Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-01

Uy merchant 10 work IN his Kitchen,
wash dishes, scour pans, and turn the
spit for the cook. In those days they
roasted meat and poultry by hanging II
before great open fire upon hook fast
ened 10 the chimney place by chain or
chord, and some one constantly turned il
to keep II from burning, while the gravy
dripped into the large pan set on the
hearth beneath 1t. Sometimes they tied
a little dog to the spit, and as he ran
about he turned the meat
1T was hot work for the little country
lad, used TO fresh air and green grass. to
sit in u dark London kitchen, turning
great joints of meat, while the cross cook
scolded him, and the other servants
laughed at him. SO. though he was APP
prenticed, as all young servants were in
those days, he made up his mind to run
away; and one morning. Before any one
else was awake, he took his little bundle
on his shoulder and left his masters house,
AS lie thought. forever.
'lt was Sunday morning. and In those
days there was great ringing OF bells in
London on the Sabbath Just as Dick
got outside of the city they all burst forth
together. Such sweet sound. it seemed
10 him. he had never heard. aud he said
10 himself that, as he could not 80 to
church, he would kneel down where he
was and say his prayers So he did. and
when he had finished them he still knelt
to listen. And as he listened the bells
began to talk to him as the clock did to
you just now, and to me long ago. and
this was what they said
"'Turn again. Wilmington,
And thou in time shalt be
Lord Mayor of London.
Turn again, turn again. Lord Mayor OF
London
at was so plain to the boy that it was
as ii he heard voice, and ut the moment
something rubbed against his folded
hands. and behold, it was little white
kitten. 1t looked hungry, and he picked
1t up and fed it with some bread he had
and all the time the bells kept saying
'lurn again, Wilmington, Lord Mayor OF
London
''At last he said aloud We'll, well.
church bells would not tell lies. and if l
am to be Lord Mayor of London | must
not leave London Town
.'And as they ceased their chime the
bells sang in his ears. sir Richard Whit
tington. Lord Mayor OF London
every WELL said Dick. If so, /
shall make good use OF my power, and all
poor people shall be glad am Lord
Mayor Then he went back to the kitchen
and did all he had to do well, for he said
to himself, If | am one day to be Lord
Mayor, must keep good character
II suppose his conduct pleased the
cook, for he was allowed to keep his
kitten, which grew to be IA cat and made
his fortune. for one day his master. send
ing ont ship to "A PARKWAY country, told
his servants each might send venture,
and Dick Wilmington. whose cat had
grown to be great, white mouser, asked
leave to send her. And it so happened
that in the Eastern country to which the
ship went were many mice and rats and
no cats and the king in his palace often
had food stolen from his table. 20 when
the captain brought Mistress Puss into
the royal presence and told how cats
dealt with mice, and when His Majesty
saw the things he feared and hated fly
before her, he bought her for large
price, and sent Dick Wilmington a
present besides. IL was quite a fortune
for those days. Thus says an old poem
of the timc
"Thus Whittington's wealth began;
Sculion's life lie forsook
To be merchant good.
And well his credit stood.
''Soon he became sheriff of London,
and afterward was three times lord may or
of the city. lie loaned thousands of
pounds to his king to maintain his wars
with France and refused to receive it
again. lie fed the poor; was kind to
prisoners. who were cruelty used in those
days; always assisted widows and orphans;
built a church, college. and places of
refuge for the helpless. repaired Christ
Church. and did all the good he could,
always saying The Lord babe his bells
call me back to London, and sent little
cat to make my fortune. And all | do
shall be for London's good in His holy
name.'"