Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-01-14
A CARPENTERS LUCK.
Helped 10 Fortune and Succoss by
Mean, Miserly enaa"

@t&Ot-%tt 4AAAooAtS SAe@~A
''l am afraid that something has hap
psncd 10 old Silas washburn," said
John Dorsey, as he gazed out Of his
rear window. There's been no smoke
coming Out OF the chimney for two
days.
The cabin toward which he was look
ing was way of on the bluffs. with three
miles Of barrens intervening, their des-
olation hidden just then by almost three
feet OF snow. Though the sun was shin
ing, IL was . singing cold day, with
enough Of wind 10 occasionally send
the snow scurrying In every direction.
~ expect To hear OF his being found
dead some morning. said Mrs. Dorsey,
from tho rear OF the room. "Amos
might 60 over and SEQ what Is wrong"
"Rebeccs. that Is Just what was In my
mind" replied her husband. "I'm
rather stiif this morning, and Amos Is
80 sturdy and willing, that It's best for
him 70 20. Pack up basket Of things,
dear. and do not forget TO put in box
Of matches. 1t may be that he is out Of
matches"
siiAs washburn was sometimes called
"Thc Hermit" and sometimes "Stingy
silas." lie was we'll advanced In life,
and had lived for five years In the cabin
on the bluff. Nobody know his history,
or why he had sought such wild. So
cluded spot lie avoided society, and
was chary Of speech. No relatives ever
visited him, and during those Ave years
he had not been noar the post-ofico. He
occasionally disappeared for day or
two, but that only deepened the mystery
which surrounded him. He wore very
shabby clothes, and denied himself
numerous comforts. AZ he was sup
posed to have money, his parsimony was
looked upon as simply . miseriy In
stinct
by the time tho basket was stocked
with provisions Amos was ready for the
journey. As his father had said, he was
both sturdy and willing. tho one
indicated by his strong, close-knit
frame, and the other by the genial
expression which added charm
TO an otherwise homely face. He
was about seventeen years old, and yet
had almost mastered his fathers trade,
which was that OF carpenter. just
then both father and son were out OF
work, building operations having been
suspended for the winter. In little
while his parents were watching him.
~ he trudged through the snow, well
wrapped up, the basket In ono hand and
q stout stick In the other. Occasionally
he walked erect, occasionally he noun-
dered, and now and then he stopped "
catch his breath. or 10 turn his back
upon fierce gust Of wind.
When he reached the cabin he saw no
signs OF life. Tho window-panes were
covered with frost, and huge drift allied
tho doorway. He pushed through the
snow and placed his hand upon the
latch. To his surprise no found that
the door was not barred. He pushed II
open and stepped into the room. Old
silas was not dead, neither very weak,
for no called out in loud tone;
"Who Is that?'
Don't you know MOP" Amos asked.
''It is because II 10 30 dark in hero. /
am Amos"
'0hm came back In sort Of satisfied
grunt "What brought you herep"
I'VE didn't soc you astir, and thought
that something might be wrong, replied
Amos.
THAT was thoughtful" growlod old
Silas, who had remained in bed for two
days In order to keep warm.
you've some dry wood, haven't you'"
asked Amos.
PLENTY Of IT. my boy. But no
matches.",
"l'vo brought Matches" Amos said.
'I'll soon have roaring fire."
In littlo whilc the firo on the black
hearth was shedding light and warmth
around tho scantily-furnished room.
Noxt Amos placed upon the table the
food which he had brought. Old
Silas watched him furtively at
first, and then attcntively, once
or twice passing his hand over his
eyos, as II stirred by some long-ago
memory. Presently he crawlcd out OF
bed and put on coat and pair Of shabby
list slippcrs. His hair was gray, but no
had not lost any OF It. There still was
0 good deal OF flre In his sunken eyes,
and, though his face was sallow and un-
shavcn, It was Enthusiastically an intelli-
gent one.
..you thought was dead?" no asked.
'Wo wore uneasy about you," replied
Amos.
"you thought was starving?"
1--WE didn't know what might have
happened to you," cvadcd Amos.
Silar washburn was hungry and he
enjoyed tho food, much TO the satisfac-
tion OF Amos. lie had bcfrlonded the
old gentleman on more than one occa-
aion, but had mover succeeded In pene-
trating his reserve. lie had not even
showed that no was thankful, Amos
thought He took too much for granted,
and his moanncss had not becn exagger.
ated.
'.Idon't want any pay" said Amos te
himsolf ''But | think the sacrifices
havo madc for him doscryo some Nd:
prociatIon,r
Z lje did not know oll silas, and conse,
quently was not just In his estimate Of
him. Appreciation may show itself In
something more substantial than speech.
Ths old mar vas rcticentahi eccentric,
but he was neither mean nor thanlsless.
Amos found that out in way that sur
prised him, and taught him 70 bc more
charitable In his occasions.
One day, during the following spring,
word was left at the house that Silas
Washbqrn wanted TO 500 him. :