Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-01-21
LIFE AMONG THE POTTERIES.
From ''A1rs. LirriL er's lodgings" By Charle
Dickens.

dislike 10 near a plaln statement OF facts from
me. Some of those facts lie beyond my I'M
derstanding. | do not pretend to explain
them | only know that they happened as |
relate them, and that pledge myself for the
truth of every word of them.
| began life roughly enough, down among
the potteries | was an orphan; and my ear
Hest recollections are of a great porcelain
mandatory in the country of the potteries
where | helped about the yard, picked up
what half-pence fell in my way, and slept in
the harness-loft over the stable. Those were
hard times; but things bettered themselves
as grew older and stronger, especially after
George Barnard had come to be foreman of
the yard.
George Barnard was a Wesleyan-we were
mostly disSenters i'll the potteres-sober,
clear-headed, somewhat sulky and silent, but
good fellow every inch of him, and my best
friend at the time when | most needed good
friend. He took me out of the yard, and set
me to the furnace work. He entered me on
the books at fixed rate of wages He help
ed me to pay for little cheap schooling four
nights a week and he led me to go with him
on Sundays to the chapel down by the river
side, where first saw Leah Payne. She was
his sweetheart, and so pretty that | used to
forget the preacher and everybody else, when
| looked ut her. When she Joined in the
singing, | heard no voice but hers. If she
asked me for the hym-book, | used to blush
and tremble. | believe | worshipped her, in
my stupid, ignorant way; and think | wor-
shipped Barnard almost rs bindly, though af
ter different fashion. | felt | owed him ev-
erything. | knew that he had saved me-
body and mind and | looked upon him as a
savage might look upon Il missionary
Leah was the daughter of plumber who
t11,. ,.l.,,.
and George about seven or eight-and- thirty
Some captious folks said there was too much
difference i'll their ages; but she was so seri-
GUS minded, and they loved each other so
earnestly and quietly, that, if nothing had
come between them during their courtship,
don't believe the question of disparity would
ever have troubled the happiness of their
married lives. Something did come, hOwev-
cr, and that something was a Frenchman
called Lewis LarOche He was Il painter on
porcelain, from the famous works at Sevrcs,
and our master, it was said, had engaged him
for three years certain, at such wages rs
none of our people, however skliful, could
hope to command. 1t about the begin
ming or middle of September when he first
came among us. lie looked very young was
small dark, and well made had little white
soft hands, and a silk moustachc; and spoke
liked him, but that was only natural, seeing
how he was put over the head of every Eng
Iishman in the place, Besides, he was al
ways smiling and civil, we couldn't help seeing
that he thought himself ever so much better
than the rest of us ; and that was not pleas
ant Neither was it pleasant to see him
strOlllng about the town, when working hours
were over, smoking good cigars when we
were found to be content with pipe of COM
mon tobacco; hiring horse on Sunday after
noon when we were trudging afoot; and
taking his pleasure as if the world was made
for him to enjoy and us to work in.
Ben, boy" said George, "iheres some
thing wrong about that Frenchma1."
twas on Sunday afternoon, and we were
sitting on a pile of empty seggars against
all have cleared out of the yard. Seggers are
deep earthen boxes in which the pottery is
put, while being fired in the kiln.
| looked up inquiringly.
" About the Count ?" said l, for that was
the nickname by which he went in the pottery
George nodded, and paused for a moment
with his chin resting on his palms
:" He has an evil eye" said he; and a
false smile. There is something wrong about
him."
| drew nearer, and listened to George as if
he had been an oracle.
Besides" added he, in his slow, quiet
way, with his eyes fixed straight before him
as if he was thinking aloud, " there's young
look about him that isn't natural. Take him
just at sight and you'd think he was almost a
boy but look close at him-see the little
fine wrinkles under his eyes, and the hard
lines about his mouth, and then tell me his
age, if you can! Why, Ben, boy, he's as old
as l am, pretty near ay, and as strong, too.
You stare but | tell you that, slight as he
looks, he could fling you over his shoulder
as II you were feather And, as for his
hands, little and white as they are, there are
muscles of iron inside them, take my word
Tor it."
But, George, how can you know"
because have a warming against him, ,
replied George, very gravely. Because,
whenever he is by, feel as if my eyes saw
clearer, and my ears heard keener than at
other times. Maybe its presumption, but
sometimes feel as if l had a call to guard
myself and others against him. Look at the
children, Ben, how they shrink away from
him; and see there, now. Ask Captain what
he thinks of him. Ben, that dog likes hin
no better than | do"
looked, and saw Captain crouching by his
kennel with his ears laid back, growing audi
bly,, as the Frenchman came slowly down the
steps leading from his own workshop at the
upper end of the yard. On the last step he
paused, lighted a cigar, glanced around is il
to see whether any one was By, and then
walked straight over to within couple OF
yards of the kennel Captain gave a Short
angry snarl, and laid his muzzle close down
upon his paws, ready for spring, The
Frenchman folded his arms deliberately. fixed
his eyes on the dog and stood calmly smok-
ing. He knew exactly how far he dared 90
and kept Just that one foot out of harms
way. All at once he stopped, pulled q
mouthful of smoke in the dogs eyes, burst
into a knocking laugh, turned lightly on his
heels and walked away, leaving Captain
straining at his chain and barking after hin
like mad creature.
Days went by, and |, at work IN my owl
department, saw no more of the Count; Sun
day came-the third, | think, after L hat
talked with George in the yard. Going Will
George to the chapel in the morning, L no
ticed that there was something strange an(
anxious in his face, and that he scareel.
opened his lips to me on the way. Still
said nothing. 1t was not my place to ques
ton him; and remember thinking to myself
that the cloud would all clear off as soon a:
he found himself by Leah's side, holding the
same book, and joining the same hymn. Il
did not, however, for no Leah was there.
looked every moment at the door, expecting
to see her sweet face coming in; but George
never lifted his eyes from his book, or seemed
to notice that her place was empty. Thus
the whole service went by, and my thoughts
wandered continually from the words of the
preacher As soon as the last blessing was