Mexico Missouri message., 1915-05-06
Fred Underwood Began Business
Life as Driver of An
Ore Cart.
FlDDLED FOR COMPANIONS
Admirer Of His Music Got Him Job
AZ Freight Handler and Now He
Is President of Big
Rail Line, but still
Unpretentlous.
BY OSBORN MARSHALL.

per SynolCate.)
Some forty-f1ve 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 at to work in
Mines" said the foreman bluntly.
"Why don't your folks support you
and give you a chance to stay at
school and amount to something some
time? This is no place for green
horn. anyway"
well, 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 a good many
Of us children, and so thought I'd go
to work. 1 guess am not so green as
1 look" The boy stretched out his
muscular young arms to show how
much work they were capable of do
ing. II know a lot about work, even
If have been to school. l 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
nall" admitted the boy. He hest
tated moment before giving the an.
swer that might cost him the chance
of employment. well, honestly
haven't had much experience at driv.
ing horses, but don't mind trying
You see, we never could afford to keep
horses at home. viii you give me a
try at it,"
Promoted BY Runaway.
The foreman consented and the next
day Fred Underwood-for that was
the young fellows name-arrived
early at the entrance of the mine and
after the proper credentials had been
presented, he was assigned his cart
and horse and told the simple duties
of mine cart driver.
Fred took his seat on the cart with
elation and confidence.
Anyone could drive a horse like
that" he thought as he looked at the
mute companion of his toll. Don't
believe that cannon ball could start
him running"
/ It was easy enough, the work, and
aside from the dirt and the CRIME, il
was not unpleasant. Then, some time
the second day-tradition does not say
exactly what hour 1t was-an inspira
ton came to the horse-an intuitive
knowledge that the man at the end Of
the reins was a greenhorn; that he
didn't really know anything about 8
horse and therefore had no right to be
driving one. The horse accordingly
pricked up his ears and-with speed
that belied his worn appearance
dashed away, with poor Fred Under
wood helplessly tugging at the reins.
When Fred gathered himself to
gether after the runaway and went t.
the foreman to report the mishap h
was convinced that his services woulC
no longer be needed at the mine.
An unexpected greeting was in store
for him.
you had bad luck with that horse,
said the foreman, "but don't give VI
yet. There is room for gang fore
man in the mine. Can you boss gam
of miners better than you bossed tina
horse?"
Fred went to work at his second jol
with enthusiasm. He used to wor
hard all day and at night at the chea
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 tn
dirt and the CRIME and the toll Of tn
mines.
What His Fiddle Did For Him.
Among Fred's best friends In tn
mine was man who carried the ma
from the railroad to the mines. Thi
man. older than himself by man
years, was one Of the most eager Al
MIXERS Of the newcomers simple mi
iodlous playing, and SO a stron
friendship had grown up betwee
them.
One day when he was at the raj
road station getting the mail bags Ii
freight master offered him positio
as freight handler. He was eager
accept the position, for IT carried viii
1t the munihcent wage of dollar
day, but when 1t came to the real
sue the mail carrier had to admit thi
his sole knowledge of the art Of wri
Ing was limited to the shaping Of Il
letters Of his own name.
But / know q man that will 81
you,- said the mail carrier to Il