The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-10
The Journeymar's Secret.

Won will find this gentleman still enough in all
eonscence.''
The "partner" merely looked up and
smiled in Acknowledgement of the ~Corer1an's
commitment. and kept on with his work, while
the foreman turned AWAY to attend to some
thing else.
We worked On steadily until dinner, as we
were in a hurry to Get The paper up, without
EXCHANGING word or even look. In the af-
ternoon, had mere leisure TO study the phys
iognon,y Of nv ncishbor. lie was a Young
man of three or four and twenty, with hand
some features. and a rather intellectual cast of
countenancc. His face was quite pale, and
the raven darkness Of his hair, eye 5rows and
eyes made ME Immediately come to the con-
cIusion, after thoroughly studying his phTsi-
oonomF, that he was . hard student DURING
his leisure hours or that depriving himself Of
recreation of books or other sources Of enjoy
ment he spent all his waking hours at the
case. The latter suggestion proved correct.
AS dav after dav passed by. became more
acquainted with him, and found lin to be
singular character. Beneath lis stand he
had Constructed a kind of q closet, which con-
tanned q spirit lamp, a mattress with bedding.
q few cooking utensils. and a small stock of
the plainest Kind Of food. When tie hours
for meals arrived. lie would LIGHT lis lamp,
and putting some food over it to cook, would
work until all the rest Of the hands had left
the Office, when he would sit down to his fru-
gal reDast, He worked necessarily during
work hours, hardly leaving the Office, unless
to purchase food or some errand of the kind.
Morning. noon and night when | returned
from my meals, invariably found him at the
case working away with all his might, as if
some great issue depended upon the improve
ment of every minute sup pose he sic pit up
on the cot which be kept in bis closet, but as
he was always at work when I left at night
and returned in the morning, could not posi-
lively assert that be did so. was not long
connected with him, and that his intense ap-
plication to labor was not prompted merely by
a desire 20 make money; for if there is any
thing in phrenology, Judging from the forma-
ton of his head, he was the very one whom I
would have selected from a score for a spend
thrift. Occasionally his checks would fush
his eyes would light up, and happy smile
overspread his features, then the smile would
90 away, his eyes would fill with tears, while
an expression of sadness-almost despair
would seat itself upon his countenance l
have been tempted a thousand times to ask
him the cause of this, but as he appeared so
cold and isolated I refraned from doing so,
as it is not pleasant profferng sympathy IN
asked
"Wen, how do YOU like your neighbour"
asked one of the iourneymen Of me, as we
were descending the stairs one evening.
Il can hardly make him out" said / che
appears to be a curious sort of being. You
are better acquainted with him than |, how
do YOU like him 80
- For my part, hate him, and what is
more, he has not friend in the whole Office.
That fellow has been here for three months,
and he has hardly spoken to any one. A man
who makes such bills as he does, and boards
up his money like a nliser, I have very little |
friendship for. We wouldn't any of US care
so much if he would be a little sociable and |
spend dollar, or even a dime occasionally
but no-every FIVE cent piece he gets he hangs
to it as if lie was afraid the eagle on it wouId
spread its wings and fly away, doing him out
Of a five cent piece. But he can't STAY here
long We've insu!ted him dozen times
and he has less spunk than I think he has, if
he don't resent it some day. Wen Get. him
into quarrel then, and have him DISCHARGED"
But" said I, edo you know anything
about bis history? He NAV have some ali |
absorbinc end to accomnlish which is the
cause of bis untiring assidut7. You should
have a little charity for the fellow, and taking
Crockett's motto, be sure you're right, be- !
fore you 20 ahead'''
"No, we know nothing of him, and if cir
are as you suppose, it will be his
own fault if they are discovered too late, for
we have tried often enough to scrape up an
acquaintance with him. You had better not
take up on his side if YOU do not wish to incur
he displeasure Of the whole Office. Good
night"
I had some charity for the fellow, and vas
resolved to see him righted should he get into
difficulty. I soon saw that he was unnonular
and that as felt rather disposed to mase al
owances for him, was considered his friend
Many were the Jokes cracked at our expense.
IL say, fellows" said rowdy looking Gus
omer, who went by the name Of Zelsa, "do /
Quakers ever have camp mectinr?' !
eyes, answered another, "they have
camp meeting over there in Quaker corner t
very night That fellow camps out On the s
loor every nap he takes {