Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
Luck or Pluck?

When the big coal strike was on. two
years ago. an ordinary boy did an extra
ordinary thing. There may have been a
good deal of luck about it, but there were
perseverance and pluck as well.
The Gordons were poor but Industrious
Mr.. Gordon worked in the factory, and
Mrs. Gordon kept very busy at home
caring for large family. The children
helped what they could out Of school hours
ALI except Jenny, the cripple.
After all. there was a way in which he
helped, too. His legs were all twisted out
of shape. as the result of fall. He never
went out except his brother Carl carried
him; yet he was the cheeriest, sunniest
member Of the Gordon family
Carts ambition was to send Jenny to a
great surgeon. All his own money was
generously saved for that purpose. In
stead of play, he would go fishing in the
sound. and then sell the fish to increase
the little saving.
That Is how he happened to be out one
afternoon when he dropped his pocket
knife overheard. The late autumn day
was rather warm, though the water was
cold. Still, Carl was unwilling to lose a
good knife where the water was not more
than twenty-five feet deep. So of came his
clothes, and neat. straight dive carried
him quickly to the bottom. A second and
a third dive were made. all unsuccessful.
But there was another thing that made
the boy think. At each dive he brought up
a piece of hard coal. He sat shivering in
the sun. trying to think how to find his
knife. when suddenly he remembered hear
Ing how a barge of coal had sunk there,
and how the owner had declared that 1t
would cost more to raise 1t than 1t was
worth. IF anybody wants to raise her.
he had been heard to say, "he's welcome
to the barge and the coal.'
Nobody did want to. so it seemed. and
lying at the bottom Of the sound the coal
barge was soon forgotten.
But all that had happened when coal
was plentiful and cheap. Now there was
almost a coal famine on account of the
strike.
Carl hurriedly dressed. took his bearings
SO that he could easily row to the spot
again, pulled up the piece of iron that he
used for an anchor and rowed ashore. He
let the neighborhood know what he had
found. for the place would soon have
swarmed with boats. Things at the bot
tom Of the sea are public property as much
Straight to the cottage Of his Uncle
Sandy went Carl Sandy was a slow. easy
going man. who would rather smoke and
tell yarns than work. In his younger years
he had been an expert diver and fisher
man.
Uncle Sandy" shouted Carl. as he
| dashed into the kitchen, what has become
of your diving suit?''
Sandy between long puffs at his pipe.
Carl had decided that he would conflde In
his uncle and. If possible. get some help
from him. The boys enthusiasm was infec-
| tious. and the old suit was promptly got
! out and repaired. He even offered to help
Carl both with advice and work.
You go to old jeff Smiths and borrow
his small barge. Maybe he'll give you a
hand. too"
| Old Jeff was very willing to hire himself
| and his barge for small sum. and in
side Of two days the whole outfit was ready
| for operations. Carl was to do the diving
but Sandy had made sure that the air pump
| and tubing were in perfect order and the
| two old fellows had rugged hopper, which
Carl was to fill with coal, and they two
| were to haul up.
AS Jeffs old barge was lowed to the pier
with its first load Judge Bancroft sauntered
down the road.
Good day. Sandy; what are you towing
In? Coal? Why. man. you have a small
| fortune there. Is 1t sold?'
1T belongs to the lad" answered Sandy.
pointing with his thumb toward Carl. I'm
| just hired help, judge"
ITS for sale. sir" said the boy, proudly;
| "all except what we need at home"
Without moments hesitation the Judge
| said: I'm buy all you can spare and pay
you your own price"
Carrs eyes sparkled. There is more
where got ths-more than you are likely
| to want"
IN find you customers for it all And
Z
| to cart It,"
Day after day they worked. and in some
| manner the secret was kept from Carts
| folks. The Judge had been good as his
word. He had even undertaken to do
| the collecting. so that the young merchant
| would get all his money in lump.
Barely had the last of the coal been raised
| when Carl broke down with fatigue and a
| bad cold-bad enough to keep him several
| days in bed. About the same time Mr..
| Gordon sprained his wrist and all the fam
! lily was blue, except Jenny and Carl.
Then one morning the judge drove up He
! found Carl better and said he had come
to report. At the same time. by chance,
| Uncle Sandy came in, and then the whole
story had to be told.
| How much was there? Over four hun
| dred dollars! Two hundred went to the
| surgeon. who declared he could fix Jem-
| my's legs up like new. The Judge took an
| terest in MIR. Gordon and got him a better
position. and Carl has commenced work in
| the judges Office, with 5000 in the savings
bank.
Is 1t luck or pluck?