Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-31
THE VERY BOY.
Stood BY His Principles and What
Came of Ii. |

Stood BY His Principles and What
Came Of 1t.
There's boy in the electrical shops
that l want to recommend to your at
tention," said the superintendent of the
Eureka Manufacturing company, as he
and the president came down the steps
of the office at the noon hour.
He has an inventive turn of mind,
and has already made several sugges-
tions that have saved us a lot Of
money!"
How old is he?"
Fifteen? He is a mere child"
What about him." asked that
shrewd old gentleman.
But he has a mans head on his
shoulders. There he is now-the little
fellow that just threw that hand
spring He's the queerest possible COM
bination of childhood and manhood
that ever I saw What in the world
is he up to-"
AS the superintendent passed a fair
haired, slightly built lad disentangled
himself from a crowd of fifty or sixty
workmen who were hurrying into the
street and hid behind the corner of the
building. peering keenly toward a fig
ure coming slowly down the road. The
object Of his attention. a man of al
most gigantic mould, was dressed in
his working clothes, having evidently
lust come out Of the rolling mill. where
he had no doubt been pudding iron
In spite of his dirty, stained garments.
he presented not only an imposing, hut
an attractive appearance. His great
head was finely poised upon his broad
shoulders. His features were strong.
his blue eyes keen. and his heavy shock
of hair so fiery red that his shon mates
rallod him the "Volcano." The hoy
nermitted him to pass the corner. and
then. with an agile spring. bounded on
70 his huge hack and flung his arms
around his neck.
"You little imp" the two observers
heard the giant eXclaim. and they saw
him hoist his evidently not unwelcome
burden across his shoulder and start
down the street on a run, the boys
musical laugh ringing out, and the
crowd cheering.
That's his crony-Mike McGinnis,"
said the superintendent.
"Queerly mated pair" the president
replied.
Perhaps you never heard how they
became friends"
mo"
well, this little shaver's name is
Alfred Atherton. He lived in a little
town up in the state somewhere: and
when his parents died a couple Of
wears ago, he struck out for himself,
and came down to Cincinnati. For a
few weeks he sold papers, then got into
the messenger service, and finally
landed here. He was good natured and
clever, making many friends, but eX-
citing some hostility by his indomtable
teetotalism. While he was not aggres-
sive about his temperance ideas, it be-
came perfectly evident that he disap-
proved of his shopmates' habits Of
rushing the growler.' They resented
this, of course, ridiculing, abusing and
tempting him cruelty. Nothing could
move him, however, and they resorted
to the scurviest trick you ever heard
about.
Eight or ten Of the biggest and
toughest boys in the shop devised
scheme to inveigle him into one Of
the saloons. and either persuade or
force him to drink a glass Of rum.
Somehow or other they got him inside
the door, and, failing to make him
obey them Voluntarily began to threat
en-. We'll pour it down your throat
they said You will?' he said with
Hashing eyes. Well see! My father
fills a drunkard's grave. and promised
my mother on her dying bed that I'd
never drink a drop! Now, make me
break that promise If you can't With
shaver flung off his coat and set his
back against the wall.
"In a jiffy the crowd was on him,
and he went down, but fighting like
wildcat! Several Of them held his
mouth open, and one was just going
TO pour the whisky into 1t, when this
same big Irishman sprang from his
chair. and, SeiZing them one after an
other. flung them across the room as II
they had been five-pound bags of salt.
When he came to little Atherton at
the bottom of the pile he picked him
up, set him on the har, slapped him
on the hack, and said to him, you lit
tie sralDeen, you make me want to sign
the pledge
"'Then do it, said Atherton.
but can't keep it.
YES YOU can. with the help Of
God the boy replied.
There was something about the
honest look in the boys eyes and the
clear ring in his voice that made the
giant tremhle. He had been a terrible
man. you understand. having taken to
drink on account of the death Of lit
tie child. He was the best puddler in
the city, earning eight or ten dollars a
day; but spending 1t all in weekly
1runks. and going home to abuse the
sweetest and most patient little woman
in the world.
For a moment McGlnnis looked him
hlankly in the face while the crowd of
watching from a distance.
MY Dennis would have been just
your size said the half-drunken pud-
dler. and burst into tears.
Don't cry! Don't cry.' exclaimed
little Atherton, putting both hands on
his shoulders in an agony of sympathy,
for it hurt him to see the giant weep
ing
Come home with me, lad the
Trishman replied. and. lifting him down
from the bar, led him out of doors
No one knows just what happened:
hut it looks as if the McGinnises have
adopted the boy, for he stays in the
house, and the Volcano has never
drunk another drop"
Send the boy to me at 7.30 tomor-
row morning: I've been looking for
him for twenty years." said the pres-
dent, when the superintendent had