Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-11-03
SeIttteb GaIe.
THE CROCK OF GOLD.
BY
MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER,
AUTHOR OF
''PRovERBIAL PHILOSOPHY"
CHAPTER 7.

CHAPTER L.
The Laborer: and his dawning Discomfort.
ROGER AcroN woke at FIVE. II was
a raw March morning, still dark and
bitterly cold, whilst at gusty intervals
the rain beat in against the crazy cot
tage-window. Nevertheless, from his
poor pallet he must up aid rouse him
self, for it will be open weather by
sunrise, and his work lies two miles
of. Master Jennings is not the man
to show him favor IL he be late, and
Roger cannot afford to lose an hour:
so, he shook off the luxury Of sleep,
and rose again 10 toll with weary eff
fort.
"Honest Roger" as the neighbors
called him, was fair specimen of a
class which has been Britain's boast
for ages. and may be still again. in
measure, but at present that glory ap-
pears 10 be departing: a class much
neglected. much enduring; thorough
ly English,-just, industrious, and pa
tent; true to the altar, and loyal TO
the throne; though happily shaken
somewhat now from both those noble
faiths.-warped in their principles,
and blunted in their feelings, by lying
doctrines and harsh economies; class,
II hate the cold cant term,-a race
of honorable men, full Of cares, pains,
priyations-but Of pleasure next TO
none; whose life at its most prosperous
estate is Labor, and in death we count
him happy who did not die a pauper.
Through them, serfs of the soil, the
earth yields indeed her increase, but
tits for others; from the fields Of plen-
ty they CLEAN scanty pittance, and
fill the barns TO bursting while their
children cry for bread. Not that Rog-
er for his part often wanted work; he
was the best hand in the parish, and
had earned of his employers long ago
the name of Steady Acton; but the
fair wages for a fair days labor were
quite another thing. and the times went
very hard for him and his. A man
himselfmay starve. while his industry
makes others fat: and liberal land
lord all the winter through may keep
his laborers in work, whilst crafty
overbeari az bailiff mulcts them in their
wages.
For the outward man, Acton stood
about five feet ten, gaunt, spare, and
sinewy figure, slightly bent; his head
sprinkled with grey; his face marked
with those rigid lines, which tell, if
not Of positive famine, at least Of too
much toll on far too little food; in his
eye patience and good temper; in his
carriage mixture of the sturdy bear
ing, necessary to the habitual exercise
OF great muscular strength, together
with that gait of humility-almost
humiliation, which is the seal of op-
preston upon poverty. He might be
about forty, or from that to fifty, for
hunger, toll, and weather had used him
the toughest; while, for all beside,
the patched and well-worn smock, the
heavily-clouted highlaced boots, din
gy worsted necktye, and an old felt
hat, complete the picture of extern
ais.
But, for thematter ofcharacter with
IN, Roger is quite another man. II
his rank IL this world is the lowest,
many potentates may envy him his
State elsewhere. His heart is as soft
as his hand is horny; with the wan
dering gipsy or the tramping beggar,
thrust aside (perhaps deservedly) a.
impudent imrosters from the rich
mans gate, has ofttimes shared hi:
MONDAY morsel: upright and sincere
himself, he thinks as well of others: b,
scarcely ever heard the Gospels reaC
in church, specially about Eastertide
but the tears would trickle down hi
weather beaten face: he loveschildrer
his neighbOrs' little ones as we'll a
|: his own: he will serve any one fo
goodness sake without reward o
J thanks, and is kind TO the poor duml
cattle: he takes quite pride in hi
little rod or two of garden, and is earl,
! and late at N hofh before and affer III