The Portland daily press., 1898-04-02

-
For a Time-The Arrival of His Fond
Father and the Neglected Cows-Learn-
| ing the shoemaker's Trade at Home.
About ten years ago, in Silyerton, Or,
me summer afternoon I sat in The shoe
| shop of Frank Simeral, the village cobbler,
whiting leather scraps with one of his
sharp knives During the afternoon I had
| cut I'D a pair of uppers by mistake for old
scraps.
In gruff voice Simeral inquired why,
| If was so fond of cutting up leather, did
I not learn the shoemaker's trade
| eYou have been setting around my shop
cutting up leather for more than year
without missing day. ain much of a
Judge to tell what Teller is cut out fer,
but if was would say you was natural
born shoemaker, and, BESIDES you're get
| ting big enough now to make a start in
life
| For the first time in my life felt the
RESPONSIBILITIES of becoming a man, and a
MAJ. with some particular occupation, and
| I looked at Simeral with as much feeling
| as chorus girl does at the author of the
| NAV. 1t was about the first time had
| ever heard Simeral talk in earnest on any
thing but baseball and the advice had
| really commenced to work. Invent in next
| door with tears in my eyes and asked Billy
Jones, the photographer, if he thought ]
had any talent for making shoes. Billy,
after some deep thought, came to the con-
clusion that if l had any talent at all he
would say it was for making boots. So l
| returned to Simeral with favorable news
from the photographer and was ready to
listen to more fatherly advice from Sim
We called him Sim for short.
"Well, says Sim, "I'll teach you the
trade You work for me for one year for
your board, and at the end Of that time /
will pay you what you are worth. "
.sAn right When do commence"
Monday" he suggested.
But l couldn't wait till Monday, SO he
finally gave in, and I was to commence
the next morning.
was as excited as a 2-year-old at its
first race, and l spent most of the after
noon smearing my fingers with shoemak-
ers' wax, SO that I could look as much
like shoemaker as possible.
told some of the other boys in town
those who I knew would DO envious.
sat up with Sim that evening until be
closed up for the night, for this man had
suddenly grown in my estimation from
the runty looking shoemaker that he was
to the greatest cobbler that ever muffed a
ball He seemed to me giant promoter
of young men. l fairly worshiped the seat
he sat in (as it was better than mine). To
think this man had discovered what was
intended for in one year while man Of
my fathers ability had been 20 years in
search of it, and then hadn't found it'll
1t was closing time, and he let me take
home pocketful of shoemakers' avis and
lot of wooden pegs SO that might sleep
we'll l sneaked home with the secret of my
debut as shoemaker deep in my breast.
lay awake all night thinking of what the
town girls would do when they heard that
had really gone to work, and at such an
enviable job. I stood it till about in the
morning Then got up and went straight
to the shoe shop and there waited for Sim
eral, who generally got down about 9.
Now, my chief duties at home were to get
up the COWS in the morning and milk. We
let them run in the streets at night in the
hope that they would eat enough hay and
other necessities of life out of the farmers
wagons to keep them in the best Of health.
On this occasion I did not even get the
COWS up. My excitement was too great.
Simeral arrived about 9, and never was
SO glad to see man in my life. 1t seemed
as though hadn It seen him for yesf.
He unlocked the door, and we sauntered
in. started to put on one of the aprons,
and expected that would go right to peg.
cling boots, but Sim said: 'Now, Homer,
there amt any work in that you can starr
at today, but in two or three days there
will be some that you can work at. In the
meantime, however, I will tell you what
wish you would do. Up in the alley,
back of my house, there is about three
cords of wood. Now, wish you would
go up and find my saw and buck. Saw
that wood twice in two and throw 1t over
into the woodshed. f"
Well, it struck me as a rather queer
branch Of the trade which was supposed
to be learning, but rather than have mis-
understanding the first day Invent up and
began saving the wood All at once recog-
nized the sound Of familiar cowbell. l
looked around and discovered my father
driving our COWS, the COWS had neglect
ed. right up the small street where was
learning the trade. I was trembling in
every limb for fear father would recognize
me- not that had fear of thrashing,
but feared that he would laugh when l
told him the truth, as he had merciless
sense of humor. knew he would play on
me as long as lived. So I determined
that should say nothing and continue to
saw wood, in the hope that he would plod
on by without recognizing me- But the
cows knew me. They stopped, and then
father stopped. My heart was beating as
loud as bass drum, and the cold perspira-
ton stood out ON my bare arms and brow
like the morning dew on pumpkin leaf
"Well, what's thisp' exclaimed my aged
parent.
said nothing, but sawed wood.
"Homer, what in the world are you do
Ing here?"
couldn It deceive him any longer, SO
sold him the truth.
"Pa, am learning the shoemaker's
trade of Frank SiTneral"
The old gentlemans face was study.
A 4 l,,c4 T T