A short time after this circumstance, Mr. Starrett said to Glacier,—
“Sam, you’ve been with me more than two years. I’ve done my best to put you forward and learn you; but you are lazy and careless, and don’t care whether you learn or not. Rhines has learned more in four months than you have in the whole two years. I shall now put him behind the anvil, and you must blow and strike for him.”
Sam was grouty, and did all in his power to plague John, and spoil his work. One day, when John was at work upon something where it was necessary to be accurate, he irritated him beyond the limits of forbearance.
“Glacier,” said John, “if you keep on striking after I make the signal to stop, and if when you take anything out of the fire to weld, you hold it askew, and don’t keep it in its place till it’s stuck, I’ll lay you across this anvil, and put the hammer handle on you till you see stars.”
This settled the matter. Sam did very well after that, till he ran away, and a better boy came in his place. John now went on apace.
Just before noon, one day, he was strapping a dead-eye, when Joe Griffin came into the shop. If ever anybody received a hearty welcome, Joe did from John.
“How are father and mother?”
“First rate; they are all well at home, and on the island. Uncle Isaac and our Henry are with me in the schooner,” replied Joe, by way of summing up.
“What is Charlie doing?”
“O, Charlie, he’s in kingdom come; he’s put the nub on now.”