Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-09-06
PLUCK. {
by Laura E. Richards. I
from the Youths Companion. Reur'pteS - n
Special Permissionl

honesty, and then pluck
those are 'ae things needful. Speak
ing Of pluck" He stopped TO answer
the summons Of the telephone. said
Yes and NO" by turns for five
minutes, and then resumed:
speaking of pluck, as you were do
ing Just now reminds me Of a story.
the beginning and end of which is
that one word"
We Sttled 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.
Il was sitting here in this very
chair'' the ironmaster began, tone
day about seven years ago, or maybe
eight. Time goes so fast | hardly try
to keep count Of it in these days. At
any rate, here / was sitting, reading
the newspaper, when there came q
knock al the door.
Come int I said. and in walked a
stranger. lie was a young man. about
8 years old, dressed like a gentleman.
though his clothes had seen a good
deal Of service. TAN. with his head
held up. and gray eyes that met mine
fair and square.
Always look first al a mans eyes,
my boy. II he looks you in the eye.
be is worth trying il his eyes shift
about here and there. as il they didn't
know where 70 look. or were afraid of
seeing something they didn't like
have nothing 10 DO with him. That's
my experienced
Wen this young man came up 10
my desk, and spoke without waiting
for me; yet it was no want OF man
ners, for his manners were good.
q" Good morning. siri' ne said; and
his voice had a clear ring to it that !
liked 4 want work. Can you give
me any?
Il shook my head. We never took
strangers in that way, and / don't
recommend the practice at any time.
"'No, sir!' 4 said. we have no work
here. Sorry l can't accommodate
YOU took up my paper again, and
looked 20 see him 90 out without more
words. but he stood still. I must have
work. be said. I would try TO give
you satisfaction. sir. and / tell you /
must have it,
My good sir I said. putting the
paper down. there is no vacancy in
the place. II You viii give me your
name and references. / will make a
note OF them, and some day when we
do have a job "a dispose Of ] viii re-
member you. That is the best | can
do for you to-day
THE young nan shook his head
That won't dol he said. Think
again. sir. Surely in this great place
there must be something a strong,
man a do. IL is useless 10
talk OF waiting tin a vacancy occurs.
I must have work now, TO-DAY! IL is
absolutely necessary
1T was on the tip Of my tongue TO
tell him that II was absolutely neces-
sary for him 10 leave that Office and
shut the door after him; but looked
at him again, and didn't say il.
81 saw that he was telling the
truth. and that he must have work
II wasn't that he looked shabby. or
that there was any suspicion of whin-
ing or ~snivelling about him. If there
had been. out he would have gone in
quick time. But there was a
look in his eyes-well. l hardly know
how 20 describe it, but the man was
desperate. and had some reason for
being 20.
"'What kind OF work DO you want|
/ said. putting down the paper again
ANY kind
"'You mean thatT
81 do. Anything that will put
in the mouths Of he choked
, little. and stopped. Then. 4 came
from Canada two days ago. with my
wife and three children. and was
robbed in the train Of my wallet
rave not a penny
" Come with mel I said. And he
followed me out Of the works. His
tory might be true. or II might not.
/ had thought Of a way to test
he metal Of which he was made.
.The stark mill. in which l had
.ome interest had been partly
,nrned a few days before, and had
gang at work. clearing away the
-nbbish. A dirty job il was; the men
we're m 10 their waists half the time
= mud and water. and the whole
lace was a muddle Of rusty iron and
arm, timhers and what-not-looked
the end Of the world, and the
wrong end at that.
THE gang l had on were mostly
,,Hans-it was too dirty work for q
y,,kae "a touch. and even the Irish
shy Of II. They were little.
monkey-Iooking fellows. work
,wav. and chattering in their I'M
%sibberish. glanced from
20 nv gentleman, with his clear
rhite skin. and hands which showed
IA, whatever trade he had worked
quay wreckare hadn't