Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-03-22
HIS DUTY.
He Faithfully Performed 1t Under
Trying circumstances.

1TyluS
MIR. Wagner was superintendent OF
the great Bessemer Steel Works in
Pennsylvania. One morning, about
ten years ago, young man came into
his Office whom he recognized as
Richard Ogden, assistant book-keeper
in Philadelphia importing firm. Mr..
Wagner shook hands with him hearth
ly. He had known Ogden since he
was boy, and liked him thoroughly.
He was keen-eyed, doggedly honest
fellow. and, unlike most young men,
always hard at work. He had married
lately, too. Mr.. Wagner had been at
his little house and seen the wife and
baby.
"Hillo, Ogden! How came you hereP
In the busy season. tOo?"
1T is not busy for me, SIR" said
Ogden. gravely; Il am discharged.
The firm, like all other Philadelphia
firms, found it necessary to lessen ex-
penses, and discharged one-fourth of
their men. l was the youngest book
keeper, and had to 60 of course"
"That is bad-bad." ct was in the
days when the hard times were
hardcst.) "What are you going to do,
RichardP"
II can find nothing to do in Phila-
delphia. There are twenty thousand
men there looking for work. l came
to ask you for it.
"MeP My dear boy, our book-keep-
ers have been with us for years!"
Richard laughed. IL did not come
to GUST them from their desks, Mr.,
Wagner. l do not hope to get any
work for my head. l must put my
hands to it now. Is there no place in
the mill for mep'
"Among the handsP You do not
mean that OgdenP"
"Yes, l do, coloring slightly. "A
man is man, no matter how he earns
his bread l can not afford to be idle
week. With the wages which you
pay your puddlers or firemen, l can
support Mary and the boy in this
village, where living is so cheap, at
least until times mend"
Every well, my lad," said Mr.. Wag-
ner, after moments hesitation, "you
are right. I'll find place for you to-
morrow. BY the way, you used to
have agood deal Of knowledge of chem
istry, ehP"
Eyes, l thought of teaching it after
left college"
VERY good; I'll put you near Mr..
Ferris. He can probably give you a
few hints which may be useful--son OF
Judge Ferris, you know. Educated as
mining engineer; but he has gone
into the works, like any poor lad, to
work his way to practical knowledge
of the business. He has charge of the
converter he added, with q tone Of
respect, to which Ogden, never having
heard of the converter, listened with
indifference.
The next morning Ogden, in {
workman's clothes, presented himself
at the office, and Mr.. Wagner himsoli
took him into the mill and gave hin
his work, introducing him to Mr.
Ferris in the tone which he would use
in speaking of an equal. The famil.
iarity was kindly meant but in.
judicious.
"Who's that young cub old Wag
ncr's making much OFF" said Jake
Crawford to the man at the coal hear
beside him.
"Dunno; one of his pets, reckon.
Jake was one of the most drunken
and vicious men in the works. H,
scanned Ogden's gentlemanly bearing
and white hands with scowl of con
tempt, which changed to a positive
glare when Mr.. Wagner shook hand.
with him, saving: Goodbye, my
lad. and good luck"
From that time Jake set down tn,
young fellow as his enemy. whom h,
was bound to overturn. Ogden pres.
entity noticed that this man shovel
him unnecessarily when he passed hin
In the throng, and swore at him un
der his breath, but, supposing him tt
be drunken fellow, thought no NOR,
about il. His indifference but en-
ragged Crawford the more. Poo
Richard, whom he met on Sunday,
dressed like gentleman, going will
his wife to church. became in his eve:
the embodiment of the "bloate,
aristocrat whom he hated so heartily
"rll fix $ lordship for Rfer' h
said every day, and watched his chanc'
to do it. Ferris. on the contrary. a
Mr. Wagner had forseen. was attract
ed to the young man, and gave hin
work near to him. frequently explain
ing the processes to him. Ogden
previous knowledge of chemistry mad
him an intelligent nearer.
The converter. Of which Mr.. Fer
ris had ehargs issr enormous pot i