CHAPTER XIII.
BETTER LET SLEEPING DOGS ALONE.
When John Rhines went into the blacksmith’s shop, he found two other boys there, apprentices, who had been at work some time. They all boarded with the master, as was the custom at that day.
It was customary for the boys to do some chores about the house, cut and bring in the wood, and on Monday mornings, the water for the washing. It was also the wont of all mechanics, at eleven and four o’clock, to have a glass of liquor, and most of them had a luncheon—crackers and salt fish. Then the men on the roofs came down from their ladders, carpenters laid aside their axes, and masons their trowels, and all set down to “wet their eye,” as they called it. Thus apprentices were early initiated into the practice of dram-drinking.
The names of these boys—both of whom were older than John, and one of them nearly out of his time—were Sam Glacier and William Lewis. The younger of these, Sam Glacier, had sprung from a very poor, low family, was of a jealous, suspicious disposition, didn’t love work, was careless, and rather slow to learn.
Sam was very glad when Rhines came, because he knew that the chores that he had been compelled to do would devolve upon Rhines; that he should be put behind the anvil, and Rhines would have to blow and strike for him. But in other respects he did not like John. Indeed, it was impossible that there could be any friendship between two natures so entirely opposite. Sam despised John because he didn’t swear, and would work whether Mr. Starrett was in the shop or not. John despised Sam because he did swear, and would sit on the anvil whenever his master’s back was turned. Sam despised John because he knelt down and said his prayers when he went to bed, and wouldn’t drink liquor at eleven and four o’clock. John despised Sam because he lay down just like a hog.
Sam spent his Sundays strolling about the wharves, sailing in boats, or getting together other boys, and spending the time in smoking and card-playing, and disliked John because he would not go with him, and do as he did. John had not been in the shop a month before Sam saw that Mr. Starrett liked him a great deal better than himself, and didn’t hesitate to show it.
Sam, imputing this to the fact that John was the son of a rich and he of a poor man, was embittered against both him and his master. It was not, however, for any such reason. Mr. Starrett was a rugged, driving, resolute, generous-hearted man. Indeed, he was something of the turn of Captain Rhines, whom he considered one of the finest of men.