families. In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, the output of the plant has exceeded all expectations.
Allen and Dora realized that the reason for the increase in production was because the workers were content and enjoyed their work. Dora had drawn heavily on the inheritance from her maternal grandmother for these improvements, which disturbed Allen. He advised her that the textile industry could decline and she might lose her capital, but he admitted Dora knew more about investment than he would ever know, so he didn’t try to persuade her from her decision. Allen faithfully worked alongside her, helping in every way he could.
One afternoon when they were alone in the office, Dora had been checking the mill’s increase in sales during the past six months. Allen was preparing the weekly salaries for the workers when Dora interrupted him. “I’ve got an idea.”
Allen laughed and looked at her fondly, laying his pencil aside. “What now, bright eyes? I wish I had fifty dollars for every time you’ve made that statement since I’ve known you.”
She held up a flyer that had come in the morning’s mail. “This flyer concerns a traveling carnival that will be coming through the southern states this summer. Since the mill has exceeded all previous records for fabric output in the last six months, let’s declare a holiday and arrange for the carnival to come to Fairfield.”
“Sure. Are you going to take care of the financial arrangements?”
“For their own good, the workers need to learn to economize rather than spend all their money as soon as they receive it. Our mill’s salaries are as high as any other mill in the South, so wouldn’t it be fair enough to give them a day off with pay, then they could pay their own way?”
“Absolutely! We don’t want them to take your generosity for granted and start slacking in their work.”
“Here’s what the flyer says about the show. There will be a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and a few other smaller rides. Lots of places to buy cotton candy and other treats. It’s not a very large carnival, but certainly enough to interest our people.”
Always willing to listen to Dora, Allen leaned back in his chair. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”
Within a week, Dora received a response from the carnival owner, who said they would be making a tour of North and South Carolina in two weeks and would enjoy spending a day and night at Asheville.
When she saw how happy the mill workers and their families were to have an opportunity for this recreation, Dora knew she’d made a wise choice. And not only mill workers but hundreds of people from the surrounding region converged on Asheville when the carnival arrived. Not wanting to leave the millsite without some supervision, Allen asked Timothy to stay in the office during the day while he went to the carnival, and he would stay in the evening.
Allen and Dora went to the carnival together. Allen had only intended to be a sightseer, but Dora persuaded him to ride the Ferris wheel and merry-go-round with her. His life hadn’t allowed much time for recreation and he hadn’t intended to go, but Dora had persuaded him. He felt pretty stupid straddling a horse on the merry-go-round, but when lots of other adults were riding, he didn’t feel out of place. More and more, he found himself agreeing to do what Dora wanted, except in one very important situation. He couldn’t actually believe that Dora would marry him, although at times he wondered.
❧
During the time Dora was engrossed in improving living and work conditions in Fairfield, her father was on an extended business tour of Europe. When he came home and learned that Dora had spent most of her grandmother’s inheritance, he was so angry that his friends actually feared he would have a stroke or heart attack. Maude’s sister passed the word on, so Dora wasn’t surprised one day when he stormed into the mill office and confronted her. As he ranted and raved
Allen and Dora realized that the reason for the increase in production was because the workers were content and enjoyed their work. Dora had drawn heavily on the inheritance from her maternal grandmother for these improvements, which disturbed Allen. He advised her that the textile industry could decline and she might lose her capital, but he admitted Dora knew more about investment than he would ever know, so he didn’t try to persuade her from her decision. Allen faithfully worked alongside her, helping in every way he could.
One afternoon when they were alone in the office, Dora had been checking the mill’s increase in sales during the past six months. Allen was preparing the weekly salaries for the workers when Dora interrupted him. “I’ve got an idea.”
Allen laughed and looked at her fondly, laying his pencil aside. “What now, bright eyes? I wish I had fifty dollars for every time you’ve made that statement since I’ve known you.”
She held up a flyer that had come in the morning’s mail. “This flyer concerns a traveling carnival that will be coming through the southern states this summer. Since the mill has exceeded all previous records for fabric output in the last six months, let’s declare a holiday and arrange for the carnival to come to Fairfield.”
“Sure. Are you going to take care of the financial arrangements?”
“For their own good, the workers need to learn to economize rather than spend all their money as soon as they receive it. Our mill’s salaries are as high as any other mill in the South, so wouldn’t it be fair enough to give them a day off with pay, then they could pay their own way?”
“Absolutely! We don’t want them to take your generosity for granted and start slacking in their work.”
“Here’s what the flyer says about the show. There will be a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and a few other smaller rides. Lots of places to buy cotton candy and other treats. It’s not a very large carnival, but certainly enough to interest our people.”
Always willing to listen to Dora, Allen leaned back in his chair. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”
Within a week, Dora received a response from the carnival owner, who said they would be making a tour of North and South Carolina in two weeks and would enjoy spending a day and night at Asheville.
When she saw how happy the mill workers and their families were to have an opportunity for this recreation, Dora knew she’d made a wise choice. And not only mill workers but hundreds of people from the surrounding region converged on Asheville when the carnival arrived. Not wanting to leave the millsite without some supervision, Allen asked Timothy to stay in the office during the day while he went to the carnival, and he would stay in the evening.
Allen and Dora went to the carnival together. Allen had only intended to be a sightseer, but Dora persuaded him to ride the Ferris wheel and merry-go-round with her. His life hadn’t allowed much time for recreation and he hadn’t intended to go, but Dora had persuaded him. He felt pretty stupid straddling a horse on the merry-go-round, but when lots of other adults were riding, he didn’t feel out of place. More and more, he found himself agreeing to do what Dora wanted, except in one very important situation. He couldn’t actually believe that Dora would marry him, although at times he wondered.
❧
During the time Dora was engrossed in improving living and work conditions in Fairfield, her father was on an extended business tour of Europe. When he came home and learned that Dora had spent most of her grandmother’s inheritance, he was so angry that his friends actually feared he would have a stroke or heart attack. Maude’s sister passed the word on, so Dora wasn’t surprised one day when he stormed into the mill office and confronted her. As he ranted and raved
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