Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-01-03
THE sTAGE-COACEE STORY.

THE sTAGE-COACEE STORY.
One cold day, five or six years ago, a
number of us were numbering in an old
stage-coach over the hills Of New Hamp-
shire The journey was long and tire
some so to while away the time, we related
to each other incidents of our past his
tories An oldfgentleman's story interest
ed all extremely. 1t was simple and
simply told. If / could only retain the
,teuching sim plicity of the old gentleman's
language, l am sure you would like the
story as well we did, will try to repeat
as nearly as can remember. Il
81 spent my boyhood," he began, sup
here among the granite hills. When was
about twenty, purchased my time of my
father and as the town where | lived was
ratherla' dull place to begin business in,
decided to go to the then new city of
Lowell TO seek my fortune. My good
mother fitted me out with q suit Of plain,
homemade wooden clothes, and with these
and few dollars in money, set out
sd short stay in Lowell showed me
that could not find work there, so l con
cluded to go to Boston. I was fearful
that my funds might fail before / could
earn anything 80 sending my little trunk
by stage, trudged the thirty miles to
Boston on foot, to save the fare. Arriv-
ing at Charlestown, where my trunk had
been left, told the landlord where stop
ped, howl was situated, that 1 was in pur-
suit of work, and that was short of
money, and should be glad to work for my
board till could find a situation.
""The landlord was chopping at a big
wood pile, and listened kindly to my story
ssWhat can you dor he asked .can you
saw wood ?''I never sawed stick in my
life,' / replied. (Those were still days Of
fire places and big back-logs at my fathers
But L can chop and split as well as any
body? .tWell,' said the man, Il don't want
to hire, but that lady over there, (pointing
to a house across the street,) has just had
lot of wood drawn. If you are willing
to do it, you may take my tools, and
think she will give you job
and went over to see the lady. She was
kind-looking widow lady. asked her if
she wanted her wood sawed, and told her
honestly that l was not much used to that
sort of work, and probably could not do
the job as quickly as others might, but
that if she would try me thought could
give satisfaction. She seemed pleased with
my frankness, and told me might go to
work.
:" 1t was new business to me, so 1 could
not do a great days work at first. At
night the landlord asked me how much I
had earned. About seventy-fve cents,
L told him. 20, that'll do to begin with,
said he. IN board you as long as you'll
do as well as that The next day I did
little better, and earned dollar and a
quarter. 1t took me three or four days to
finish this first job, but gave 80 good
satisfaction that got other wOOd-piles to
saw, and had as much work as ] could do
after working awhile in this way,
let myself to q stablekeeper for a month,
at ten dollars and board The work was
very hard. | had to work all day and part
of the night, and the same Sundays as
week days. But | was determined to do
faithfully all that was required of me, and
succeeded so well that when my month
was out, my employer was anxious to hire
me longer. l told him had concluded to
leave. He thought l was bantering for
more wages. and offered me twelve dollars
month. But told him No the work
was too hard, and | could not consent to
work on the Sabbath. So left and hired
myself for six months to teamstey.
"Here continued as had begun, work
ing faithfully and honestly for my en-
ployer. He appeared to be pleased with
me, and made me many presents. But
soon saw that it was not the place for me-
There was great deal of swearing and
drinking among the transfers. Sunday
they made holiday. | thought that
such society was not the best for me tc
be in.
& 10 tyot I hoI I'll ~ al,
gentleman in Boston, very wealthy anC
very odd, who wanted to hire q man
Some hard stories were told of him by
those who had been in his employ. HI
was very strict and particular, it was said
and so hard to suit tnat nobody ever stale
with him long. But putting all thes.
stories together, | made up my mind tina
it would be good place for one really de
sirous of doing well So | went over tC
Boston to see him. ~
80" He wanted man to help about tn,
house and yard. He was man of few
words If l was honest and faithful, anC
could satisfy the women folks he would
give me ten dollars a month for year.
rather liked the old man, and told him tina
was honest, that always did the best
could, and that 1 rather thought coult
please the women. WELL said he, 9
guess you are honest You may try, bu
remember, you must satisfy the womel
folks So l went to his house and re
ported myself at the Kitchen.
GAS is often the case in wealthy familie
in the city, the cook had charge of tn
household, She was q large, black-eye
woman, weighing two hundred or over
confess my heart quailed little as sh
deliberately surveyed me. It's a har
place, young man., she said, at length; {
don't think you can do it, but you ma
try
"She set me to securing some brasse'
Bear on hard she said. So bore o
hard, and secured sway with all m
might till she pronounced them done
What next?' | asked. She described
me certain walks in the yard, and directe
me to sweep them. did so, and returne
to the kitchen for further orders. Sh
gave me one little job after another ii
about ten O'Clock, lwhen, in answer to m
what next?' she said, Nothing NOR,
young man, to day; l guess you'll d.
You may dress up now, or do what yo
like the rest of the day.
$50 much for the hard place l 500
&Lo+ tbo Fat oaoE bo6 thipuc y1raft