The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-05-20
Fred Underwood Began Business
Life as Driver Of An
Ore Cart.
FIDDLED FOR COMPANIONS
Admirer Of His Music Got Him Job
AZ Freight Handler and Now He
- PRECEDENT Of Big
Rail Line, but still
unpratentious.
by OSBORN MARSHALL.


Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate)
Some forty-five years ago a young
boy, fresh OF face and bright of eye.
applied for work at the copper mines
situated at Fort Howard, on Green bay,
Wisconsin.
Ever had a job before?" demanded
the mine foreman as he scrutinized the
boys face.
NO." admitted the boy frankly. 81
have never worked for wages any
where before. have Just come from
school at Wayland academy"
"Schoolboys aren't fit to work in
mines," said the foreman bluntly
why don't your folks support you
and give you chance to stay at
school and amount to something some
time? This is no place for a green
horn, anyway"
We'll, you see" the boy explained.
my father can't afford TO keep me in
school any longer. He is a minister
In the country near Milwaukee. His
salary isn't much, and it isn't always
paid at that. There are q good many
Of us children, and SO / thought I'd go
to work. guess am not so green as
look" The boy stretched out his
muscular young arms to show how
much work they were capable of do
ing. Il know a lot about work. even
II I have been to school / can saw
wood and drive nail My grandfather
taught me that"
you do look pretty husky" agreed
the foreman, and then he looked over
the list of vacancies in the mind. did
you say. boy, that you can drive a
horse?" he asked.
What l said was that could drive
nail" admitted the boy. He hest
tated a moment before giving the an
swer that might cost him the chance
Of employment wen, honestly
haven't had much experience at driv
ing horses. but don't mind trying
You see, we never could afford to keeI
horses at home. Will you give me q
try at it?"
Promoted BY a Runaway.
The foreman consented and the mex
day Fred UnderwOod-for that was
the young fellows name-arriveC
! early at the entrance, of the mine and
after the proper credentials had beer
presented, he was assigned his car
and horse and told the simple duties
Of mine cart driver.
Fred took his seat ON the cart will
citation and confidence.
Anyone could drive a horse like
that" he thought as he looked at thu
mute companion of his toll. Don
believe that a cannon ball could star
him running"
! 1t was easy enough, the work, and
aside from the dirt and the CRIME,
the second day-tradition does not sa,
exactly what hour it was-an !zsspira
ton came to the horse-an intuitiy
knowledge that the man at the end o
the reins was a greenhorn; that b.
didn't really know anything about
horse and therefore had no right to b
driving one. The horse accordingly
pricked up his ears and-with a spec,
that belied his worn appearance
dashed away, with poor Fred Under
wood helplessly Juggling at the reins.
When Fred gathered himself tC
gether after the runaway and went I
the foreman to report the mishap b
was convinced that his services woul
no longer be needed at the mine.
An unexpected greeting was in stor
for him.
you had bad luck with that horse,
said the foreman, but don't give u
yet. There Is room for a gang for'
man In the mine. Can you boss a gan
Of miners better than you bossed tha
horse?"
Fred went to work at his second 10
with enthusiasm He used to wor
hard all day and at night At the ehea
boarding house he would get out HI
fiddle. which he had learned TO pla
in his fathers home near Milwaukee
and he would play for his companion
till they forgot their troubles and II
dirt and the CRIME and the toll Of Ii
mines.
What His Fiddle Did For Him.
Among Fred's best friends in n
mine was a man who carried the ma
from the railroad to the mines. Tn
man. older than himself by man
years, was one Of the most eager a
mirers OF the newcomers simple, m
lodious playing. and so stror
friendship had grown up betwee
| them.
One day whsn he was at the "a
road station getting the mail bags n
freight master offered him q pOsitiC
as freight handler. He was eager
access the position, for it carried VII
Il the runifccGt Sage OF a dollar
day, bat whcH II came TO the real
sue the mail carrier had TO admit tn
his sole knowledge OF the art OF VT
Z d. v.-oa ISp.ffad ~ the ahREu4uR Of N