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210 admitting it may be a wrong principle,—it does n't seem the most worthy act for others to step in and invalidate their sacrifice. The law that is often heard quoted among workmen has almost the moral force of a commandment from the Decalogue—'Thou shalt not take thy neighbor's job.'"

In closing he admitted that other employers of labor might not subscribe to such leniency. "It will be said doubtless that I write as one who has never had experience of the horrors of a protracted strike. I cannot regret my immunity. It is a satisfaction to me to feel that while I have been tolerably successful in business, I have never been obliged to quell a spirit of discontent among my men. I have found that if one yields to human nature's just demands, and makes only just demands of it, human nature will respond. And I hope and believe that in the years that are left to me I shall never be led to adopt a more rigorous policy toward my men or they to decline in their friendly feeling toward me."

Floyd, after he had finished reading the article, did not for some moments raise his eyes from the magazine, though he was aware that his grandfather was eagerly awaiting his comment. He was trying to think how he could disguise his opinion that the essay was most unfortunate and indiscreet. At last he looked up with a smile.

"Well, Grandfather," he said, "you've come out pretty strong."

"Not a bit too strong," replied Colonel Halket. "If, after all my years of life, I ever had a message to the world, that comes pretty near being it." He spoke with the gayety of a man who has really freed himself from a burden. "But what do you think of the way it's written, Floyd? Doesn't that quotation from Tennyson come in pretty pat?"

"First-rate," Floyd admitted, and his grandfather laughed with a proud pleasure. "But why did n't you let