The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-02
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!: THE APPRENTICES



In Sheffield once lived a cutler who
was very DESTROYS TO grow speedily
rich, and for this purpose he took
great number Of apprentices, whom he
worked hard and fed badly.
They were lads whom be procured from
the parish and with whom he got -
and who, once OF the parish's hands
and having probably no very dear
relations living, were seldom afterward
inquired about
Summer and winter il was nothing
but work, work. work, and they were
fed and clothed in the most s0rdid
manner In fact, they were complete
slaves, and Guns ana blows and hard
labor were the only plentiful things
they got.
This went on until it grew lntoler
able Time, instead OF bringing any
relief, only made the old man more
grasplng, selfish and cruel But now
there was an ingenious fellow among
the apprentices who said to his fell
lows that if they would join with him
he would undertake to mend matters
for them. To this they readily agreed.
This shrewd youth had seen that
their master, like many other misery
fellows, was as superstitlOus rs he was
avariclous. lie was a bachelor, for he
was too grasping to think Of main
tanning a wife and family.
The young man had a friend, a tan
ner in the town. To him he went and
procured the loan Of huge black oxs
hide, having n long tail and a tremen-
dous pair Of horns.
This he conveyed secretly to his
chamber, and, as the master always
went to bed at the same time his APP
prentces did, that he might be able to
call them at an early hour IN the morn
Ing, instead Of getting into bed the
young man arrayed himself IN the hide
and, cutting n most formidable figure,
waited at his masters chamber door
till he saw through the keyhole that
he had just got into bed.
At that moment he opened the door
and stalked slowly into the room.
No sooner did the old cutler perceive
that hideous and black apparition than,
crying, lord have mercy upon me"
he popped under the bedclothes and
held them down upon him in an agony
OF terror.
The apprentice, seeing the success Of
his scheme, rushed fiercely to the old
mans bed and tossing and goring furi-
ously with his horns and Gathering on
the floor with his feet, said In n gruff
voice:
"Old man, old man, for thy cruelty
Body and soul thou art given % mel
Let me hear but once more those apprentices
cries,
And I'll push thee and crush thee and bore out
thy cycsw
With that he gave the trembling old
wretch two or three good pokes with
his horns, laid on him heartily with a
strong staff that he had in his hands,
knocked down the candle and disap-
peared.
The rest OF the apprentices, who had
stood barefooted at the door to enjoy
the Joke, were obliged TO run and
thrust their heads into their beds to
prevent their laughter being heard.
Scarcely. could they sleep all night for
their merrlment, but the old man was
as still I'm his room as a stone.
At their usual hour, long before day
light, they jumped out of bed and be
gan to dress themselves with sufficient
hustle TO attract the old mans atten-
ton, but scarcely were they on the
floor when he called out to know what
they were after and, being answered
that they were getting up, said:
"Oh, never mind, my lads-neyer
mind. Go to bed again. IL viii be
time enough these two hours"
The lads, Of course, popped into bed
again with right good will and were
very much amused at the success Of
their experiment.
They lay till they heard the old man
himself getting up, when they arose
and got buslly to work.
At breakfast and dinner they were
agreeably surprised at the improve
ment Of their fare and at the coaxing
tone I'm which their master spoke to
them.
Help yourselves, lads-help your
selves. Those that work hard should
live we'll"
It was not many days, either, before
he sent for n tailor and had them all
put into good, handsome suits OF
clothes, that they might make their APP
pearance at church, a place they never
before heard him mention, but whittier
he now duly went, with his train Of APP
prentlces walking in good order after
him.
Nay, whenever n holiday came, In
stead Of being, as they were before, the |
only people at work, their master was
the first to tell them Of 1t and advise |
them to get out and have a mouthful
OF fresh air In the fields, saying very |
feelingly:
"All work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy"
In short, the old man was cured Of |
his cruelty. Fear had done that which |
could not.-New York News. |
The Baby at the Play.
II. G. Barnabee tells story about a
baby which made the hit Of the even
ing at a certain performance Of PA
tience" in which he took part: