Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-02

$780, this plight l ran upon Eogar-
ty. the policeman who had been the
good angel of my one hopeful day in
journalism. His manner invited my
confidence.
"What luck!" said he.
pad luck" | answered. "Only $40
in my pocket and nothing TO do"
lie swung his stick %thoughtfnlly.
'If ] was YOU" said he. I'D take
anything honest. l'pon me wurred,
I'd ruthcr pound rocks than lay idle"
$50 would II"
"Wul YEP said he, with animation,
"a he 'ook my measure from head to
foot.
"lll do anything that's honest"
"Ah. ha!" said he. rubbing his sandy
chin whiskers. Don't seem like ye'd
been used { hard wurruk."
"Hut | can do it," I said.
He looked Mt me sternly and bcckon.
ed with his head.
Come along" said he.
He took me to n gang Of Irishmen
working in the street near by.
Boss Mccormick" he shouted.
y hearty voice answered, AYE, aye,
counselor" and Mccormick came out
OF the crowi, using his shovel for Il
star.
"a happy day f yc".' said Fogarty.
Same t youse. an nanny O. thim.'
said Mccormick.
yen ii III" one r We do mo a IA
vor," said FoGarty.
an WHAT said the other.
"a job for this lad. Will We DO it:"
Il wuil,' said Mccormick. And he
did.
| went TO work early the next morn
ing with nothing on bat my under
clothing and trousers save Il pair Of
gloves that excited the riliculc of my
fellows. With this livery and the
righteous determination of earning So
a day I began the inclegant task of
pounding rocks"-nO merry occupa-
ton. l assure yon. for a hot summers
day on Manhattan Island.
We were paving Park place. and We
had to break stone and lay them and
shovel dirt and dig with Il pick and
crOwlnr.
My fac" and neck were burned Grim.
son when we quit work Mt 8, and I
went home with a feeling OF having
been run over by the cars. | had n
strong sense of sou and body. the lat
ter dominated by a mighty appetite
McClingan viewed me at first with
suspicion in which there was n faint
flavor of envy. He invited Inc at once
to his room and was amazed ut seeing
it was no lark. | told him frankl~
what | was doing and why and where.
II would not mind the loaning Of a
few dollars" he said. AS Il matter
o personal O~bligement would be
most happy to do Utmost happy,
Brewer. indeed | would"
] thanked him cordially. but declin-
cd the favor, for ut home they had al
ways taught me the danger of borrow
ing. and | was bound to have it ont
with i'll luck OH my WI resources.
"Greeley is back" said he, land I
shall see him tomorrow, l will put
him in mind O you"
] went away sore in the morning.
but with no dropping spirit. In the
middle Of the afternoon l Strengthened
mp a moment to ease my back and look
about me-.
There at the edge OF the gang stood
the great Horace Greeley and Waxy
Michigan. The latter beckoned me
as he caught my eye. ! went aside to
greet them. Mr.. Greeley gave me his
hand.
tIlN vnvJ NJ n a "a t.11 ,nn <bnt -A,.s1
rather work than beg OF borrow" said
he.
"That's about it." ! answered.
"And amt ashamed of it?'
"Ashamed! Why?" said I. not quite
sure Of his meaning. 1t had never oc-
CURED to me- that one had any cause
to be ashamed Of working.
He turned TO Michigan and laughed.
81 guess you'll do for the Tribune"
he said. "Come and see me at IL to-.
morrow"
And then they went away.
II I had been a Knight Of the Garter
I could not have been treated with
more distinguished courtesy by those
hard handed men the rest Of the day.
! bade them goOdby at night and got
my order for 81. One Pat Devlin. a
great hearted Irishman who had shar-
ed my confidence and some of nv
d%Oughnuts on the curb Mt luncheon
time. l remember best of all.
Yell niver fergit the tonne we
wurrnkcd together under Boss Nc.
Cormick,' said he.
And to this day, whenever meet
the good man. now bent and gray, he
says always: Good day t. We. Mr..
Brewer. ID We mind the tonne we
pounded the rOck under Ross McCor.
mickY"
Mr.. Greeley gave me a place at once
on the local staff and invited me to
dine with him at his home that even.
ing. Meanwhile he sent me to the
headquarters OF the Republican cen
trial campaign committee ON Broad |
way, opposite the New York hotel. |
Lincoln had been nominated in May, |
and tho great political fight Of 1860
was shaking the city with its thun-
dsrs.
turned In my copy Mt the city desk
In good season, and, although-the great