The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-06-15


end of the stand. On the other side of the
room in . small bureau, which is decorated
with brush, comb, pomatum and vase of
flowers over this bureau hangs q looking
glass. There are two painted fiAg-bottomed
chairs in the apartment.
"Wel, in what does it differ from any
other young girls room :" say you.
But you have not observed that what
not in the corner"
True, we had not; but how could it have
escaped our observations What are those
articles upon it How curious, how strange,
how lovely Did that young girl really
make all these with only penknife and .
box Of paints. Why, see that little dog
with his curly tail and his mouth open.
can almost hear him bark Look at that
pig with an ear Of corn in his mouth. That
gaudy parrot, and that robin with its red
breast Here is = little girl with short hair.
There is another with flowing curls, and
there is little boy in blue jacket and
sailors hat. That child produce all these :
She must be destined for something re-
mArkable to show 50 much talent while yet
SO young.
''She is destined to hear a good deal Of
scolding from her mother for what that
lady terms her everlasting whiting"
Undoubtedly the same old story, genius
cramped and fettered, and obliged to make
its way under difficulties.
Mrs. Gordon, however, was possessed of
much good sense. True, she would some
times lose her patience with Katie, especially
in the winter, when Katie's whiting was
obliged to be confined to the house; and to
tell the truth, that young lady was not a.
careful a. she might be, and the family
room would sometimes present . rather un-
tidy appearance but her mother knew
that she was cultivating talent which
might one day bring her fame and fortune,
and she was usually very patient with her.
When Charles arrived home from town,
his first words were Katie, see my new
plane. Now / can make things smooth.
Come to the barn and viii show you how
it works"
They went into the barn, and Charles
took piece Of lumber, placed it on the
bench, drove a nail partly in the bench, as
he had seen the workmen do, to keep his
stick Of timber from slipping, and then be-
gan to plane, and for a new hand his work
did him credit. Katie expressed her admi-
ration of his new tool and praised his work,
which pleased him very much.
Now, said he, 81 am going to make a
dovecote"
And ]" said Katie "will make doves
to fill it." /.
''Oh but Katie, am going to have real
doves. Father said he would get some
when l had q house made for them. But
how selfish am. have been 80 taken up
with my own things that / had forgotten
had something for you"
Have yOui What is it ;" enquired Ka-
! tie.
st is, replied Charles, ga sheet of sand
paper"
''Sand paper what is that r. asked Ka-
tie.
Hand me that doll you have made, and
! viii show you"
Charles took the sheet of sand paper out
Of his pocket, cut of small piece, and
/ then proceeded to rub the doll vigorously
with Il. There" said he, after he had
finished the operation, as he handed
the doll to Katie, what do you think of
it nowF
''Why, Charlie, " exclaimed Katie, 'tyou
have taken of the roughness and made it
a. smooth as China doll. How pretty it
will look after l have painted it. How
good yOn were to think of me. How did
you know it was Just what wanted to
give the finishing touch TO my things r
Il found it out in the carpenters shop,
and tell you, Katie, mean to 90 there
pretty often, and find out how they make
everything"
He did 20 there very often, and he learn
ed there how TO use carpenters tools, and
he learned to love to use them. He form
cd the determination there that he would
one day be q carpenter. In that shop q
bias was given to his mind and an influ-
ence was exerted that was felt through all
/ his life, and through him exerted over the
whole country.
But we will not anticipate. We will let
events speak for themselves.
The first season they spent upon the
farm was q propitious one. The weather
was all that could be desired. The warm
sunshine called forth the growing powers Of
vegetation, and the refreshing showers came
Just when they were needed, to gladden.
the cultivator's heart and furnish the nee
essary moisture to the thirsty plants. Mr..
Gordon read works on scientific farming,
but his main reliance was upon the advice
he sought from prosperous farmers. He
reasoned thus The ideas contained in
these books may be all theory, and moi
worth much when reduced to practice. AL
around me l see thrifty farmers, who are
growing wealthy, and a. an ounce Of prac-
tice is worth ton Of theory, l will ask
them how they proceeded with their work. :
He did %, and followed their plans, and
the result show cd him ODE correct, Never
theless he gAi..od many practical suggea.
tions from those books, which did him good
service.
In the fall the fruit had to be gathered
and taken care Of. Preserves, jellies, and
pickles to be made; the corn to b. husked
the small grain to be thrsshed the vege-
tables to be protected from the frost, and
Charles and Katie were now called into re-
quisition to lend . helping hand, and then
favorite employments had to be laid aside
for awhile sometimes the whole family
grew weary Of 70 much toll and care, and
sighed for . little more ease; but when
everything was in shape for the winter, then
came the self-congratulation that they need
not fear lts coming for they had suihcien-
cy and to spare they could now enjoy
themselves until the spring work COM
menced, and they fairly revealed in the an
ticipstion of the winters holidays and
sports.
1t was now decided in the family council
that Charlie and Katie should 60 to school.
The boy would be fourteen ut Christmas,
and the girl thirteen in February, and il
was time they were progressing with than
studies. In the town near which Mr.. Cor