Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-06-21
ONE NIGHT ON A CR0ss-ARM.

nection was made.
AS the skilful artisan finished his
work, he stepped back, saying,
Nov the circuit is closed, Tom,
climb the pole and take in as much
slack as you can with your wise"
The man addressed as Tom,
equipped with good pair of spurs
on his feet, took the newly joined
wire on his shoulder, and carried it
aloft to the cross-arm, where he
secured it to it's proper pin.
Coming down from. the pole and
joining his companions, he found
them laughing and joking with an
old man.
The stranger had apparently
been criticizing Toms style of
ing.
"What say, my friend?' began
Tom, having heard portion of the
conversation. Can you get to
the top of a pole quicker or easier
than ! can?"
mo, no, | don't say that. You
have done your work we'll. was
simply telling some of these ground
men, that there was time when |
could do the same kind of work as
you are about now"
WELL" replied the big-hearted
Tom, looking up to the top of the
pole from which he had just descend
ed, and then down to the ''irons"
on his feet, I've no occasion to
doubt your word, although you do
look little bit old for the business"
You're right, my man, ! am
old for the business and have done
little in telegraph work for several
years, but still when see you
boys busy it recalls thoughts of
long ago"
Long ago." laughed one of
the party. ANY one would think
that this business was as old as
Methuselah."
"Why, my friend, it is US old as
Methuselah. As old as the world.
As old as the beginning of all
things. Electricity is part and
parcel Of the great universe"
Some of the gang, as they were
picking up the tools to move for
ward to another section, felt like
laughing, but the more practical
Tom went to the side of the stran-
ger, and as they walked along, the
spurs of the telegraph man clink-
ing at every step, he said:
"You've been in the work your
self, | take it y"
81 was one of the pioneers in the
business"
"And did you use such things as
these?" looking down at his feet.
From the first. The principle
was taught us by the savage can
nible of the Pacific"
but have you ever had pair of
these on your feet?" asked Tom
quickly, looking into his compan-
ions face intently.
MANY and many time" was
the reply. And could put them
on again to-day, if necessary. But
here comes your pole to tie in and
you must 60 to work"
Tom and those of the telegraph
gang who had been walking near
the stranger, nodded their heads
and gave knowing looks, as much
as to say, THE old man does know
something about the business,
doesn't he?"
When Tom was about halfway
up his pole he called:
"Say, old man, I'd like to have
a longer talk with you sometime"
ANY time you please" was the
reply. "You see that house over
there?" pointing to a smoking
chimney short distance from the
railroad track. "You will have
some two hours to wait after you
get through pulling up those
wires before your train is due, |
should Judge. Come over there, all
of you, and I'll tell you a story of
telegraph men in the early sixties"
All right" called Tom, as he
swung one leg over the cross-arm.
"We'll be there's" while the "groun-
ders" looked at the retreating form
of the stranger with mingled feel
ings of curiosity and interest.
When the telegraph men were
through for the day, Tom said:
"Now boys, let's 60 over to the
old farmers, and hear what he has
to say. | shouldn't be bit sur
prised if he could teach any one of
us about the business"
He don't look much as though
he could" remarked one of the
party. "But still we never can
tell.n
"That's fact, Hank" returned
Tom. But see, the old gentleman
is waiting for u.s."
So it appeared for the farmer
was standing near the fence, lean
ing on the upper bar of the gate
which crossed a driveway, leading
to the unpretentious but thrifty
looking dwelling.
"Good evening, boys, good even
ing!" was the CHEEKY salutation, as
his guests approached. "Come into
the house. We're all alone, my
wife and |. All alone since our
only son went to the city the work.