The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-06-23

Inc hhssSOry o. u RhamOs
A very useful member am l /; in fact,
one that cannot be easily dispensed
with. have brother on the left of
the body to which am attached, who,
though very useful on some occasions,
is not to be compared with myself in the
amount of work done.
My master is common day-laborer.
and, therefore, my work is of the very
hardest kind. sometimes wish that I
belonged to q wealthy gentleman, then
would have no work to do, and would
always be soft and white, instead Of
hard and nearly black, as l now am.
toll daily Sundays excepted) from
o'clock in the morning till 6 at night,
having only one hour intermission at
noon. Often during the day L have
nearly given up from exhaustion, and
the bones in every part of my body
would ache terribly but, being urged
on by my master, L manfully proceeded.
One day, while at work on the side of
hill, collecting rocks for pavement,
huge one came rolling down, and, before
l had time to get out of the way, struck
and crushed me very badly.
For several weeks I could hardly
move, and the doctor thought it would
be best for me to be amputated. But
my master struggled hard to keep me
attached to him, and finally gained the
victory.
1t was long time before I was able
to do any work, and the hours passed
very slowly. When, at last, was well
enough to return to my labor, / felt
JOY that / could not express; and, though
had often felt that my work was too
hard, vet now was so glad to continue
it that ceased grumbling, and have not
complained to this day.
But there was time when ! did COM
plain, though it was not about my work,
and think all the boys and girls who
read my history will say had cause to
do so.
My master is not bad man, though
he is very quick-tempered, and some
cause for it. One day, at his work,
he got into dispute with the man at
his side, and before long both became
greatly excited.
L kept on at my labor, graspirg the
shovel very tightly, and much panied at
hearing the angry words that were being
spoken. Suddenly. and before L could
realize what was taking place, l felt the
shovel drop from my grasp, and the
next instant L was plunged into the face
of the man near me. Then / fell down
at my owners side, wounded, and sorry
for what had done, while the man that
I had struck was brought some water to
battle his cheek.
Thus L had given a blow that, had I
had my own way, would never have been
struck and then it was that l felt like
complaining. L was ashamed to think
that L was attached to person who
could use me for such u wicked purpose
i, who had always been SO faithful,
and ever willing to perform acts that
were right.
l continued mt my work, though I
trembled, and had no heart for what 1
was doing. 1t was but a few minutes
before heard my master again talking
to the person he had Quarreled with,
but this time only pleasant words were
spoken. Soon the shovel Iheld dropped
to the ground again. and 1 was very
happy to find myself grasped by the
hand of the man whom had injured.
/ have left the most painful part of
my history TO be related last.
Only few months ago my master be-
came employed at forge where a large
trip hammer was used to pound out the
iron. He had never had great deal of
experience i'll iron work, and at once
began to fear that some accident might
happen.
One morning, while working at the
hammer. he became careless, and as the
great mass iron came down and
struck heavy blow at the smaller
piece which my master held, felt q
numbness in portion of my body that,
before a great while, was followed by
acute pain. 1 was obliged to cease
work, when it was discovered that my
little finger had beeh crushed beneath
the iron.
Desire as my master might to keep
that finger attached to me, his wish
could not be granted. and 1 was obliged
to suffer the loss of u useful member.
Yet was thankful that the accident had
been no worse, for came very near do
ing my last work upon that day.
still toll on, day after day; and,
though my work is often dangerous as
well as laborious, 1 am always looking
forward to brighter and happier times.