The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-05-10

and then there was nothing else to do
but say good-by. But there, won't
tell you about it, for she took on great
DEAL as it was the FIRST time [ had been
away from her.
You will write, Tom ?" says she.
"Why, Of course" l says.
And I've put four sheets and some
envelopes in" she says, 50 that you
needn't write on the back of the sand
paper with yourspencil, for it's SO hard
10 make out"
And then, after five minutes silence,
l bolted out, and wouldn't look behind
till was out of the court.
Why, of course, was sorry to leave
her behind and went along with my
heart feeling as heavy as lump of lead,
and everybody | met looking dim and
weary, which | should think must have
beer indigestion, or something of that
kind but it soon went of, and the
clear sunshiny morning seemed to
brighten one up, till felt so hearty and
choery that / was ashamed OF myself,
for felt as though | ought to be mis-.
cradle, like | knew the wife was at
home, But there we were. several Of us
along with carts full Of scafold poles
and material, and before long we were
out in :he open country.
Out in the open couutry-God bless
it with the birds twittering in the
trees and hedges; the blue sky over
head with now and then light cloud
slowly sailing across; the soft wind
smelling that delicious, that we opened
our mouths and drew in great long
breaths, as though we should never be
tired. There were flowers everywhere
lilac, laburnum, and may orchards
full of pinkcy apple blossom while as
to the green of the fields in the golden
sunshine, ah it was sight to men who
had been cooped up in close London
courts, without knowing where the next
days bread was to come from
Out in the open country, with fresh
beauties at every turn. Why, we were
like so many boys, running by the carts,
larking, shouting, and making regular
fools of ourselves, which must, of course,
been owing to the light, free air. I've
heerd talk Of prisoners, and sick men,
and their delight at being out once more,
but they could not have felt happier
than we did, out in the open country,
on that bright May day.
Every now and then, though, some
thing dull would keep coming over me,
and l wasn't sorry when it did for
what business had l to be so happy and
cheerful, knowing how miserable | had
left some one at home? But so it was
, and the bit O blackness wore off, and
was as lively as the best of them five
minutes after; for, mind you, it isn't
t money as can give the real gladness Of
a heart.
Well, we got down to the place, and
$ the work went on merrily. The foreman
t was a good fellow, and made me one OIL
i, two little advances and as there seem
Y ed to me to be work for a good three OIL
four months, began to look out for {
0 little place where l could bring some
t one down to and comfortable lodgine
: | soon found, made all my little ar
t rangements, and sent letter up with ;
!, post-ofice order inside, so that some ont
e and the two little ones could come dowr
e comfortable the next day but one.
Every Ole, l dare say has his owl
fancies and l don't mind telling yor
h one O mine. l don't know any on,
e thing so satisfactory as driving a mai
It home. You make small hole will
g your bradawl; in goes your nail anC
o then tapping gently at first, you 90 OIL
+ by degrees until the head gets neare
). aud nearer, and at last is driven righ
into the soft deal board.
/. Not much in it ! says you. Perhap
c not to your way OF thinking; but every
man to his trade, and, you may depend
c upon it, in every trade there's similar
d way of thinking. I've seen blacksmitht
t laugh as they pegged away at their iron
d the old cobblers grin as they drew thC
a wax-ond tight; the painters wag thei
It heads as they laid on the fatting; anC
a something @ the same kind in mos
o trades; for fellow would not be mucl
n Of a workman if he did not love his owl
: craft.
Well, I was busy driving nails in
;, piece o boarding, thinking all the timC
y about the missus coming down, when
{ makes false stroke, hit the nail on on,
[ side, and it flew up and caught me il
}, the right eye.
Talk about agony No one know.
e what l suffered, for in a short time thu
inflammation spread from one eye to The
| other, and was quite blind, so that
| had to be led home to my lodging
; Perhaps you know what bit O. dust, O.
o a lash, or anything O that kind is il
:, your eye; you know the pain and wor
| rying it gives you; SO you can thinl
e what l sufered-a great, tall, stout fal
low-as l lay turning about with thu
C sweat dropping off me.
g Doctor came and did all he could
c Next day came, and the pain seemed
I n. ~