The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-03-16
CAN TT BE TRUE?

Did you ever hear that there were two |
meu lost between the walls of the Great |
Eastern when she was building? 1t is |
true, and want to tell you about it.
My brother John was a head workman !
on the ship, and he got me a chance to |
go about on her just as if 1 belonged |
there. | was sickly, and they always let |
me have my way at home. We weren't
ut home then, nor had been for years /;
but we kept up the old ways So, as |
said, / came and went on the ship when
other outsiders couldn't Sometimes l
made believe do something, if / thought
anybody was going to find fault. John
would always give me something to do.
From the first there were two men
there whom l didn't like, because they
didn't me. They used to ask what was
there for, and wink at each other when l
came, and touch their fOreheads.
I always like to be let alone, and
will be. And if folks begin on me, they
deserve what they get ThOmson-that's
one of the men--was for beating me right
out, but he was afraid of my brother
John; but Jacksonville other man-was
slycr, and ! knew by his actions that he
was planning to do me an i'll turn.
So things went on for months and the
ship grew every day. When I first went
there, it was only Il skeleton, like, and,
by-and-bye, the shape began to show.
| wish | could make out how aggra-
waiting those fellows were. They did all
they could to bring it on themselves. l
don't think Pm to blame but | 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 culver
They can give look, wink, laugh,
that will be rank poison to you, and set
you all of a writhe. That's the way
those fellows did, and | never said a
word for weeks and pretended I didn't
see nor hear. But they knew l did, and
they took delight in it.
One day l was feeling pretty bad
used to have bad days-and | thought |
would stay at home. l got a pack of
cards, locked my chamber door, and
played solitaire till late in the afternoon.
1t was the only way / could keep myself
from thinking. But by-and-bye l got
tired Of it, and started out for the ship.
" They'll be gone by this time" |
said to myself; but if they get in my
way | won't stand anything"
When l reached the ship / thought
they had gone. Work hours were over
no visitors about, and when / went OF
board, the ship looked deserted.
"Pll have a walk about" [ thought
Z" 1t will do me good"
so | walked around awhile, keeping t.
myself, and by-and-bye took sheltered
seat beside a pile of boards, where IL,
one could see me, and fell n thinking.
was thinking that my life was lonesome
like, that no bright places had ever COM
into it, that | never felt inclined t.
laugh or sing, and that, if / should droI
overheard and go quietly to the bottom
1t wouldn't be much matter. Well,
thought over that a long time, ant
wondered what would be said whel
they fshed me up. I'd seen a ma
fishcd up and carried home, and his wit
and children cried as If they'd die
There wasn't anybody to cry for me.
John was good, but he wasn't of tn
crying kind, and perhaps he woul,
think that he had got rid of a care.
amt hard hearted, but when l though
how my death wouldn't hurt anybody
some way it made me feel so miserabl
that | cried. And when once l had be
gun to cry, l couldn't stop, but went o
harder and harder. 1t was good Will
since I'd cried, and l made up for los
time, and cried for all the sorrows L
had since 1 was little boy, and for som
that had when | was a child.
l don't know how long I'd been cry
ing, when light sound brought me t
myself I'd forgotten where | was, an
that somebody might come along an
catch me. I looked up with tears a
over my face, and my eyes full of 'en
and there was Thompson standing With
ten feet of me, looking at me with a gri
on his face, and a fist in his eye, maxim
believe to cry and wipe his tears like
bawling young one.
| waited just long enough to let m
nerves and muscles find it out, and e
ready then l bounced on him so quick
that l had my hand on his throat .befol
he could utter sound. He kickeC
though, as he got purple IN the face, an
as held him down. / let him kick, f
he was going just where l wanted him t
There was place, near by, still in til
shelter of the boards, where, for SON
reason, two or three planks had bee
taken up off the deck, and it left no
that led down to the very keel betwee
the outer walls of the ship. In an id
yyav | had often dropped little blecl
down there, and heard them BUM
hmm. like stones IN a well, as they wei
down. Thompson kicked himself
.bis very direction, and Just as my hanC
were getting tired, and as he had got h
foot up between us, close to my chest,
give me a kick away from him with h
last strength, | humored him, and dow
he went. headfOremost. ] heard two
three bumps, and | heard no more.
started down into the darkness, Al
fancied that I saw two eyes staring baC
at me-but | heard no sound.
Bv-and-bye heard steps approachin
started away, and laid down by Il
board pile again. My brother JOB
came along and shook me, thinking wv
osIeep. and / went home with him.
The next morning l went on boar
again. but saw no Thomson. Men we
asking for him, but nobody knew whe
he ,vas His friend Jackson came al
asked me if | had seen him, looking
me in very curious way. | told hi
About noon they sent off to Thomson
honse TO inquire for him, and found OIL
that he hadn't been seen there since IL