"Mamma," cried Nelly, "look out of the window at that big army of men! They are going into the tent." As Nelly approached her mother she saw that there were tears in her eyes. "Are you frightened, mamma?" she inquired. "Do you think they will hurt us?"
"No, Nelly," answered Mrs. Austin; "they are only men from Windham. They are dissatisfied with something the owners of the factories have done, and so have come to the tent to talk it over. They do not want to work until they have their own way. That is what is called 'striking.'"
"Well, then, mamma," inquired Nelly, "if they only mean to talk, why do you feel so badly and cry?"
"Because, dear, years ago, when you were a baby, there was a strike at Windham that ended in a terrible fight, and your papa, who owned one of the factories, was killed and our house burned."
"How dreadful!" said Nelly. "I am so sorry!" Then she kissed her mother softly, and with a very sober face went to the door and peeped out.
The orchard wall ran across one side of the inclosure where the tent was placed. She ran to the wall, and climbing up on top, peeped down upon the assembled workmen. They did not look at all blood-thirsty. Some were even laughing; most of them had their pipes in their mouths, smoking. At a desk on one side of the room stood a man who was talking loudly to those around him. Every now and then Nelly heard the words "injustice," "never give up," "masters and men," but she could make nothing of them.
Week after week the workmen came to the tent, until Nelly grew so accustomed to their meetings that she scarcely noticed them. But one day, about ten weeks after their first meeting, when the strikers were assembled under the tent, they talked so loudly and made so much noise that Nelly clambered upon the orchard wall again, wondering what was going to happen. She noticed that there was no pleasant laughing and talking, as there had been at first; instead of which, the men seemed to Nelly to be scolding and shaking their fists at one another. She tried very hard to make out what they were saying, but as they all spoke at once, she soon found that impossible. But still she sat perched under the apple-tree, until at last all but two of their number got up and went away. These two kept their seats until the rest had disappeared down the road. Then they came just outside of the tent and stood close to Nelly without observing her.
"I will not bear it another day," said one, looking very miserable and angry. "My wife and young ones are starving. Can I stand by and see that? And yet you tell me to have patience!"
"It's all Mr. Willard's fault, Bill," said the other, more quietly. "If he would give in, all the other owners would follow his example. They always do."
"Well, then," answered Bill, shaking his fist, "he shall, if I have to kill him myself."