Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-11-18
The GIFT

After the old man passed us, turn
ed and looked at. him again.
| Who is that?" / asked.
Macy" said my friend, "a carpen-
| ter"
Where does he live?"
| Il don't know exactly. Over on the
west side somewhere, I believe"
From the minute I first saw him
felt I must know him There was
something unusual about him. That
was no ordinary man. even If he did
| wear a workman's garb
l have several times formed sudden
! attachments for men, and have never
/ been sorry. So felt no reluctance in
following the impulse that set me to
inquiring the next afternoon for
Macy, the carpenter
found the. place, six room cot
tage with good yard. A little to one
side and back Of the house was
small buildslg that appeared to be a
workshop.
1t was after work hours, and they
had told me would probably find
him there.
Is | didn't knock at the house. but
went across the yard to the other.
building and stepped in. The old man
was dressing a walnut board He did
not stop to inquire my business, but
talked a6ong in the friendliest sort
of way as he planed the board.
It was the brightness of his eye and
the lines of happiness in his face that
first attracted me- When an old man,
especially one who has toiled, loves
life as this one did, there is something
about him mountaineering
you love your work?'' said.
yes" he replied, and laid down his
plane; "but there is one thing about
1t don't like. People want poor work
and ugly work. The houses we have
to build are mostly ugly and incon-
venient. Then they use such poor ma
terial, and build on such shaky foun-
dations. / have to do it because they
demand it, and that is my daily
| bread"
DO you know why I came
| up here? / wanted to learn your Sc
cret. l met you on the street yesterday
and / knew at once from the light in
your face that you had learned some
excellent way in life.e Something that
has kept you in love with your work
| and the world"
He laughed, little embarrassed.
| Young man." he said, after mo-
ment, there isn't any secret about it.
| | don't know that l can tell you ex-
actly what you want to know.
But it seems like this to me. When
| was young fellow, / noticed nearly
| everybody wanted to do one thing,
and had to do another to make liv-
ing. Generally they get sour and hated
| the work they had to do. l always
loved wood, and it was my notion to
make something perfect out of it. l
had to work at the carpenters trade
| to make living but / fitted up a
place here, and when the day of do
| ing ugly work was over, I'd come in
| here and work out my own idea"
And where is some of the work."
| I asked, eagerly.
Its in there" He pointed to a
| back room.
| May / see?"
| / do not remember that any picture
| or painting ever gave the entire sat
| isfaction that I felt on looking around
| that ROOM
| Z The first thing we examined was
| book case
| Il worked nine months on that" he
said. And l did not wonder when
noted the perfect symmetry, the fault
less joints, the marvellous finish of the
| wood.
| The thing | most admired was a
| library table. 1t was so simple, so
finely finished, so perfect in outline,
| that fingered over it lovingly.
THAT is art" 1 said art applied
to things of daily use. never saw a
more beautiful thing than that table"
He was evidently pleased, but said
nothing. He seemed almost shy here
among his creations. | imagined he
felt that he was laying bare his too
intimate self.
I hesitated several minutes to ask
the question in my mind I was almost
afraid to, yet wanted 'thatstable as
had never wanted thing. of wood
| q win you. sell it," 1 asked at last.
= He shook his head. Il never sell
| them" he said. That's part of my
theory. A man should have something
of his very best that he won't ex-
change for money"
/ certainly showed my disappoint-
ment, but | appreciated his feelings.
Il will not sell it, but will give it.
! to you," he said, simply.
ooh, mol" was embarrassed. Il
could not take it for nothing
A look of disappointment came into
the carpenters face.
y am sorry" he said. Il was in
hopes you would
why, there is nothing / would
| prize so much" l answered. "But it
represents so much of your time and
work.
THAT is why wanted to give it
to you. think you understand it and
love it."