The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-07-20
CHAPTER V-continued.

1t was too cold and stormy for little
Charlie Thomas to be carried out of
doors every day. He sat in the win
dow and watched the new hired man
shovel deep canyons in the snow
Everybody but Charlie disliked the
new hired man. He was a surly.
moody fellow, with hardly a word to
say, and acted as If he were always
ashamed OF something.
THE reason you don't like Lem
said Charlie, "is because you don't like
him"
"Goshr' chuckled the boss. That's
a deep remark. Oh, well, boy, Wen
give the critter g fair chance, you can
bet on that"
In fact, Sam felt that he had given
Lem more than a fair chance. At this
time of year it was hard to get the
equivalent of the mans food out Of his
labor. Sam kept him on the farm for
the sake of Mrs. Brown and the chill
dren; he had made n bargain.
Once he ran away. Sam traced him
to tow. found him already half-drunk
on what whisky he could whine for,
and barely saved him from being
locked up in jail. 1t may have been
brutal medicine, but the thrashlng that
Sam awarded him for his truancy laid
him up in bed for two days. The boss
despaired Of ever doing better with
him than TO keep him out of mischief
for the greater part of the time. Any
how, he would force him to work and
help support his family.
Occasionally Mrs. Brown, Mary
Alice and little Dick came out for sun
day dinner. At such times Lem was
encouraged to ''slick up" and sit down
with the family. At first he refused;
but at length he allowed himself to be
persuaded-Martha was never quite
sure how-and a stranger would not
nave known, by casual observation.
that Lem was not In the entire good
graces OF all present. But he had
very little to say.
II want you to understand, Lem. -
Sam would explain, that / amt got
the least grudge against you, though
you may think 1 act ike I had. I'm
goin' to treat you just as good as you'll
2et me. II there's a spark Of manhood
left in you-welI. everybody knows
what a good blow'll do 10 a spark"
Sam chuckled; the joke was coarse
'and harsh. But be knew his man.
Here was occasion for no delicate
measures, he thought Kid gloves
would be entirely out Of place
Perhaps Sans method OF treatment
was not wholly reliable. He was CON
Ecientious in administering Il, however.
1t was a case OF kill or cure, ne ra-
gOned. But he didn't hate Lem Brown:
and every time he wagged a fist under
Iem's terrified and retiring chin Sam
had, way down deep in his heart, a
tenderness toward Lotde and Mary
Alice and little Dick, OF which his
derceuess was a reversed expression.
Little Charlie Thomas liked Lem
Brown. He did not know why Lem
was working for his father on the farm
INSTEAD Of i'm the city. whore ne could
be with his family; but the explanation
satisfied him. Lem was needed to help
che boss.
To Charlie, too, it was an advantage
that be was unaware Of Lem's de
pravity. lie saw in him only a sort Of
7wOe-begoue. sad-eyed hulk of q man.
working incessantly at tasks that
called for a lot OF brute strength.
Brute strength and physical prowess
delighted Charlie. Hercules and SIR
Galahad shared about equally his re-
gard, with a shade in favor Of sir
Galahad. in spite of his fathers cordial
Endorsement OF Hercules
Lem was as powerful as an OK. I'm
the early winter, with the FIRST sled
ding, Sam began TO haul stones for the
foundation OF his new creamery.
Charlie watched Lem iuggie the great
rocks, and bis eyes spark.ed with In
tense admiration
Gee, Lemw add be-. when the big
iaborcr came IN FOR his dinner "Ain't
you just the strongest Teller. I been
watchIn' you all the forenoon"
"fes. J ar pretty strong" agreed
Lem. It was The nrst sign Of self.re-