The St. Johns herald., 1901-02-16

was a muscular fellow, you 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 I or anyone else was near-just plodded away, swinging that pick as if there were nothing else in the world.
 "'That's pluck!' said I to myself. If he doesn't die he'll dol
 For all that, I 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 word; just took his pay with the rest, and thanked me, and went off.
 ''The next morning I was very busy, and although I thought of my gentleman once or twice, didn't manage to get down to the wreck till noon, soon after the whistle had blown for knocking off work.
 "When got there I saw the Italians lying round on the ground or squatting on the fences, eating their black bread and sausage, and chattering away as usual; but no sight of my gentleman in the flannel shirt.
 "'Ohol' said I to myself. One day was enough for him, was it 2 And l thought it would have been enough for me, too. When you are not used to the swing of pick, the way it takes you in the back is something beyond belief. I turned to come away, and To! there he was, sitting of in cor ner by himself, all crouched up, with a great hunch of bread in one hand and a book in the other.
 ''I strolled up behind him and looked over his shoulder at the book. It was an Italian grammar. sir!
 My shadow falling on the book startled him, and he looked up. I sup pose I must have looked as astonished as l felt, for he smiled and said: I couldn't afford to lose such an oppor- tunity! The boss is very friendly, andI have learned several phrases. Buon giorno, signore!'
 "'Are you a schoolmaster,' asked. and working down in that hole?'
 "'No,' he said, quietly. I am book keeper. It is a great advantage for a bookkeeper to be able to read and answer foreign letters, and although I have some knowledge of French, II has never come in my way to hear Ital- ian spoken. So now is my chance. 1 got this grammar for 15 cents,' he added turning it over, with a smile-the book was pretty ragged and one cover was gone-'and l am getting on pretty we'll
 "'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 bookkeeper without references. I shouldn't think much of firm that did; I suppose, he said. flushing. My references were in my wallet that was stolen, and it will be a week and more before l get new ones, as my native town is off the main lines and letters take 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 l am get ting lots of it.
 Rack stiff?' I suggested.
 So, so! I'll manage, though-often been worse after days rCwing-and this is just as good bread as any other, and he took bite out of his hunch and looked at his book, as much as to say he had talked enough and wanted to be back at his grammar.
 ''I walked off and didn't see him again till he came for his pay in the even- ing, shaky again, but smiling as if he had had an excursion down the har- bor. So it went on till the fourth day. Every day looked to see him give out 1; but his pluck kept him up, and it's my belief he would have worked in that hole and got stronger and stronger-if something hadn't turned up.
 1.-The fourth day was sitting in the office, when the door opened and in came Green, from the boiler works over the way. Morning. he said. Do you know of bookkeeper? Our poor fellow, who's been sick for so long, died yesterday. 1 have to think about get ting another
 Il shook my head, but an idea came to me.
 "'Will you take man on trial?'
 "'What kind of man 2 asked Green.
 Well, l hardly know said I. I think he's pretty good kind, but I've only known him four days. I can an- swer for his power of work. and told the mans story.
 Green went out with me, saw the young man. liked his looks and en- gagged him on the spot. He finished his days work, came out of his hole in the mud, shook hands with me and the next day found a home for the rest of his life.
 "That is seven or eight years ago, and he has been at the boiler works ever since. If he's not to be made a part ner soon I've been misinformed to-day and that is what put him into my uOoN "ASA yOO "SAS eoiAihS dOouI pluck just now. That man, sir, had the real article; and when a man has the real article, and is honest to boot, don't talk to me about his not succeed ing in life. Going? We'll, good morn- ing! Good luck to you in your new venture, and let your watchword be- Pluck!"