Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-03-29

why uOn you swat tne BlSnOp one,
and get your pay?"
1.-THE Bishop isn't responsible"
''Well, I'll bet know who is, dang
him; and I'd like to swat him one for
you, the miserable old bag of bones,'
Never you mind, Danny; can take
care of myself"
Sure you can, and l guess you're
q laborin' man all right, even IL you
don't belong to the union. Why don't
you get up parsons union and go Oh,
striker BY Jove! would. Let your
parish go to"
Danny, don't you think it looks like
rain2'
"No, neither do you; but here we
are at the stone pile. My! but how the
fellers will grin when they see a ten
derfoot like you, and parson at that,
shovelin' stone. But they won't think
any the less of you for it, mind you"
he reassured his companion.
Maxwell knew most of the men and
| greeted them by name, and when he
rolled up his sleeves and began work,
| they quickly saw that he was mo
slouch," and that he did not Soldier
or shirk, as many of them dio-tnoush
sometimes they were inclined to rest
on their shovels and chaff him good
naturedly, and ask him IL he had his
union card with him.
Shoveling stone is no picnic, as Dan
ny and his fellows would have put it.
1t is not only the hard obstructed
thrust, thrust of the shovel into the
heap Of broken stone, and the con.
slant lift and swing of each shovelful
into the wagon; 1t is the slow monot.
ony of repetition of unvarying mo.
tion that becomes most irksome to
the tyro, and wears down the nervous
system Of the old hand till his whole
being is leveled to the insensibility Of
soulless machine.
But, though new to the process it.
self, Maxwell was not ignorant Of It's
effects; and soon he found himself
distracting his attention from the
strain of the muscular tension by fit.
ting the action to the rhythm OF some
old sailors chanteys he had learned
at college. The effect amused the men
and then as some of them caught the
beat, and others Joined in soon the
whole gang was ringing the changes
on the simple airs, and found it
rousing and cheerful diversion from
the monotony of labor.
If pause came, soon one of them
would call out: Come on parson;
strike up the hymn
One by one the wagons were load
ed and driven to the road. After they
had filled the last wagon, Danny put
on his coat, and he and Maxwell,
mounted and drove out of the yard
where are we going with this?"
Maxwell inquired.
"Down on the state road, first turn
to the left"
"Why that must be near Willow
Bluff, Mr.. Bascom's place isn't it?'
Right opposite. Bascom, he come
cut yesterday, and said he wouldn't
stand for that steam roller snortin'
back and forth in front of his house.
But Jim Ferris told him he had his
orders from Williamson, and he wasn't
goin' to be held by nobody until Viii.
hanson told him to stop. Jim isn't any
kind of fool"
When they arrived in front of Will
low Bluff, they stopped, dismounted,
and dumped the crushed stone, and
then returned to the stone yard. At
noon they camped out on the curb in
tront of Willow Bluff. After Maxwell
had done full justice to the contents
of his dinner pail, he stretched him
self full length on the grass for few
moments, chatting with his mates in
friendly fashion. Then he went over
to the roller and assisted the engineer
in "oiling up" Being novice at the
business, he managed to get his hands
black with oil, and smeared streak
across one cheek, which while it help
ed to obscure his identity, did not add
to his facial beauty. He was hlissfully
unconscious of this. About three
O'Clock Bascom returned from his Of
flee, just as Maxwell was dismounting
from the wagon after bringing a load
At first Bascom did not recognize the
rector, but second glance brought
the awful truth home to his sublimal
self, and he stopped and stared at
Maxwell, stricken dumb Maxwell po.
litely touched his hat, and smilingly
remarked that it was a fine day. Bas.
com made no reply at first.
Can it be possible that this is you,
Mr.. MAXWELL" he almost whispered
at last
at is, to the best of my knowledge
and belief
"What in the name of heaven are
YOU working with these men for, if
may ask"
"To earn sufficient money to pay
my grocer's bill"
Bascom colored hotly and sputter
ed:
"I consider n shame and dis