The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-10-06

story might be true, or it might not,
but had thought Of way to test
the metal of which he was made.
''The Stark mill, in which I had
some interest, had been partly
burned a few days before, and I had
gang at work, clearing away the
rubbish. A dirty job it was; the men
were up to their waists half the time
in mud and water, and the whole
place was muddle Of rusty iron ana
burnt timbers and what-not-IooIIed
| like the end of the world, and the
wrong end at that
1.-THE gang had on were mostly
ItaIians-it was too dirty work for a
Yankee to touch, and even the Irish
were shy of it. They were little.
dark, monley-loolsing fellows, work.
ing away, and chattering in their un-
earthly gibberish. I glanced from
them to my gentleman, with his clear
white skin, and hands which showed
that, whatever trade he had worked
at, clearing away wreckage hadn't
been part Of it-though he looked like
one who might have taken a good deal
of exercise in athletic sports.
Here is a job!' / said. The only
one I know Of How do you like it?'
"'Well enough he said, as cool as
possible.
"'Youu get dollar and half a
day. I told him. You'll get your
death, too, probably. When win YOU
go to work?'
In an hour he said. Well, off he
went, and I hardly expected to see
him again. But before the hour was
out he was back again, in flannel
undershirt and pair of old trousers.
He took his picI1ax, and down he
went into that hole as If it was an
evening party, sir.
"Well, went back to the Office. I
couldn't be hanging round watching
the men, or the boss would have
been making trouble; but. my new
hand stayed on my mind, somehow,
and I strolled round by the wreck
two or three times In the afternoon,
making some errand, you under
stand, in that direction.
"That man was working, sir, like
Nike a house aflre. The Italians are
good workers, none better, as a rule
but his pick went in and out three
times for their twice, and there was
no chattering in his corner Of the
hole. He had little breath to tank,
if he had wanted %, FOR thouFh he
was 6 muscular fellaW coui sa
Ia aIl.IH
like rain but he never s6oapea ne
looked Up, or knew that 81 anyone
ela was near just plodded away
swinging that pick as if there were
nothinE else ia the world.
That's pluckl' said I to myself
.If he DOESN'T die he'll do!'
Eor that, I thought he would
give on after the first day-didn't
thin strength would last, When
he Ia for his pay at night, he
was Y and pretty tired-loolring;
but I'D never word; just took
bis with the rest, and thanked
me vent off.
next morning was very
81 i'd although I thought Of my
gen IAN once or twice, 1 didn't
ma to get down to the wreck
tiH b, soon after the whistle had
5la Tor knocking of work.
eh get there / saw the Italians
ound on the ground or squatting
fences, eating their black bread
sage, and chattering away as
but no sight Of my gentleman
n flannel shirt.
Qbop said / to myself. 'One day
enough for him, was it.? And
tsht it would have been enough for
too. When you are not used to
swing Of a pick, the way it takes
ia the back is something beyond
BELIEF turned to come away, and
lsl there he was, sitting of in a cor
By himself, all crouched up, with
great hunch Of bread in one hand and
book in the other.
~ strOlled up behind him and looked
over his shoulder at the book. 1t was
"a italian grammar, sirl
~ shadow falling on the book
startled him, and he looked up. sup
pose must have looked as astonished
as felt, for he smiled and said: 4
AsAAA . FAAAlAA W AQa9 AuGA an OklUQEe
tuaityl The boss is very friendly, and I
have learned several phrases. Buon
iorno, signorel'
Are you a schoolmaster,' 1 asked,
nd working down in that hole?
No he said, quietly, 4 am a book
Keeper. 1t is a great advantage for |
4 hookkeeper to be able to, read and
answer foreign letters, and although |
have some knowledge Of French, it !
has never come in my way to hear Ital-
jap spoken. So now is my chance. got |
thi grammar for 10 cents he added, |
turning il over, with a smile-the book |
was pretty ragged and one cover was
gone-'and I am getting on pretty /
weli
Why in the name Of everything !
foolish didn't you apply for a position
as boozkeeper,' asked, instead Of this |
kind Of thing?'
Nobody viii take bookkeeper /
without references. shouldn't think 1
much Of a firm that did, suppose he
aid flushing My references were
in my wallet that was stolen, and it
m be a week and more before I get