The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-01-26
CHAPTER. XIV.
TRouBLEs or RuxAwAr AppaEsricr.

Noobl1Es of' A RUNAWAY APPRENTICE.
What lock, Ike = was the first salatation Imet
from my two felIow-runaways
None at ALL replied, despondngly,
his is rather a poor Kind Of business. TIM
thinking said Bill with an effort TO seem indifer-
ent. But could see that he WIS far from being
easy in mind.
Poor enough,' I said, as fur as have had any
thing to do with it. I wish was safely buck in
Baltimore again.
Well, l eah't just say that do,' replied Tom
Pm FREQ man, now. and free Pm determined to
remaia I'm going to quit the trade, whut do you
think of that =
'Going to quit the tade,e said, in surprise
Well, and what thenl'
WHY, mean to go to sea for there is no
chance of getting work here. Every boss shoe
maker in the place suspects me Of being run
away apprentice, and won't have any thing to do
with me.'
But how are you going 10 get on board of a
vessel?' asked.
That's easy enough. A schooner sails from
here to-morro,s for Norfolk; and the captain saws
ne will give me passage down; and when opce.
there, he says, there will be chances enough to
get to sea, either in the United States or mer-
chant service want Bill TO go, but he's afraid
of salt water. Won't you go? I think I can gst
you passage down.
To this | shook my head. 1 never Ind much
idea of going 10 sea. And what Gre you going to
do; BiE?' usked
Ne p he said, with a slight uneasy emotion.
Why-why-seei no chance of getting any
work here for every boss that I've been to see will
have nothing to do with me have agreed to
keep bar in tavern
Keep bar?'f said, in surprise; for bad as was,
4 had always thought it degrading to mix liquor
for every drunken felIowadl worthless negro
It's fact said Bill, rather sadly !. l never
thought would come to this, but l must do it or
starve.'
.iWhen do you begin 2 asked.
sPThe present bar-keeper has become SO worth
then shall commence
as You'd better 60 with me- said Tom.
Bill shook his head.
Suppose we all go back said 1.
Never 2 replied Tom, emphatically, and,
Never added Bill, with less heartiness.
After wandering about for while, we went
down to the wharf on the Potomac, where lay the
vessel in which Tom was to sail for Norfolk. The
captain, who seemed to have taken liking to him,
wanted US all to stay to dinner. After This was
over, we Shook haf1s with Tom, who was to leave
in the morning, aud Bill and went back to the
city, little melancholy at parting with an old
companion, and at the doubtful prospect before u.s.
As we entered the city, near the market-house.
Bill pointed to sign before low dirty looking
grog-shep, on which were the words. LAFAr-
EfrE HoTEL AND TRAvELLER's RETREAT
That's the place. he said
What place p asked, for I d not under
stasd him.
Why the tavern where am going.
Don't cali that a tarVern, Bill ssd I. Its
no'hiog but a low, mean, dirty grog-shop.'
'Well That's the place he said, any how
You know the old copy The master set US ut plight
schoo, 81 Necessity knows 10 law.
| did not rerly,, fer felt tco bad In few
moments we We're al the door. and went in with
him. The appearance here was eyen worse than
it was outside. The room was small, with acouu-
ter nnd lattice work on one side. A row of decan-
ters occupied one shelf, and below this were three
barrels, marked .WnlskEr.' ,BRASDY, and RUN.
The upper shelves behind the counter We're filled
with medly that it wonld be hard Ito describe.
There were apples, cakes, herrings, onions, and
tumblers containing marbles, slate pencils, thin.
bles, &c. In the window We're several deeuuters
of liquor, with lemons, between them; some cakes
and some herrings. AT the end of the row of
shelves hung several strings of onions. This was
the tarveyn! The inmates consisted of red faced
man behind the counter, who greeted Bill as we
entered with n kind word and a smile--two men
playing dominos at a lab!e-a negro drinking at
the counter, ind a man half drunk, lounainy upon
bench. The fumes of the place, at first, made
me feel sick; but in little while could breathe
the air more freely. The keeper of the shop
drew US some liquor, and after had taken glass,
= began to feel much happier than had bsos Nor
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