The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-24

Did you ever hear that there were
two men lost between the walls of the
Great Eastern when she was building?
It is true, and want to tell you about
it.
Ny brother John was head work
man on the ship, and he got me q
chance to so about on her Just as if /
belonged there. L was sickly, and they
always let me have my way at home.
We weren't at home then, nor had been
for years; but We kept up the old ways.
So, as l said, I came and went on the
ship when other outsiders couldn't.
Sometimes 1 made believe do some
thing, if l thought anybody was going
to find fault. John would always give
me something to do.
From the first there were two men
there whom didn't like, because they
didn't me. They used to ask what L
was there for, and wink at each other
when 1 came, and touch their fore
heads.
always like to be let alone, and I
will be. And if folks begin on me, they
deserve what they get Thomson
that's one of the men-was for beating
mo right out, but he was afraid of my
brother John; but Jacksonville other
nan-was slyer, and 1 knew by his ac-
tions that he was planning to do me an
i'll turn.
So things went on for months, aud
the ship grew every day. When first
went there, it was only a skeleton, like,
aud, by-and-bye, the shape began to
show.
wish 1 could make out how aggra-
waiting those fellows were. They did all
they could to bring it Oh themselves. I
don't think I'm to blame; but 1 want
you to see how it was. Don't you know
that some folks can do little things that
are not much to tell, but when they are
done, make every drop of blood in your
body boil, and every nerve quiver
They can give look, wink, laugh,
that will be rank poison to you, and set
you all OF writhe. That's the way
those fellows did, and 1 never said a
word for weeks, and pretended 1 didn't
see nor hear. But they knew did, and
they took delight in it.
One day was feeling pretty bad--I
used to have bad days-and thought /
would stay at home. Igota pack of cards,
locked my chamber door, and played
SOLITAIRE till late in the afternoon. 1t
was the only way 1 could keep myself
from thinking. But by-and-bye got
tired of it, and started out for the ship.
They'll b. gone by this time" I
said to myself; "bGt if they get in my
way won't stand anything"
When I reached the ship 1 thought
they had gone. Work hours were over
for them, and all was quiet. There were
no visitors about, and when L went on
board, the ship looked deserted.
"I'll have a walk about" 1 thought
"It will do me good"
So walked around awhile, keeping to
myself, and by,and-bye / took shell
tered seat beside pileof boards, where
no one could see me, and fell thinking,
1 was thinking that my life was lone
some like, that no bright places had
ever come into it, that L never felt in
clined to laugh or to sing, and that, If l
should drop overheard and go quietly to
the bottom, it wouldn't be much matter.
Well, 1 thought over that long time,
and wondered what would be said when
they fished me up. I'd seen a man
fished up and carried home, and his
wife and children cried as if they'd die.
There wasn't anybody to cry for me.
John was good, but he wasn't of
the crying kind, and perhaps he would
think that he had got rid of a care. !
amt hard hearted, but when 1 thought
how my death wouldn't hurt anybody,
someway it made me feel so miserable
that cried. And when once I had be-
gun to cry, couldn't stop, but went on
harder and harder. 1t was good while
since I'd cried, ald made up for lost
time, and cried for all the sorrows I'd
had since was little boy, and for some
that 1 had when was child.
, L don't know how long I'd been cry
ing, when light sound brought me to
myself. I'd forgotten where was, and