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

own foreman and master, and so on,
but then such life to my minds like
a wcll-hagged deal.board just ready for
flooring. You've been over it, and
touched it we'll down with your jack.
plane, and finished of with your tying.
plane, and there it is--or ought to be
il it ain't-scampcd just like bit O
satin, every knot just like smooth
brown eye, and every bit o grain stand
ing out as ifpolished but then turn it
over and it's all as rough and shaggy,
ani splintcry as can be. It's all very
well being master and gauger, but then
you has to be journeylnan and laborer
into the bargain. But that amt it SO
much, for | wouldn't give a clout nail,
let alone tupponce, for fellor as can't
turn his hand to anything in a push !;
it's the loncsomcucss of the thing.
l expect it's not liking to be alone
made me get married and ! must say
that now there's an old bird at home,
and five little ones in the nest, amt
VERY lonesome there. How they do
open their precious young bcaks, and
what sight o stuff it does take alore
you can persuade 'cm to shut again {!
But l amt grumbliug about that, mind,
and l hope never shall. However, as
/ said aforc, l don't like being alone,
for it puts me in mind Of a very lonely
time; but | do like having a mate come
in for an hours chat, and join me over
pipe and a pint of half-and half in a
quiet, soclablc manner, same as you have
tonight, Dick Smith.
That's a good trying plane Of yours
the one you had in the shop to day
but l never did see, and don't suppose
ever shall see, such q tool as one |
lost about four years ago-least ways l
didn't lose it, for sold it; but it was a
loss, for all that. Fine sound bit o
beech as ever you saw while as to the
iron, there was never a better bar O.
stuff came out O Sheffield. Just show
it the ie.stand now and then, and knock
it up to the right set, and then-whish
whish the shavings would seem to
run off a board as fine, and thin, and
soft as-as-well as shavings, you
know
l sold that plane for two shillings,
and the next week I'd have given five
to get it back, but was gone again, and
I've never set eyes on it since. You
see, nothing looks worse than for a man
to be parting with his tools; and when
you sec a fellow doing of it, he's either
one as isn't worth his salt, or else he's
VERY hard drove.
Now I suppose do make my salt
mostlings, or else | shouldn't have been
two years in this shop; but about the
time told you Of, l was going to par
with one o my tools, so you may sup
pose that | was hard drove. 1t don
matter where it was, but it worn't
hundred miles from Gray's Inn Lane
and, after being out six weeks, l wa
took on, and got my order to be of
with lot more down into Survey
where there was cottage army, as the,
calls it, a building.
l slips off out o the yard ready t,
bust with the good news, and l was a
the bottom O the lane and across Hol
born in no time and in less than tha
l was down TO court where we lodged
and up two pairs O stairs, and into tn
room before my wife had time to hid
what she was doing OF.
Hooray mother!" I says, tool
on" and then stops short; for thougl
would not let her think l knew sh
had been having good cry, it all a
once struck me that | should be settin
her off again; for I'd engaged to 6
down into the country for month cel
tain, and l should have to leave her be
hind-so l stops short.
go father !" she says, /" I am thank
ful for don't know what could hav
gone next.
We had, somehow, then got into tn
way O. calm ourselves " Mother" an
Father ~; and so she said she didn'
know what could have gone next an
I'm sure l couldn't have told her, for
many of our things had gone about tina
time; for what with no work, and
long spell or two o sickness, We had t
make a good many visits to certai
reiative, as I'm sure every honest, hard
working man hates the very name of.
And now that | amt speaking fair
for | said we had to make a good man,
visits but it warn't we, for I'm blest i
l wasn't such a coward myself that
daren't go, butstopped snoaking at home
and let the wife go instead, whicl
worn't at all manly, says you no NOR
it worn't.
Howsomever, when she said that,
knew that something must go; and
felt so light.hearted with the idea G
that work that l made up my mind t
60 myself, and wrapping my old favor
lite plane up in a red Handkerchief,
slips out into Fetter Lane and sold tn
plane Tor two shillings.
| was hard to work to comfort tn
wife when she knew that she was goin,
to be left alone; for 90, Tom" sh
saws, the noVprtu'S hord anouob 4