Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-07-28
Her LOVER OF THE MACHINE
SHOP.

the railroad shop at Summeryllle. Ou1
home was unpretentious, though comforta-
BILE. My brothers and l were impressed
with the idea that the height OF mans
ambition was attained when he became
master mechanic.
Having been graduated from school al
Il, was ambitious to enter the Summer
Vile academy, where the higher branches
were taught and young inch were Prepared
for college. My father could not afford 1t,
as he had six mouths to fill, and very
capacious mouths they were, to Judge by
the rapdity with which they emptied the
lour barrel. ! was quite a favorite with
the principal of the village school, and he
recommended me 10 Mr.. Kemble, ptinci-
pal of the academy, who wanted boy
around the place to make himself gener-
ally useful, for which he would get tuition
free. | was soon installed as general utili-
ty at the academy.
Charley Rawson and / formed the rri-
mary Latin Glass; and we quickly became
fast friends. Charley and his sister had
been left orphans at tender age, and
were adopted by a childless uncle, whose
wealth was to revert to them. | envied
his advantage in having Judge Rawson to
assist him when he got stuck in his trans
lations. Night after night | plodded along
unaided -"Roriulus CRomulus) primtts
(tirst)-docuit (taughU Italos the ltalians)
agriculturum agriculture" And my
solicitous ma often threatened to appfen-
tice me to an agriculturist if | didn't get
to bed. But l managed to keep pace With
my chum.
NV holidays | spent with Charley max
ing raids on his uncle's potato bin after
big tubers to roast on the river bank, or in
fishing, berry.ng, or nutting. In these lat
ter excursions there was frequently n third
party my little friends sister Jennie, a
JOYOUS tomboy Of 10, who could run race
or Jump fenco with either of us. After
year of my academic experience was
rapidly coming to understand the breach
that divided US socially, and raved more or
less at fate that had thrust me upoh the
world without silver spoon in my mouth.
At the end of two years in the academy
| l concluded that it was time for me to go
| to work. Before the close of the summer
vacation l applied to the foreman of the
machine shop for situation, and STR
| prised my father one div when informed
! him that | should be off to the shop with
him next morning. Well, ! put in five
years at the trade, and at q had good
| knowledge of it, Meanwhile death had
! been reaping harvest in the old home,
| and it was now broken up. | came to New
York City and secured a fUrenlanship in
! MunEells shop.
l now turned my attention to inventing
an improvement on the system of packing
boxes on the axles of car wheels. With
| that problem solved I knew that n cool
! 800, 000 awaited me from syndicate OF
leading railroads of the country. For five
years l devoted all my spare time to study
ing and experimenting. If possible | de-
termined to find a device that would sup
plant the oil and cotton waste, and that
| would overcome what engineers fear i'll the
shot box"
While at the academy I had been wei
come guest at Charley Rawsons. His
uncle and aunt we're indulgent, and Jen-
ME and he and might turn the house up
side down for all they cared, C6nsequent-
ly thrown III ]ennie's company, the result
was that fell head over heels in first love
and after had gone to work | hung around
the place evenings like n specter, in the
hope of encounterins her. We were good
friends, and with my first weeks wages
bought her box OF pnrfumery-thrc lit
tie bottles of different iiavors nesting il
the blue silk lining.
Some months after l had left schoo
Charley informed me that his uncle had
decided to send him to Princeton, frotr
which institution, by the way, he wat
graduated in time. He then entered the
law Office of Pearson & Co., in Philadel-
phia, became successful lawyer, got mar
ried, and was recently selected county
Judge at Summervllle.
The week following Ctarleys departure
Jennie was bundled eff to Il ytung ladies
seminary near the Quaker City, to get pol
ished in French, music and painting. Be-
fore her departure we had long interview
on the river bank, where We had so Otter
romped and played. Jennie promised she
woul d write me long letter every fort
night. For whole year che wrote regu
larly, and as the time rolled by her letters
seemed to grow in atfectionate assurances
At the end of that time Jennie came home
to spend vacation. l called on her, anC
was greeted with the snino artless, uhaf
fected greeting of a year before.
1t is unnecessary to remark that Jennie
had other admirers in her own set, ant
some of them treated the young fellow
from the machine shop in rather dis
dainful manner. | was over sensitive,
suppose, but swallowed my cha9rin lill,
a soldier. Jennie's young lady friends who
had big brothers ambitious TO bask in he
smiles were not slow to express their sur
Prise at my tcmority.
The aunt became alarmed, and con.
Guided it was about time to step i'll and pre-
vent a mes alliance. Instead of Jen
ME, the arlStOcratic Old dame received
me in the parlor one evening, and in
mild but firm tone intimated that my alb
sence in the future from the Rawson man
sion would be highly appreciated. / tool
The hint, but | met Jennie before she re-
turned to school.
One year ago l perfected my device
which has been tested on several roads
Competent critics pronounced it a success
and six months ago, i'll IL complmentar,
letter signed by several railroad presidents
| was informed that | would find cert
fed check payable to my order in the trus
company's office, as they had decided t,
adopt my improvement.
In the past seven or eight years l hav
met many charming and agreeable girls
any one of whom would no doubt hav
made an excellent wife; but the shadow o
he joyous, coluettish Jennie always in
.ervened and seemed to whisper through
he mist, "Wait for me, Tom"
Having made profitable investment OF
my suddenly acquired fortune determined
to visit Summerville. Iput up at the best
hostelry, which was not very pretentious
establishment. | called ON my old friends
at the machine shop, and one of them, who
always knew about the movements of ev-
erybody in the village, | invited to come tC
my hotel, as | wanted TO see him particu-
larry. After hearing all the gossip abou
the folks We knew, | ventured tho query
whether he ever saw Miss Rawson.
was delighted to hear that she was still
unmarried; not surprised that she was the
belle of the town; not very sorry to heal