The Russellville Democrat., 1883-04-19

Nov tlat he was fifteen years old he
was not willing to begin 70 receive
charity. even in the form of q reward
for his good deed.
One day when some OF the most
prominent men OF the village were talk
ing to him on the subject doe saids
~ d 1t want anything except a
chance to work, but Ill tell you what
YOU may do for me if Won VII. Now
| that poor Martin is deal the ferry priyi-
lcge will be to lease again, and Id like
to ret il for good long term May be |
can make something out OF IL by being
always ready to row people across, and
may even be able TO put on something
! better than skill alter awhile. I'll pay
the village what Martin paid"
Tic gentlemen were glad enough OF .
chance to do Joe even this small favor,
and there was no Iii licuty in The way.
The authorities gladly gs.nJcd Joe a
I lease of the ferry pr.vi,cge for twenty
years, at twenty dollars year rent.
which was the rae Martin had paid.
AT first Joe rowed people back and
forth, saving what money he got very
carcfullg This was all that could be
required OF him. but it occurred to Joe
that Il he had q fcrry-boat big enough.
good many horses and cattle and a
good deal of freight would be sent
I across the river, Tor he was long
I headed fellow, as have said.
! Oac day chance offered. and he
| bought for twenty-five dollars large
old woo boat, which was simply a
uare barge TO ty feet long and fifteen
/ feet wide. w Til leveled bow and stern,
made to hold cordwood for the steam
4 boats. With his own hands he laid a
stout deck on this. and. with the assist
anee OF man whom he hired for that
purpose, he constructed pair OF pad
die wheels. BY that time ice was out
of money. and work ON tho boat was
suspended for while. Wren he had
] accumulated little more money, he
bought horse power, and placed
/ it in the middle of his boat,
connecting it with The shaft OF his
wheels. Then he made raider and
helm. and his horse boat was ready for
use. 1t had cost him hundred dollars
besides his own labor upon it, but it
would carry live stock and freight as
well as passengers, and so the business
OF the ferry RAPIDLY increased. and ice
began to put little money away in the
bank.
After awhile railroad was built into
the village, and then a second one
came A year later another railroad
was open on the 9th side OF the river,
aid all the passengers who came to one
village By railroad had to be ferr ed
across the riverin order to continue their
Journey by the railroads there. The
horse boat was too small and too slow
for the business. and joe amheFt had
TO buy two steam fe " boats TO take its
pIa 0, Theac cost more moneg than he
had, but. rs the owner of the ferry
privilege, his credit was good, and tho
boats soon paid for themselves, while
Joe bank account crew again.
/ Fina ly the railroad people determined
to run through cars for passengers
aud fsoi tit, and TO carry them aero s
the river'on large boats butt for that
purpose: but be ore they gave their or
ders to their boat builders. they were
waite upon by tho attorneys of ,toe
Lambert, who soon convinced them
that his ferry privilege gave him atone
The right to run any kind Of ferry boats
between the villages which had now
rown to such size that they called
them selves cites. i he result was that
the railroads made q contract with Joe
to carry their cars across, and he had
some large boats built for that purpose.
All this occurred q good many years
ago. and Joe La bert is not called Joe
now, hut Capt in Lambert. He is one
OF the most prosperous men in the lit
tie river city, and owns many large riv-
or steamers Lesides his ferry 10 Is.
1 Nobody is reader than he to help a
poor 10y or q poor man but 10 has his
own way of doing ii, He will never
toss SO much as cent To beggar, but
he never refuses ia give man or hoy a
Oh nee to earn money by work, He
has an odd theory that money which
comes without work does more harm
than good. Geo. Cary EQ9leStoa, Is
Vide AWas'e