The Portland daily press., 1873-05-24
SELECTED STORY.
Young Martiu and Old Martin.

mana, Wnen lnere was none. nv .ha
among the iron bars in the shop, or on :ne
timber threshold. s'enjoyin' themselves 70
as they informed the passer-py
death DOM nothin'." ol sbirt-sIeeyes,
Old Martin lived in his fannel a Sn Martin
and wore rusty spectacles, ynara6Ies He
and big jack knife weis lis reflective mo-
picked his teeth VIII. VIII II with it when lively.
nents, .,;n was an everlasting talker, and
Oio WA i.n in,o how with extreme good nature.
9 qI1e.s him lie was a benefit-to please,
a m,sz or instruct At middle age he was
seized with mission, though he did not call
II so-packed his goods, and with his family
moved to New London, distant fifty miles.
Tn five wears he returned as unexpectedly as
he went, unlocked his front door, made fire
of chips, hung over the tea-kettle, and SAT
down before it happy man; and his soul
Rugged the torsaken Lares and Penates
Amy, his wife, sat dumb in corner. taking
Wig 'rous pinch of snuff
-. Amy said old Martin, ''declare fort !:
Il you can tell me whatever we went away
for, |, for one, shall be obleeged to you.,'
"Neednt be under ony obligations to me.
am t the one to calkilate the WAYS of Prov
idence."
those five Years of absence, so to speak,
were the battle-ground of old Martins ire
mendous hair-breadth stories-concerning
sAS nuns, Tue English Iucu oi-Wdr, TIC
troubles in the Revolution, and the rise and
progress, sir, of the first families in New Lon
don. Young Martin at this time was TWEEN
ty-two-slight, pale, with thin fair hair and
bea.G,2s, ciin; but he had kind, honest ewes,
and a strong manly voice. Somehow. no
one doubted his good sense and good feeling.
Those who laughed at him, remembering his
old whiting tricks, and his lolling against
door-posts, or the fence, began to hear, and
+bofh o xvas
lazy mechanic. Tacktown- had advanced !:
there was more work to do, and it was soon
comprehended that young Martin 'sbossed''
old Martin. About this time he added to his
vocabulary of wonderful tales-''What his
son could do''-'What they had thought on
him when they were obleeged to leave New
London at dead O. night. Martin was in
such demand-plague on them New London
ers." Amy also doled her praise day and
night. She fitted from neighbor to neighbor
after dark, like fat, gray owl, or stood at her
porch door of mornings clacking like moth
erly hen. Gas good a cretur as ever trod in
shoe leather was Martin! She told the man
that came along with ounces and fall tur-
nips that she knew he wasn't as pretty as a
pictur, but the marrer on him was good.
When he had the scarlet fever, she thought
the Lord had called for him but she be-
lieved the warm baths had saved him, though
he was runt Of boy.
People were attracted by old Martins
manner. He was strangely silent, yet he ap-
peared on the point of bursting; he winked
and nodded, went from store to store, moving
his head from side to side, and making mys-
ferrous grimaces, as if some moment was at
hand when everybody would be astonished.
His secret was revealed the day the frame of
new shop was raised below the ship-yard on
the shore. How he trotted up and down the
one main street of Tacktown, where all the
stores were, and all the horses tied, and the
oxen swinging through with their various
loads
''My son did that" he made everybody
hear, pointing to the frame. Chow New
London has missed it! But, Lord, they
couldn't keep him! And Tacktown is going
to be big place." Old Martins spectacles
were dim with pride and joy.
"Pooh, sir" he cried into anybody's face
that was nearest, II amt going to give up
yet. Martin, says he to me, says he, father,
faint necessary for you to give another blow
to the anvil. Cut up your leather apron to
meme the jints in the hen-house door, or the
pig-sty.' But Pm as capable as ever I won't
eat my sons earnings yet.
To describe Anny's satisfaction oyer the
new shop would be impossible-that new
shop, with stone walls and belfry on top!
She perspired with acute joy, and wiped her
face till she believed she had the "chaps."
No matter who went by, she was ready !:
with the air of an orator who fixes his eyes on
distant audience, she began and continued,
the motto in her mind, or rather its spirit,
being that Martin must he living remem-
brance to everybody.
''Never did I consider Martin forrard
child; but l amt surprised that he should
come out at the big end of the horn at last.
He amt bright and shining light anywhere,
as knows on; but ha' massy, do you think
that there Edgar Willis can hold candle to
him, for vartu and goodness to his parents ?''
The shop was finished. Old Martin tied
on his apron daily, and hectored the two ap-
prentices with great comfort to himself He
knew in his heart of hearts that young Mar
tin was the king pin; but it solaced him to
play at authority with the boys, and the
country folks who came to tie shop to have
a tire mended, or a horse shod. What dis
courses on New London horse-shoes he gave,
hammer in hand, and the hind leg of
horse! Young Martin busted himself with
greater things. He was fortunate enough to
please the first merchant in Tacktown, who
had had his ship-work done elsewhere till
now. chains, bolts, and all a ships iron
gear, he engaged of Young Martin, consider
ing old Martin doosed fool, and quite in the
young mans way. But he was compelled, in
spite of himself, to compare young Mar
tins filial obedience with that of his own
son-the gay Edgar Willis, the beau par eT-
eellence of Tacktown. Young Martin was
not particularly respectful to his father, in
words, but perfectly so in feeling and man.
ner.
"There, old man." he often said, "dry up
your sass; you make me sick" accompany
ing these words with pleasant smile, and a
tap on old Martins back, which, if the old
man had been a Frenchman, would have
made him bestow a kiss on young Martins
face. Sometimes, when he thought the old
man tired, he said, Go home, dad, and tell
mother l. want a short-cake for supper !;
you've been in the shop long enough. Wash
up, you are as black as the ace of spades !;
Willis's party tonight" Which was great
Joke, as they were not invited.
Old Martins "Ho, no." and ''Ha, ha,"
would last him the way home. Philosophers
might take lesson from the conduct of this
foolish old pair, so devoutly believing in
young Martins hope of the short-cake sup
per.
"Father, I've a mine to cut into ham.
1t is sharp to-day; he may have an edge to
his appetite"
''Wel, Amy, if you'll brilc it; otherwise
faint worth while TO cut into whole
ham,"
''See here, now. My ounce jelly-I do
believe you have most forgot the taste of that.
Besides, they tell me it is sovereign good to
clear the throat. Singing-school tonight,
you know"
Talking about a Tacktown band, they be.
Where's my old fiddle?'
''Sho, old man."
Il was going on to say,'' added old Mar
tin, testify, "when you must needs put your
oar in-that Martin might like it,
"No, indeed; he is going to blow on some
thing-an ofglide, think he said''
"Why, they had 'em in New London as
thick as blackberries, blowing away at one
time man and boy, hke-like anything"
'.Now, father" said the cunning Amy,
s'Martin might not like to hear of their being
so plenty; for, says he to me, Mother, don't
know what folks will say when my instru-
meut comes from Bostonp'
''You don't say" answered old Martin, de-
lighted. ''Of course it won't do to say a
word; and mind your eye, old woman-clack
Is clack.''
But the next day old Martin was afflicted
with another mystery, which broke like a
boil when the stage-driver handed from his
box huge bundle in green flannel to young
Martin, who was in waiting. 1t contained
an ophicleide-a dreadful instrument-but it
filled old Martins soul with awe and de-