The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-10-06
IVES" gaid the ironmagter, afrgt

NJ ES, said the 1ronmaSter, first
honesty, and then pluck
those are Inc things needful. Speak
ing of pluck" He stopped to answer
the summons of the telephone, said
''Yes," and mo" by turns for five
minutes, and then resumed:
Speaking of pluck, as you were do
ing just now, reminds me of story,
the beginning and end Of which is
that one word"
We settled ourselves in our chairs.
We were sitting in the Office of the
iron works, and the air was full of
the sound of great hammers, crashing
and pounding; of the sharp hiss of
molten metal, and the clear ring of
smitten steel.
II was sitting here in this very
chair" the ironmaster began, zone
day about seven years ago, or maybe
eight. Time goes so fast I hardly try
to keep count Of it in these days. At
any rate, here I was sitting, reading
the newspaper, when there came q
knock at the door
Come inl' / said; and in walked a
stranger. he was young man, about
rs years old, dressed Iilze gentlemen,
though his clothes had seen 5 good
deal of service. Tail with his head
50 look first af mans
IS he looks You ia the aYe
worth trying. II his eyes hift
9oa here and there, as If they didn't
faeW where to look, or were AFRAID of
seeing something they didn't like
have nothing to 40 with himl That's
my experienced
Well this young man came up to
my desk, and spoke without waiting
Tor me; yet it was no want Of man-
ners, for his manners were good
Good morning, siri' he said; and
his voice had clear ring to it that i
Sed. I want work. Can you give
he any2'
4 shook my head. We never tool
strangers in that way, and don't
recommend the practice at any time.
Z" No, sirl' said. we hare no work
here. Sorry can't accommodate
you I took up my paper again, and
looked to see him go out without more
words, but he stood still. I must have
work. he said, I would try to give
you satisfaction, sir, and / tell you
must have it'll
''He spoke as If had the work 81
my coat pocket, and as if he was de-.
termined to get il from me at any
cost; yet perfectly respectful. you I'M
derstand, with nothing I could take
hold Of and get angry about
!" My good .siFs' 4 said putting
paper down, there is 8 Yacaner
the place. If you viii give me 80r
name and references, / viii ms
note Of them, and some day whaa
do have a job to dispose Of I win M
member you, That is the best i eaH
do for you to-day
"The young man shook bis d
THAT won't dOl' he said.
again. sir. Surely in this great p
there must be something sf5
willing man can do. It Is
talk Of waiting till a vaeancy
I must have work now, to-davl
absolutely necessarily
z 1T was on the tip Of nay Ton
tell him that it was ahsoIutsI
sary for him to leave that
shut the door after himi but
at him again, and didn't say
II saw that he was tafin
truth, and that he must have
1t wasn't that he looked shal
that there was any pieion
ing or snivelling abo him.
had been, out he would have
pretty quick time But thef
look in his eyes-weli 4 har
how to describe 81, but tie
desperate, and had some ar
being SO.
What kind Of 6r ao god
I said, putting down nar
"'Any kind
You mean that
"I do. Anything tl put
bread in the meths o
a little and stopad I ne
from Canada two days o
wife and three ehild