Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-02-03
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Twas when | was courting Kate
that the accident l am going to tell
you about, happened. But for that
same accident, ] don't think Ka;e and
| would be man and wife this day, for
you see my father was set again the
match, Kate being only laborer S
daughter, while he himself was FORE
man in the mills, getting good wages,
and thought deal of by his employ
ers. And if it wasn't for Katie don t
think l would be here now to tell you
about it, for twas she that saved my
life. through hitting on aplan that new.
er once came into the heads of me or
my comrade-aye, or Of those that
you'd have thought would know better
than any of US.
was not brought up to my father
trade, having been taken, when young
by brother of my mothers: master
brlcklayer, living In the town. When
my uncle died, l came home to Lis
garvan for bit, just to see my father,
and finding that they We're at work on
the new buildings. at the mills. I looked
for employment there and got it at
once. Lisgarvan mill is flour mill
and a pretty place it was in those days,
with the river running just by the old
red brick buildings, and the big water
wheel always going round and round
The river falls into larger one lit.
tie lower down, and the tide comes uI
as far as the mill, so tis in boats that
most of the corn is brought in and the
flour carried away. 'Tisn't half SC
pretty a place now there are big
whltewashed buildings alongside of the
old brick ones;the big wheel is stopped,
and you hear the whirr of the engines,
instead of the sound of the water But
they make power of money there,
and give deal of employment.
AS | was saying, ! got taken on as a
bricklayer. Katies father was work
ing there. to, and l used to see hel
bringing him his dinner, and after q
bit l began to think that I'd like tc
have her bringing me mine, too, She
was as pretty girl, then, as you'd see
anywhere, she's good looking to this
day, and l soon became that fond Of
of her that I'd have done anything
Almost to get her She, herself, was
willing enough; twas my father that
made the difficulty. He was a proud
man, as proud in his way as any gen
tleman, and he was right mad at the
notion of my marrying a laborer's
daughter To be sure, | was earning
good wages, and might have married
without asking any ones leave, if Id
been so minded; but | didn't like tc
90 against the old man, that had al
ways been good to me. Besides, Katie
was just as proud as himself and would
have nothing to say to me, unless he
was satisfied. got the master to speak
to him, but sure 'twasnt bit OF use
How would you like, sir he SAYS tc
the master, if / had a daughter, tc
have Master, Philip take up with her
and wouldn't that be the same thing ?
| believe that the master didn't think
it would be all the same thing; but my
father wouldn't hear reason from hin
any more than from me; so Katie and
had just nothing for it but to walt in
the hope of his coming around, anc
very little hope we had of that same.
AS we were putting up steam en-
CINE in the mill, we had of course t(
have big chimney, and we got man
down from town to build it, one o.
them chaps that builds chimneys anc
nothing else, and thinks nobody knows
anything about it but themselves.
was working along with him, and In
deed twas | that built most of it anc
right good job it was. Twas finished
by Christmas, ten years ago this Christ
mas coming on, all but the lightning
fconductor, and that was not put up ow-
ing to the masters wanting to make
inquiries when he'd go to London, ano
to see for himself what would be the
best kind to use. The master was sci.
entifc sort of gentleman, and had
ideas of his own, sometimes they'd be
better than other peoples, sometimes
may be not so good At any rate there
was delay about the conductor, and
in the meantime the engines were al
work, and the big chimney was smok-
ing away like blazes. Mr.. Brown, the
strange workman, had gone away, say
ing, very condescending like that he
was sure Jim Forde (that was me,
would ho ohio to fasten the rpd To the