Margaret’s abundance was certainly not that of money, for she had been forced into taking “slop-work” from the factories, at forty-five cents per dozen for men’s hickory shirts and fifty cents per dozen pairs for men’s overalls. The winter’s indebtedness was draining the greater share of Elsie’s abundant wages, and Gilbert’s expenses at the training school were already eating into the carefully-guarded one hundred dollars that had been sent by Dr. Ely. It was evident that what help Margaret gave could only be that of interest and suggestion. But how to make suggestion inoffensive, and how to stimulate ambition without arousing antagonism, were questions which puzzled her not a little.
One Saturday morning, returning from the factory with her arms laden with work, she stopped at the doors of the various rooms on her way up-stairs and asked that all the children who were large enough to climb the stairs be sent to her rooms in half an hour.
How joyfully they swarmed the halls long before the appointed time, and what a time Margaret had counting them! Forty-eight above five years and the eldest not above nine. “How many go to school?” she asked as she ranged them along the wall.
Fourteen little hands were raised; of these eight were boys.
“Now, boys,” she exclaimed, “I’m going to begin with you. What do you like best, or would like best, if you could have your wish?”
The answers varied from peg-tops to balloons and locomotives.
“How many hours do you have out of school?”
“School’s out at four.”
“Till half-after six, then—two good hours. Now, how many are willing to work to earn money?” Every hand went up. “Well, after four o’clock to-night I want you to come up again to see my brother Gilbert. He has fitted up a work-bench in one of the rooms, and those of you who are willing to work, and work hard, for two straight hours a day, can earn some money by and by. It will not be so much fun, perhaps, as racing through the halls, sliding down the stairs, or playing out in the street; but it will buy the peg-tops and locomotives one of these days, and there isn’t much in this world we can have without paying for it in one way or another. Are you all agreed?”
“You bet!” came the unanimous response. Margaret smiled as she turned to the girls.