The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-02
he case. TIE latter suppOsition time proved


acquainted with him; and found him to be a
singular character. Beneath his stand
he had constructed kind Of closet, which
contained spirit lamp, matrass with bed
ding, few cooking utensils and a small
stock of the panest kind of food. When
the hours for meals arrived, he would light
his lamp. and putting some food over it to
cook, would work until all the rest of the
hands had left the Office, when hewouid sit
down to his frugal repost. He worked inces-
sanity during work hours, hardly leaving the
office unless to purchase food or upon some
errand ofthat kind, and at night when. turn
ed from my meals, invariably found him at
the case working away with all his might,
as if some great issue depended upon the i'm
provement of every minute. | suppose he
slept upon the cot which he keptin his closet;
but as he was always at W Ark when left at
night and when I returned in the morning,
could not positively assert that he did so.
am not very garrulous, especially when en-
ployed at the case, and as he would not first
address me, would not speak to him; so
while the fun and joke were passing around
the other cases, we were silent as the grave
| was not long in discovering that there was
some mystery connected with him, and that
his intense application to labor was not
prompted merely by desire to make money;
for if there is anything in phrenology, Jucg-
ing from the formation of his head, he was
the very one whom would have selected
from score for spendthrirt. Occasionally
his cheek would his eyes light up, and
happy smile overspread his features; then
the smile would 60 away, his eyes would fill
with tears, while an expression of sadness
almost despair-would set itself upon his
countenence have been tempted thousand
times to ask him the cause of this, but as ne
appeared so cold and isolated | refrained
from doing so, as it is not pleasant protterlng
sympathy unaskcd.
"Well, how do you like your neighbor!"
asked one Of the journeymen OF me, as we
were descending the stairs one evening"
"I can hardly make him ont" said l.; che
appears to be strange sort of being. You
are better acquainted with him than /; how
do you like him"
"For my part, hate him, and what is
more, he has not friend in the whole office.
That fellow has been here for three months,
and he has hardly spoken to any one. A
man who makes such bills as he does, and
boards up his money like miser, | have
very little friendship for. We wouldn't any
oc us care so much if he would be little So
ciable and spend dollar, or even dime oc-
casionally; but no-every five cent piece he
gets he hangs on to it as if ne was afraid the
eagle on it would spread his wings and fly
away with it, doing him out of a five cent
piece. But he can't stay here long. We've
insulted him dozen times, and he has less
spunk than think he has if he don't resent
it some day. Well get him into quarrel
then, and have him discharged" ;"
"But," said l, do you know any thing about
his history! He may have some all absorbing
end to accomplish, which is the cause of his
untiring assiduity. You should have little
charity for the fellow, and taking Crocketts
motto. 'be sure you're right, before you 60 a.
head"
"No, we know nothing Of him; and ii
circumstances are as you suppose, it will be
! his own fault, if they are discovered too late
for we have tried often enough to scrape all
acouaintance with him. You had better not
take up on his side ifyou do not wish to in
cur the displeasure of the whole office, Coco
night"
had some charity for the fellow, and was
resolved to see him righted should he ge'
into difficulty. soon saw that he was very
unpopular, and that |, as felt rather dis
posed to make allowances for him was con
sidered as his friend. Many were the Jokes
cracked at our expenses; whenever the "Oua
ker corner'' Gas the place occupied by us hat
been dubbed) was mentioned, an universa
litter ran round the office. These little things
irritated me some, but as | was not the prn
cipal object at whom these arrows were arm
ed, I resolved to forebear and let him be th'
first to speak.
81 saw, fellows" said rowdy looking
customer who went by the name of "Zeke,'
edo Quakers ever have camp-meetings?
eyes," answered another, "they have
camp-meeting over there in Quaker corne
every night. That fellow camps out upon tn
floor every nap he takes
"Well,' said another, "Pve heard
boarding at the market-house, and sleeping
on the bridge, but never saw an Illustration
:. of it before"
"Wonder if they wouldn't take in board
ers!" asked the first speaker, "l'll seeif the
= don't want the rules and regulations of tn
house printed; if they do, I'll board out th'
bill" .......
glanced at my neighbor to see how n
bore his ridicule. His face was flushed an
, his lips firmly compressed as if to chok
A down the rising indignation. But he sal
not word; fancied however, thathe pickc
a up the type faster than usual,
e Things could not 60 on in this way muc
s longer, for as god-like quality as forbeal
: ance is, team not hold out against ever
thing. saw that storm was gathering. an
e prepared to act my part as man when
It burst forth. .
1t was Saturday afternoon; the hands wei
O ranged round the "stone," with their bill
e waiting to be off. "Quaker," happened
d be at one end of the "stone," and immediate
a opposite him, stood "Zeke." AS usuO
is "Quaker" was observed of al! observers
,s and slv whispers which were answered by