Well, before we had finished our luncheon I had every line ironed
from the brow of that poor plagued rich man, I had brought jolly
crinkles to the corners of his eyes, and once or twice I had him
chuckling down deep inside (Where chuckles are truly effective).
Talk about cheering up the poor: I think the rich are usually far
more in need of it!
But I couldn't keep the conversation in these delightful
channels. Evidently the strike and all that it meant lay heavy
upon Mr. Vedder's consciousness, for he pushed back his coffee
and began talking about it, almost in a tone of apology. He told
me how kind he had tried to make the mill management in its
dealings with its men.
"I would not speak of it save in explanation of our true attitude
of helpfulness; but we have really given our men many
advantages"--and he told me of the reading-room the company had
established, of the visiting nurse they had employed, and of
several other excellent enterprises, which gave only another
proof of what I knew already of Mr. Vedder's sincere kindness of
heart.
"But," he said, "we find they don't appreciate what we try to do
for them."
I laughed outright.
"Why," I exclaimed, "you are having the same trouble I have had!"
"How's that?" he inquired, I thought a little sharply.
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