Evening star., 1896-07-04

Six men were going home from work to-
gether. They had BEEN shngitng the south
gable end of a new country house, and the
owner. a Boston man, had just telephoned
down that everybody might knock on work
al B O'Clock. so that those who wished
could take the 4 O'Clock train to town.
Most of the gang did wish this before the
Fourth of July, and they were nearly all
Boston men, who had been sent down by
the building contractor. The six shin2iers
came down their ladder and walked away
together. jim Fisher had his bicycle, bat
he ;rundIed il along by hand and walked
with his ma tes- They could still hear ham
mers knocking In the great house, where
some of the boys were lingering to end OF
part OF the standing finish in one of the
lower rooms. Work was being rushed and
they had set themselves stint, and 10y
ally stood by to close the thing just right
Il never saw a house put together so
quick said a sober-looking fellow named
Allison to Jim Fisher, who turned to look
back .'Quicks rooms parted off, on go
the laths. ard before the latheTs get out
the pIasterers step IN Wonder the paper
ers don't CT ase them right round the four
wet ails''
Takes suIne folks good while to find
out that it's Just rs cheap to Fay twenty
men one day as tbs TO pay one man twenty
DAYS" said jim Fisher.
There amt many bosses can handle
large crew to good advantage" said a wise
Tounc-shouldered old E.an. who wore spec
tacies al his work and liked a good poiti-
cal argument at noon over his dinner pail
He was the only one of the six who lived
IN the town and Charley Burrin had board
ed with him all the spring. Charley BurTiil
was a brisk-looking Boston fellow, who
did q frst-rate weeks work and dressed
himself with noticeable sElartness on Sun
day.
man, troubles apt to be with the boss
Last job / was on, We were standin' round
ucst of our time waitin' an tumbitn righ;
over one mother. Men come down from
the city with all their solder furnaces an
riggin' to do a piece O. the roofing before
the roof was boarded. There wss one of
'em used to practice Annie Laurie on
cornst under the stone shed, an miss the
same note every time, till one day fellow
went down out o the third story to break
the old toot horn over his head"
wish i was a boss" said Jim Fisher,
cheerfuly.
Thorndil1e. Tell you I'm oider'n you boys
be- and I've noticed ever since / was boy
myself that folks always done we'll that
done their fair days work, an all died
poor that had spell O. thinkin they were
gon' to get rich out O. shirkin'. Nothin
FOR nothin's a pretty safe rule
Coin to preach this comm Sunday, ell
der?" inquired Jim Fisher with polite in
No amt, SIR answered Abel good
naturedly. My ambitions all run toward
practicin'. I'm gcin' to celebrate the
Fourth o July. though; perhaps you amt
aware 70 comes tomorrow. or do you have
a special one o. your own up TO Boston,
What are YOU going to do, elder?
demanded Jim Fisher. The six men had
fallen into single file along the narrow
footpath. but Fisher stopped and let the
rest go by.
''what he I goin' to Do" repeated the
old man, q little confused and slancing
at Charley Burr,l. well. sir. my folks
can celebrate as well as anybody round
here. but 'twould seem plain TO Boston
folks"
Don't let Charley spoil his nice new
clothes with snapcrackers, said Jim. and
Charley Rurri!l bit.shed. expected
He had said early in the day that he
not going home for the Fourth and they all
knew the reason. They had come to turn
In the road and Jim Fisher sprang his
wheel and whirled away. leaving everybody
to plod behind
BE careful. Charley" he shouted and
young Burrill shouted gayly back as he
went down the lane with Abel Thorndke.
ThOrndike's house was on the river bank,
and there were some apple trees by 1t and q
little flower garden In front. AS the two