Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-20

the child, Ioyfully
"Besides," continued the boy, energetically,
1 am to learn q good trade, and am to have
plenty OF overwork. Who can tell how much
1 may be able TO save mp Why, might be
able 10 pay your board and ony clothes for you
live IN the city where l could see You every
day Only think of that Maggie -
Poor children! Their happy anticipations
m'''ar With misery, but there was a ..deeper
d ep' OF wTetct edbess for them still
Mr. Seymour had placed Charles Hollister
ws'h the siiversmith for a fortnight on trial, at
q" .ud Of which time, il all parties were sat
Isted. b. TO be duly apprenticed; but the
boN I al not been under the charge Of his en-
plty- lex before he discovered that there
was something wrong abs Ut the man, al hough
'h- iati.r tried hard 10 appear excessively
parent-iIke and amiable.
Among the aPpr. ntices who operated in the
a bee hive" as the shop was termed by Mr..
Jenrles, was a little. pale-faced. consumptve-
looking boy, about the age of Charles Hollis
tr' who at once attracted toe attention and ex-
clted The commisseTation of the newly -entered
apprentice, who felt a secret salts faction when
he was informed that the boy in Ne stion, whose
name was Richard Manners, was to he his
room IN tie. The two boys became fast friends
the very first night that they slept together and
they grew more and more atiac ched to each other
as their intimacy became closer.
The first effort of the new apprentice natu-
rally enough, was to gather from his com pm
ION some idea Of his employer and mis- fellow
apprentices; but, strangely enoagh, the boy
q
conversation on that subject. He would talk
freely enough on any other theme but the mo-
ment the sbep was mentioned, he was dumb:
hor could an the Ing.nuiry Of young Holiister
1t was the night before the QUE upon which
ne probationary fortnight OF he new ap.
prentice would expire, and he and his room
mate had retired 10 their room.
Holiser was the first TO throw his clothes
OIL and Jump into bed, and as he lay there
watching his om-mate, he could not help
n.f fhn lnnlr rH -N.,u
Rested upon the features OF the latter. The bow
was Lever at any time disposed 10 be mirthfui;
but now bis face wore a look which plainly
spoke of some special source Of regret. and be-
fore getting into bed, he, contrary to his us ual
custom, carefully looked under it, and around
the room and finally, he opened the bedroom
door and looked out INTO the entry.
What's the matter, Dickr' SAID Hollister
when tie latter bad at length stretched himself
ont AT his side. '.You amt afraid OF burglars,
you!"
NO" replied the boy, in a whisper; "wuss.
'tn that"
"wbatis il, them asked Hollister. "Come,
speak out, don t be alarmedr'
s.Hush-h-b,' whispered the boy, trembling
as he spoke .don't speak so lOud-he might
hear you
'And who is he!'' asked Hollister, without
Il woAt talk TO you Charley" replied the
boy, IN n whisper SO low as to be almost in-
audible, ''if you don't speak lower. l know he
Is around somewhere, and tell you ne will
hear You"
.Wsn, them whispered Holister, who, will
liz 10 crafty the lad, brought his voice down
TO the lowest pitch. IL III speak iow; ana now
Of -
The Boss,' replied the boy, in a frightened
tone; .and you'd be AFRAID too, II YOU knew
him well as I do -
well, / don't like him very much myself
lrck." replied Eolllsteri ''but don't see any
thing in him TO he frightened AT, and / don't
see rs we've much 10 complain about he uses
us pretty well. We've got plenty 70 ca, and 10
driIk, and to wear and don't have - work
very hard
"tfats eos mes got new hey Oh triai We
alters 90 have 4 high old time whenever 4 new
boy comes; but we have 20 pay up for /: after
ward II seems 10 me almost as IL you We're
my brother. Charley, and viii say this mucn
TO you If | die for it-6ont yOV be bound 10 him.
What rre you whispering about th-re,
HI, baTCl' broke IN the sh:lil voice OF the king
be- from The entry outside; Il am AFRAID viii
hay. TO cul tail your sleeping hours; you ve sot
too much time 10Y sleepiug-you have
- kIeE be was around" whispered tie lit
lie II. fCrturatn. .Oh. won't / catch /. for
thi- :" AuG tnIn,ng his back 70 uis com panion
Le re p SEE 10 say auI ther word.
The boy : warning was not without its effect
VI c "a the mind OF young HOLSTER; bu' having
! O. easily TO be swerved th-refrom; aud before
CIo.iIg bis eyes in sleep lie determined 10
carly out his original purpose, let what would
happrD-wbiCn lie subsequently, did; but n
had not teen an InGpnted apprentice forty
ii. ht hours when he bitterly regretted not hav-
Ihg taken his little ROOM mates advice.
From the moment he documents We're signed
" hIch FLA ced Charles Hollisrer b. meath the en-
tire control OF Mr. JeftrIes for seven years, the
d.meanor Of the latter toya ard his apprentices
M ndtrwent so com mplete a change, that the new.
Iy bound led, although PIE pared 10 witness
something of TIE kind from what Dick Man
ners had said, was greatly astonished. Igno-
rant of the world, and thoroughly artless and
honest himself, he never imagined that any
could exercise such perfect hypocrisy.
During the whole fortnight while he was on
trial, he had noticed that the boys were treated
with great consideration. All this was changed,
however. as soon as the neophyt. became a
full .fiedged ssbee''-then tasks were imposed
npon the ill-starred apprentices the compile
ton OF which took them from twelve 10 sixteen
hours per day, and they We're compelled TO
su bmit daily 10 a thousand narrowing pieces OF
III justice, W hich were calculated to wound the
pride and lacerate the feelings OF any boy pos
sessing the slightest spirit.
1t was en- the morning of the second day Of
youEg HOLSTERS apprenticeship. and he was
busily employed at the side OF Dick Manners,
under whose tuition he mad temporarily been
placed, when Mr. Barak .Iefiries entered the
'.teehIVe,' and, as was his wont, began The
exercise Of his daily toTtures. Walking from
one TO another OF his apprentices he bestowed
nuenCo or soul-cuttlng remark which admitted
of no reply. till at length he stood behind Dick
Manners, " no felt his presesce al though he did
not see HIM, ar " no shuddered as he continued
bis work without looking up.
.Riohard,' squeaked the immac ulate pro-
prietor Of the s.beehiye."
At tee sound OF his voice both boys looked up
and Hollister noticed that the tyrant held in
his hand a rawhide, which TIL then he had
kept concealed behind him.
..RicbarGr' repeated Jefiries, ..you did not
fms n soldering them ere taImbles last night"
No, sir" replied the boy apprehensiveIy,
s'if v Ou please, sir, couldn't"
"Couldn't, Exclaimed Mr.. Jefries, assuming
look Of offended dignity. "coaldRt. t. sir! DO
you mean to tell me to my face that have i'm.
posed a task upon one OF my boys which he
couldn't perform! 1 am grieved, rarely am
grieved, Richard Manners. to find that you are
sIch q hard caoe-sich very hard case-in
spite Of all my talkin' to You, and advising of
you, and persuadin' Of you to do better.
and although i am reedy to shed tears when
think Of doin' Of il, shall have to punish you
severely again. It's very tryin' to man OF my
sensibilities, but shall have to do il, can't
help myself, it's d0Oty woi owe % you and
your neither, and to myself!
He took the poor trembling lad by the shoul.
der, as he spoke, and elevated his whip in the
air; but before he had struck blow, Hollister,
who was At first rendered dumb by surprise,
exclaimed, imploringly:
.sOh, don't whip him, Mr.. Jenries Please,
don't, sir! know he tried ms best to finish
his stint, for it was three o'clock this morning
before he got to bed. Besides, SIR, he's sick He
couldn't get to sleep for ching for an hour
after 10 laid DOWN."
Mr.. Jefries dropped his uphfted arm and
stood gazing at the new apprentice with look
Of perfect amazement
s'Is it possible that can be IN my right
senses Z" he exclaimed at length, shave I acted
as principal Of the beehive' up 70 this late day,