father laughed:
gpt
Ben, here's a laboring man and his shift goes on at one--so he's in a hurry, but we'll make it.
human
Dick, began Brotherton, looking at the thin shadow of a man who was hardly Brotherton's elder by half a dozen years.
gpt
Dick, you're a kind of expert father, you and Joe Calvin, and to-day Joe's a granddaddy--tell me about the kiddies--are they worth it?
human
Not for us--not for us poor--maybe for you people here, said Bowman, who paused and counted on his fingers:
gpt
Eight born, three dead--that's too many. Joe Calvin, he's raised all his and they're doing fairly well. That's his girl in here--ain't it? Bowman sighed.
human
Her and my Jean played together back in their little days; before we moved to South Harvey.
gpt
George, mother hasn't heard from Jean for going on two year, now. She went off with a fellow; told us she married him--she was just a child--but had been working around in the factories--and, well, I don't say so, but I guess she just has got where she's ashamed to write--maybe.
human
Why didn't she have a show, like this girl of Joe's? He's no better than I. And you know my wife--well, she's no Mrs. Joe Calvin--she's been as happy about 'em when they came as if they were princes of the blood.
gpt
Then there's Mugs--I dunno, George,--it seems like we tried with Mugs, but all them saloons and--well, the gambling and the women under his nose from the time he was ten years old--well, I can't make him work. Little Jack is steady enough for a boy of twenty--he's in the Company mines, and we've put Ben in this year. He is twelve--though, for Heaven's sake, don't go blabbing it; he's supposed to be fourteen. And little Betty, she's in school yet. I don't know how she'll turn out. No, George, he went on,
human
he smiled reflectively,
gpt
I'm right here to tell you they're lots of fun as little shavers--growing up. Why, George, you ought to hear Benny sing. Them Copinis of the Hot Dog found he had a voice, and they've taught him some dago songs.