She came of a family who considered
these poor people little better than cattle. Nan Sherwood was so
much interested in the poster that she saw nothing else. It
read:
NOTICE: Two weeks from date all departments of these mills will
be closed until further notice. Final payment of wages due will
be made on January 15th. Over-supply of our market and the
prohibitive price of cotton make this action a necessity.
ATWATER MILLS COMPANY. December 28th.
"Why, dear me!" murmured Bess. "I thought it might really be
something terrible. Come on, Nan. It's only a notice of a
vacation. I guess most of them will be glad to rest awhile."
"And who is going to pay for their bread and butter while the
poor creatures are resting?" asked Nan seriously, as the two
girls moved away from the group before the yellow poster.
"Dear me, Nan!" her chum cried. "You do always think of the most
dreadful things. It troubles me to know anything about poverty
and poor people. I can't help them, and I don't want to know
anything about them."
"If I didn't know that you are better than your talk, Bess," said
Nan, still gravely, "I'd think you a most callous person. You
just don't understand. These poor people have been fearing this
shut-down for months.
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