The Project Gutenberg eBook of On Strike Till 3 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 www.gutenberg.org. 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. Title: On Strike Till 3 Author: Grant Balfour Release date: August 27, 2010 [eBook #33555] Most recently updated: January 6, 2021 Language: English Credits: Produced by Al Haines, prepared from scans obtained from Internet Archive. *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON STRIKE TILL 3 *** Produced by Al Haines, prepared from scans obtained from Internet Archive. ON STRIKE TILL 3 By GRANT BALFOUR Author of "Canada My Home and Other Poems" "The Fairy School of Castle Frank" &c., &c. TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS 1913 Copyright, Canada, 1913, by J. M. GRANT WHERE UNION DWELT Beside the deep ravine the cottage stood, O'erlooking elm and willow, beech and birch, In growth profuse and wild o'er shady stream: And viewing cedar, oak and towering pine On yonder crest aglow with light. How grand The vision in the greenness of the spring, When birds of blue and scarlet vestments come; The greater glory of the summer time, When twinkling wings outvie the rarest flowers; Or ripeness of the fall, when richest green And gold and red in mass of tapestry Delight the eye. But now the scene is white, Resplendent white. No miser hand hath swept The vale and heights but Nature bountiful Of beauty dazzling pure, the season's own. The spotless path below, meandering midst O'erhanging boughs and drooping plants enwrapped In feathered snow, a reverend scene, appears As if for angels formed, who came to walk This sacred aisle to worship winter's God. The lofty pines that grace the other crest, Enrobed in sparkling splendor, raise their heads In solemn awe to yonder jewelled dome, And offer praise to Him whose temple bright Holds earth and sky. Beneath a frosted birch, Lit up to brilliance by the burnished moon, The shingle cottage stood, a humble home. The labour of the day was done. The lamp Within sent out its yellow rays athwart The silver snow and on the well-washed sheets And other things that hung on lines and told The woman's calling. Work, from dawn of day Till dark, with poor reward. CHRISTMAS EVE 'Twas Christmas Eve. The mother and her little boy (his name Was David Annandale) sat down to read And converse hold before they sought repose. A widow young, with richest auburn hair, Bright hazel eyes 'neath finely arching brows, Teeth of pearl, and sympathetic smile Most sweet. No wonder that her child, a lad Of six, with raven hair and ruddy cheeks, Should find in her alone his heart's desire, His reigning thought, the perfect one. His eyes Lovelit no blemish saw in careworn looks. Her stories, read and told with girlish zeal, Of beaver, bear and wolf, and jet black squirrel, But, best of all, of smiling Santa Claus, Aroused an interest intense. The deep Ravine itself and other themes all passed Beneath her spell. And he, tho' entertained, Was also purified and lifted up. "My mother, dear," he said, "When I'm a man, I'll work and work for you, and buy a castle And a carriage; you will be a lady, And nevermore be tired." Tired himself at last, His eyelids fell. He dreamed a moment deep, Then wide awoke and starting up he wept, And as he sobbed he said, "I've seen my kitten In the cold ravine. Oh, let it in!" This was a kitten lost a while before, A creature in his heart as much as treasure Real or ideal fills the heart Of any ardent man. He ever longed And hoped for its return. And every night The door was opened and the yearning call Went out into the empty air. And every Night he saw the lost one's dish supplied, Which morning found untouched. The mother did Her best to stay his tears, and as she bent And tucked him warm in bed she said that maybe Santa Claus would bring another kitten. "Tie a great big stocking, mother; make it Open wide and warm." She did so, kissed him, And he closed his eyes. One hand alone, Would fill that empty stocking, nor forget A friend or neighbor would come later on, But David's eyes when morning came would look On emptiness, save for mother's hand. Nay, stay,-- At midnight, yea, at midnight, when the moon Was still a silver lamp, a creature poor, Benighted, wandered to the cottage door. Ill-treated, cold, too sick to cry, it looked With wistful eyes beneath the fastened door. Then turned and went aside and trembling climbed The sloping birchen tree and reached the roof. Adown the chimney peered, then slowly crept, Then fell. It lay upon the hearth a time. But lured, it lapped the milk, and, strengthened, strove To climb into the little sleeper's cot. It strove but failed, and, guided by a gentle Hand, it fell at last into the open Stocking, head above, and finding comfort, Softly purred and slept. Ah, sleeping boy, Thou dreamest not the joy awaiting thee-- The empty place within thy heart shall soon Be filled, thy grief assuaged, thy hot tears dried. 'Tis little value--but 'tis much to thee-- Because thy love is wrapped up there, and love Is value's measure in the heart of rich And poor. The boy awoke and rubbed his eyes. The sun had risen o'er the grand ravine, A silver scene, and sent its slanting rays Of gold beneath the blind, across the cot. He waited not, but crept along and looked Below. Two eyes looked up. A moment mutual Magnetized, transfixed! He drew the creature From its woollen bed, he kissed it,--pressed it To his cheek--and wept for joy. The mother Woke. The midnight "gift" was seen and gladly Welcomed home while David slept, and now She also wept for joy. No home was happier On that Christmas morn. No gift was costlier Than the gift that meant the wasted worthless Waif's return. [Illustration: "Magnetized"] THE LURKING FOE Till early spring (too soon), While David went to school, and learned well, The widow bravely labored on 'mid frost And snow and storm, thro' strain of overwork And worse. Inhaled, mayhap, from matter bad, Close-handled in her calling (who can trace The lurking venom foe?) the wasting plague Had found a cruel lodgment in her breast. "One hope remains," the kind physician said-- Who made no charge for visits not a few-- "'Tis institutional treatment where the air Is light and pure, where food is plentiful, And rest abounds." The parting wrench was sore. The mother hid her grief and tears, and smiled, But David wept without restraint. A farming Couple sympathetic offered refuge For awhile, and when he went away (His kitten in a basket 'neath his arm), His heart was heavy--for the sun was down, The world was dark. But five months' treatment free Was great and good, and David's mother seemed To be restored to health, for strength was there And color beautiful. 'Twas not enough, Tho' all that could be given, that other waiting Sufferers might have a chance to live. With rest at home the healing work begun Would one day be complete. Ye men of wealth, And all that generous give, with all that halt, Herein your golden opportunity Doth lie. A home you have prepared for them That leave the prison cell, and this is well. But what awaits the convalescent widow And the orphan, fighting off the wasting plague? Suspicion--dread--a refuge craved for vainly Here and there--a battle hopeless, lost. Awake, awake! Oh, give the shelter sure A child would give to any famished waif! Oh, wake, compassion, wake! When David, big With joy, returned, the wind sang in the trees, The flowers, red and white, a welcome smiled, The cottage seemed to be a prince's home, And mother in her loveliness a queen, While in the mother's eyes her child appeared As if a shepherd lad, he looked so strong, So lithe, and ruddy. But the only flock That David had consisted of a kitten, Now a cat renowned of tiger-stripe And fat. And once again the cottage-home Gave foretaste of the other, deathless, pure, And glad, for love was there. With quenchless hope The happy widow bravely bent her shoulders To the yoke again. She had her boy To live for, work for, love, and he would be A man some day, and strong, when she would lean On him as he had leaned on her. And yet The yoke was heavy, and grew heavier As vigour waned. In spite of hope and will She craved for rest. Or even if the wage Were better, labour could be lessened And give more of rest. ON STRIKE One day some workmen Struck for better pay. And David wondered What it meant to strike. "What is it, mother?-- Do they hit the men that give them work?" The mother smiled. "No, no, my child, they merely Rest or cease from work to force their masters Into giving better pay to get them Back to work." A happy thought now seized him-- "Oh, mother, strike, and then the people sure Will give you better pay." The mother smiled, But sighed and said, "My darling boy, if I Should strike, a score of women poor are ready, Even glad, to take my place, perchance for less." The boy was disappointed, and his heart Was sad. But "strike," that odd word strike, as meaning Rest from work, or stopping work, clung fast To David's mind. Apart from better pay He thought that something good remained, and so At night, the last thing done before he slept, The boy would often take his board, a blackboard Big, and chalk in letters large and white-- "On strike till 7," "On strike till 6," "On strike Till 5," according as his mother's work Required, or strength could stand. The metal clock, A loud alarum, was also wound and set. At this the mother always smiled, but when Her treasure's eyes were closed in sleep she wept. She dared not bend and kiss those cherub lips. His lovely face grew paler day by day, And dread, an awful dread, laid hold of her. And she herself was wasting swift and sure-- The candle flame was burning low. ANOTHER CHRISTMAS Two nights, not more, before the Christmas eve, A heap of things for washing lay against The wall. Alas, at any time too great, The present task might break the weary back, But Christmas need was pressing and the labour Must be done. (Oh, spare that wasted frame! Hear, O Lord, the widow's cry!) The weary, yet the watchful boy, His blackboard took and wrote in letters big And urgent, seeming charged with meaning strange. And the clock's alarum was set. And now On bended knee beside his mother's knee He spoke his simple prayer, pleading lastly That his mother might have better wages And have rest. And, oh, the mother's heart Went with him, with himself before the throne, Forgetful, ay entirely, of herself. A wild temptation seized her. She would clasp, Yea, fiercely hug, that wasted angel-body To her breast, and kiss those guileless, beauteous, Sweetest lips. Alas! she knew the worst Had come--those eyes, uplifted, hollow, shining, Spoke of death. And why refrain? She would not, Yea, she drank the cup of pleasure to the full. The child was glad, and went to rest, A smile of heaven on his lips. And now the mother satisfied, as one With strongest wine, rose up, and ope'd the door. She looked abroad a moment, then went out Into the silent air. The deep ravine Was glorious white. The mighty pines were robed As if prepared to sing in heaven's choir On earth, when strong the northern tempest blew. The widow, vigour getting for a little From the frosty air, admired the scene, And lifting up her eyes to sparkling worlds Above, she felt assured, though human help And pity wholly failed, that somewhere, sometime, There was plenteous rest. And yet she thanked And praised the Power that good and evil gave, For one brief cup of pleasure, if no more-- Her pleasure in her darling boy. "Take him, O Lord, whatever portion mine." The tension loosed, The stricken widow turned, yet ere she turned She scanned the northern shore of brilliant night, And, lo, a mountain mass of tempest clouds Lined up for battle with the sleeping south. The woman, fearless, smiled as if in kinship With the coming storm. But having struggled, spoken, Pleaded strong, her transient vigour gone, She stumbled to the door and entered in. Beside the bed, she saw the letters written On the board, as if the sacred writing On the wall. She saw the slender lovely hand Exposed that wrote them, and she bowed and kissed it, But she could not weep. Ere midnight came, The child awoke, disturbed, and anxious said, "Oh, mother dear, what is that awful sound?" "My darling, 'tis the sighing of the wind Among the pines." But swifter sped the tempest, Swifter, and the pines--they bowed their heads Before the blast and sang. The cedars high And oaks together answered back in song, And louder, louder, as if thunder grand, The tempest bell of music rang. The boy Awoke again, and feebly cried--"Oh, mother, I'm afraid--what is that dreadful sound?" "My darling, fear not, 'tis the voice of God-- He leads the choir. And he remembers you And me." "Oh, mother, take me in beside you, I'm afraid of God, but Jesus"--Here he stopped. He struggled till he got in part athwart The cot. And as his wearied head sank down He whispered faintly, and there came a broken Answer, whispering--"Near me, nearer, darling"-- That was all. The storm, the mother's music. But the child's affright, attained its height. Then sudden rang the loud alarum. But They heard it not. * * * * * There was once a manger, Once a cross, and both by man despised. But God hath both exalted high. And once A lonely cottage lowly, overlooked By men. But God on it had mercy. Tho' He seemed to be in wrath. [Illustration: "The morning saw her come"] Three wise men Did not come, nor one. A child, a girl With golden hair and gray-blue laughing eyes, A furtive playmate of the boy, with stress Walked through the spotless wreaths of snow. The morning Saw her come, when all was still. No lock Debarred her, and she entered, having knocked. She saw the writing on the blackboard big, Against the wall, in trembling chalk-- "ON STRIKE TILL 3" And duly signed by David Annandale. She saw the mother's snow-white face upturned To heaven. She saw the raven locks of David Strewn upon her breast. And saw his face-- 'Twas also white as snow. The tragic scene Was quickly seen. She stood amazed a moment, Then approached, uncertain, all atremble. And she softly pressed her playmate's brow. The chill of death went thro' her, and she gave A piercing cry and fled. Of Christmas Day, Next day but one, the pretty child had come To speak and childlike tell of something fine She was to bring. But that great day of countless Happy homes would see the cottage empty. Nature, nature's God, in mercy stayed The stricken widow's ill-paid, weary labour. She had gone on strike, as David said, And she had taken her darling with her. *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON STRIKE TILL 3 *** Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed. 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