The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-11-07

SAUk T.
plfied in its fabric, of the intricate workings of the
economic system. We felt such budding business
genius should not go unnoted
Then there's Leroy Working. Leroy Working
had way Of laughing that crisp. His eyes
crinkled like new, crunchy wrapping paper, his nose
wrinkled and chuckle broadened into something
a bit better. He slight man but stocky, and
with great energy. That is he had energy If one
can indicate it the strength of the fact that at
nearly 80 years he still clambered over the best
of the towns rooftops. He probably knew the
scene better the rooftops Of Sank Centre than
any other man in town. Leroy Working was a
character. 1t is singular that in the years he was
in the plumbing business he never had a car. His
four wheel cart, pint sized farm variety, his
of ocomotion for his equipment. The
sight of his big numbering dog, Duke, at his side
became symbol about the street. The two together
as synonymous the buffalo and the nickel.
There is much in the life of Leroy Working
that reflects the fact that he worked his way to
this town in 1881 horse trader from Missouri.
For him trading delightful business. There
the compulsion of challenge. He really never
got it, {. Once, and both he and Mrs. Working
chuckled about it, he traded the Working family
stove smack in the dead of winter. During the
fifty-odd years he lived here he owned two black
smith shops, grocery store four houses, worked
miller, plumber, timer and roofer. One
house he owned for just twenty minutes The
story bears repetition. 1t was at the time he
owned the little grocery store that Mrs. Working
tended while he at the mill They were to trade
it for the John Houghton house. Mr.. Houghton
had said, IF you aren't satisfied, I'll buy it back
for 800 dollars in gold" In just twenty minutes
told of that occasion, II remember Mr.. Houghton
had on a long fur coat. He reached down into the
pocket and pulled out the 900 in gold. 1t was the
latest time we're ever had" In one fell swoop
they had ridded themselves of a grocery, house
in return they had nine hundred in gold. Traders
deal quickly
Mrs Working was spokesman about the home
flair
A walnut dresser-worth fifteen dollars that she
bought as girl-a bedstead worth dollar and a
half, a tick filled with borrowed straw and not
even banket-that furnished their first home
There were chairs in that first homemaking
efort-ony nail keys and dry goods boxes. when
someone came to visit, gave them a nail keg to sit
on. thought it was more stylish" Mrs Working
told u.s. For the first few weeks the Carthage Gaz-
cite, newspaper mailed to Mr.. Working, served
as curtains. After she'd told us that she said
quite simply but proudly, I'VE were happy then
are now"
For your columnist Leroy Working was on the
list OF our favorie oldsters He seemed not to mind
the audacity of youngster prying into his thoughts
interruptlng his work. his memories He seemed to
like telling us. We turned to him often to aug
ment stories on the weather. He had neatly cata-
logued in his mind aided by a little thumbed-over
diary book, details of the weather. He could make
1t read like fiction. He remembered the year
Sank Lake froze early because that was his first
year here and, having never a duck nor eaten
one he shot loon instead the skin of which graced
the hgn chalr Tor their first child He remem-
bered cold winters particularly because in the mill
ne worked with his cap down his ears and
mittened hands You what we mean.
And then not many weeks ago, he came to us and
said They want me to retire. What do YOU think"
We could scarcely think After all the wisdom
of years was in his hands But he didn't want
advice; only confirmation. 1t incredible in
way; he had been at 1t so long. We had struck
the point. AS he said, 1--WE been at it long
enough He seemed to want to retire. All of
sudden 1t didn't seem quite 50 important to keep
working hard. For few weeks while Mrs.
Working was i'll, he was partially idle from his
work. But they weren't carefree hours he might
have liked. Leroy Working never really retired
You can remember him, his cart his dog clam
bering the rooftops of this Main Street.
And yet one tale to tell Henry Orth was Just
thrtyseven years old. And his thirsting desire was
to farm. He had worked in town here and finally
lily were to live a farm The day before they
moved he was taken to the hospital. During
these several weeks Mrs Orth and the two children
were very busy Busy planning for the homecom-
ing day when he would leave the hospital. :. Henry
Ortiz never filled the niche of that ambition; he
never lived on that farm. .
Three tales Billy and his pumpkins. Leroy and
MS retirement. Henry and his farm. The whole
violent scope of the passing parade. The panorama
of the Main Street snudged into three simple
tales. We've told them not for the morbidy
curious for hearing the tattoo typewriter
keys We've told them because, more than any
town-any town. Note the absence of fear. Billy
didn't fear for his pumpkins. Nor Leroy for his
retirement. Nor Henry for his farm. &. u. Instead
is the ascendant force that makes all of us live
diligently-hope. The story Of plans in the making