Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-09-06

tE 80 f1F
hand stayed on my mind, somehow.
and | ~strolled round by the wreck
two or three times in the afternoon,
making some errand, you under
stand, in that direction.
THAT nan was working. sir, like a
like a house afire. 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 talk.
If he had wanted to, for though he
was a muscular fellow, yau could see
with half an eye that he had never
done such work in his life before.
"The sweat poured down his face
like rain, but he never stopped, never
looked up, or knew that | or anyone
else was near-just plodded away.
swinging that pick as if there were
nothing else in the world.
"'That's pluckr said l to myself.
If he doesn't die he'll do
"For all that, / thought he would
give out after the first day-didn't
think his strength would last. When
he came in for his pay at night, he
was shaky and pretty tired-looking;
but he said never a word; just took
his pay with the rest, and thanked
me, and went off.
"The next morning l was very
busy, and although / thought of my
gentleman once or twice, l didn't
manage to get down to the wreck
till noon, soon after the whistle had
blown for knocking off work.
when I got there | saw the Italians
lying round on the ground or squatting
or the fences, eating their black bread
and sausage. and ehattering away as
usual; but no sight of my gentleman
IN the flannel shirt.
'Oho!' said / to myself. One day
was enough for him, was IT,? And 1
thought it would have been enough for
me, too. When you are not used to
the swing Of a pick, the way it takes
you in the back is something beyond
belief. / turned to come away, and
LOT there he was, sitting off in a cor.
ner by himself, all crouched up, with
a great bunch of bread in one hand and
a book in the other.
81 strolled up behind him and looked
over his shoulder at the book. 1t was
an Italian grammar, sir!
"My 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; i
couldn't afford to lose such an oppor-
tunity! The boss is very friendly, and |
have learned several phrases. Buon
giorno. ~signore!'
"'Are you a schoolmaster, | asked,
and working down in that hole?'
"'No,' he said, quietly. i am a book
keeper. II is a great advantage for
a bookkeeper TO be able to read and
answer foreign letters, and although
| have some knowledge of French. il
has never come in my way to hear ltal-
ian spoken. So now is my chance. / got
this grammar for IS cents he added,
turning it over, with a smile-the book
was pretty ragged and one cover was
gone-'and / am getting on pretty
WELL
WHY in the name Of everything
foolish didn't you apply for a position
as bookkeeper.' | asked, instead OF this
kind of thing?'
Nobody will take a bookkeeper
without references. / shouldn't think
much Of a firm that did. l suppose he
said. flushing. MY references were
in my wallet that vas stolen, and it
will be a week and more before ! get
new ones, as my native town is of the
main lines and letters take a good while
TO get there. I've always been fond of
open air and exercise he added, with
a quizzical look at the hole where he
had been digging, and now am get
ting lots of it,
Back stiff2' | suggested.
$50. so! I'll manage, though-often
been worse after a days rowing-and
this is Just as good bread as any other,
and he took a bite out of his bunch
and looked at his book, as much as 10
say he had talked enough and wanted
TO be back at his grammar.
q walked off and didn't see him again
till he came for his pay in the even
shaky again, but smiling as II he
bad had an excursion down the har-
bor. So il went on till the fourth day.
Every day / looked to see him give out;
but his pluck kept him up, and it's my
he would have worked in that
hole and got stronger and stronger-if
something hadn't turned up.
''The fourth day | was sitting in the
office. when the door opened and in
came Green. from the boiler works
over the a Morning he said. DO
you know of a bookkeeper? Our poor
fellow. who's been sick for so long, died
yesterday. 1 have to think about get
ling another
Il shook my head, but an idea came
o me.
viii you take a man on trial"
"'What kind of a MANI asked Green.
"sWelI. / hardly know, said /. 1
.hink he's a pretty good kind, but I've
,ply known him four days. | can an
wer for his power Of work, and | told
he mans story.