The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-07-02

smart birds were enjoying those worms
of delicious joy--the first boom OF the |
Inew cannon (Which | hope will not ex-
.olode in your faces before the day Is
over), and the rattle-te-bang OF the hrst
bunch of firecrackers, thrown mali
ciously under your poor uncle's WIN
dow. Well. YOU see, your uncle Is go
ing TO return good for evil q hope you
will think IL is goodD, and is going to
tell you a story-tell you how II hap
pened that Mr.. Duckworth, Jr., was
once on a time up and stirring In
lively manner about three o'clock a. IN.
But first OF all must tell you who
Johnnie was and where he lived. John
mics home was wee little house, as
neat as pin and as yellow as butter
cup. that stood all alone on small nat
plain, a sort of clearing by the rail-
road. which was as hot as pepper In
summer and as cold as Greenland In
winter. From the windows on one side
OF this little house, built by our hero's
father. could be seen the railroad tracks
glistening at a short distance; and from
the windows on the other side could be
seen narrow river that glistened far
more charmingly. SO Johnnie's mother
had always thought, and invariably
took her sewing 10 the window in the
narlor. from which. when she raised
her eyes from the enormous rents made
by her son in his clothing, she could
watch for moment the peaceful, flow
inr winter. Father DucIworth, how
ever. always drew his chair 10 the OPP
posite side OF the room In his rare hours
OF leisure, and every now and then,
dropping his paper into his lap, he
would gaze out over his round glass
lovingly at the straight dashes Of steel.
His face would simply beam with de-
Hight when the house began TO culver
Dpently, then 10 shake more and more
Violently and then TO dance as thun-
dering train whizzed by. When a slow
freight tangled over the tracks, he
would lean out of the window and adj
dress funny remarks TO the men on
board. for Mr.. Duckworth knew all the
"hands." All his life he had worked re-
pairing those rails, and he loved them
next to his wife and Johnnie. Mr.. Nc
Kinley could not be prouder TO be pres
ident than John Duckworth was TO be-
long 20 the "section gang" company
of men employed TO keep the tracks in
order. He used TO say 90 his son; IF
your life'is as straight and flawless and
bright as them rails you'll reach the
place want you TO get 20 all right. III
be there 10 meet you and your good
mother" Johnnie did not half under
stand this wise saying. yet he always
looked politely solemn; but Mrs. Duck
worth ever brought to earth this one
flight OF her husbands fancy by beg
ring him not TO make her 40 sad; and
then she always added-partly, IL would
seem, as II to show her own ability Tor
speaking fapcifully-that she hoped
Johnnie's life would be as deep and as
clear rs the river. SO Johnnie grew NJ
with a poetic awe for the river and the
rails. lie learned all about his father
business, and Mr.. Duckworth took just
pride IN his sons knowledge. l douo'
il many boys know as much about cars
and engines and their tricks ana man
ners" as Johnnie knew.
After poor Mr.. Duckworth had dice
of sunstroke while repairing some
y sleepers few miles up the track at th'
little village station, johnnie, althousi
overwhelmed with grief, told his moth
or with pride that as soon as he wa
old enough Ne wanted her "a make Mn