the iron puddler-第4章
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ing at forge and furnace in the roaring mills； facing facts instead of books； I have been schooled in life's hard lessons。 And the end of it all is the same as the beginning： the Proverbs；the Commandments；and the Golden Rule。
CHAPTER III
NO GIFT FROM THE FAIRIES
From my father I learned many things。 He taught me to be skilful and proud of it。 He taught me to expect no gift from life； but that what I got I must win with my hands。 He taught me that good men would bring forth good fruits。 This was all the education he could give me； and it was enough。
My father was an iron worker； and his father before him。 My people had been workers in metal from the time when the age of farming in Wales gave way to the birth of modern industries。 They were proud of their skill； and the secrets of the trade were passed from father to son as a legacy of great value； and were never told to persons outside the family。 Such skill meant good wages when there was work。 But there was not work all the time。 Had there been jobs enough for all we would have taught our trade to all。 But in self…protection we thought of our own mouths first。 All down the generations my family has been face to face with the problem of bread。
My Grandfather Davies； held a skilled job at the blast furnace where iron was made for the rolling mill in which my father was a puddler。 Grandfather Davies had been to Russia and had helped the Russians build blast furnaces； in the days when they believed that work would make them wealthy。 Had they stuck to that truth they would not be a ruined people to…day。 Grandfather also went to America； where his skill helped build the first blast furnace in Maryland。 The furnace fires have not ceased burning here； and Russia is crying for our steel to patch her broken railways。 Her own hills are full of iron and her hands are as strong as ours。 Let them expect no gift from life。
Grandfather told my father that America offered a rich future for him and his boys。 〃The metal is there；〃 he said； 〃as it is in Russia。 Russia may never develop； but America will。 A nation's future lies not in its resources。 The American mind is right。 Go to America。〃
And because my father believed that a good people will bring forth good fruit； he left his ancient home in Wales and crossed the sea to cast his lot among strangers。
I started to school in Wales when I was four years old。 By the time I was six I thought I knew more than my teachers。 This shows about how bright I was。 The teachers had forbidden me to throw paper wads； or spitballs。 I thought I could go through the motion of throwing a spitball without letting it go。 But it slipped and I threw the wad right in the teacher's eye。 I told him it was an accident； that I had merely tried to play smart and had overreached myself。
〃Being smart is a worse fault；〃 he said； 〃than throwing spitballs。 I forgive you for throwing the spitball； but I shall whip the smart Aleckness out of you。〃
He gave me a good strapping； and I went home in rebellion。 I told my father。 I wanted him to whip the teacher。 Father said：
〃I know the teacher is a good man。 I have known him for years； and he is honest； he is just； he is kind。 If he whipped you； you deserved it。 You can not see it that way； so I am going to whip you myself。〃
He gave me a good licking； and； strange to say； it convinced me that he and the teacher were right。 They say that the 〃hand educates the mind；〃 and I can here testify that father's hand set my mental processes straight。 From that day I never have been lawless in school or out。 The shame of my father's disapproval jolted me so that I decided ever after to try to merit his approval。
To…day there is a theory that the child ought never to be restrained。 Solomon said： 〃Spare the rod and spoil the child。〃 We have no corporal punishment at Mooseheart； but we have discipline。 A child must be restrained。 Whenever a crop of unrestrained youngsters takes the reins I fear they will make this country one of their much talked of Utopias。 It was an unrestricted bunch that made a 〃Utopia〃 out of Russia。
Anyhow； my father lived his life according to his simple rules。 He is living to…day； a happy man in the cozy home he won； by his own work。 The things he taught me I have seen tested in his long life； proved true。 He never expected any gift from life。 I thought once to surprise him。 I wanted to buy a fine house and give it to him。 He wouldn't have it。 He stayed in his own little cottage。 It was not in his theory of life that a house should come to him as a gift。 It was a sound theory； and like a true Welshman； he hangs on to it to the end。 He is a good man； and the fruits that his life of labor has brought forth are good fruits。
CHAPTER IV
SHE SINGS TO HER NEST
From my mother I learned to sing。 She was always working and always singing。 There were six children in the house； and she knitted and sewed and baked and brewed for us all。 I used to toddle along at her side when she carried each day the home…made bread and the bottle of small beer for father's dinner at the mill。 I worshiped my mother； and wanted to be like her。 And that's why I went in for singing。 I have sung more songs in my life than did Caruso。 But my voice isn't quite up to his！ So my singing has brought me no returns other than great chunks of personal satisfaction。 The satisfaction was not shared by my hearers； and so I have quit。 But my heart still sings； and always will。 And this I owe to my mother。
I can see her yet in our tiny Welsh cottage； her foot on a wooden cradle rocking a baby； my baby brother； her hands busy with her knitting； her voice lifted in jubilant song for hours at a time。 And all her songs were songs of praise。
She thanked God for life and for strong hands to labor for her little ones。 In those days furniture was rare； and few were the pieces in a worker's home。 It took a dozen years for her to acquire two feather beds。 And when at last we owned two bedsteads； we rated ourselves pretty rich。 We boys slept five in a bed。 Why were bedsteads in those days harder to get than automobiles are to…day？ Because the wooden age still lingered； the age of hand work。 And it took so long to make a bed by hand that people came into the world faster than beds。 But within my lifetime the iron mills have made possible the dollar bedstead。 The working man can fill his house with beds bought with the wage he earns in half a week。 This； I suppose； is one of the 〃curses of capitalism。〃
I have heard how 〃the rights of small peoples〃 have been destroyed by capitalism； and if the right to sleep five in a bed was prized by the little folks； this privilege has certainly been taken away from them。 At the Mooseheart School we are pinched for sleeping room for our fast…growing attendance。 I suggested that； for the time being； we might double deck the beds like the berths in a sleeping car。 〃No；〃 cried the superintendent。 〃Not in this age do we permit the crowding of children in their sleeping quarters。〃 So this is the slavery that capitalism has driven us to； we are forced to give our children more comforts than we had ourselves。 When I was sleeping five in a bed with my brothers； there was one long bolster for five hot little faces。 The bolster got feverish and a boy sang out： 〃Raise up。〃 We lifted our tired heads。 〃Turn over。〃 Two boys turned the bolster。 〃Lie down。〃 And we put our faces on the cool side and went to sleep。
Those were not hardships； and life was sweet； and we awoke from our crowded bed； like birds in a nest awakened by their mother's morning song。 For； as I have said； my mother was always singing。 Her voice was our consolation and delight。
One of the most charming recollections of my boyhood is that of my mother standing at our gate with a lamp in her hands； sending one boy out in the early morning darkness； to his work； and at the same time welcoming another boy home。 My brother was on the day shift and I on the night； which meant that he left home as I was leaving the mills； about half past two in the morning。 On dark nightsand they were all dark at that hourmy mother； thinking my little brother afraid； would go with him to the gate and； holding an old…fashioned lamp high in her hands
