,,*APT] ,,XX
  ,! JUTE MILLS FAIL$ ( XS AGREE;T
69CR1SE MY PAY 6A DOLL> &A QU>T] A "D1 &
,I1 A FREE-BORN ,AM]ICAN BOY ^: DIRECT
ANCE/ORS _H F"\ 9 ALL ! W>S F ! OLD PRE-
,REVOLU;N>Y ,9DIAN W>S D[N1 EX]CIS$ MY
SOV]EIGN "R ( FREE 3TRACT 0QUITT+ ! JOB4
  ,I 0 / RESOLV$ 6SETTLE D[N1 & ,I LOOK$
AB ME4 ,"O ?+ 0 CLE>4 ,UNSKILL$ LAB\R
DIDN'T PAY4 ,I M/ LE>N A TRADE1 & ,I
DECID$ ON ELECTRIC;Y4 ,! NE$ =
ELECTRICIANS 0 3/ANTLY GR[+4 ,B H[
62COME AN ELECTRICIAN8 ,I _HN'T ! M"OY
6G 6A TE*NICAL S*OOL OR UNIV]S;Y2 2SS1
,I DIDN'T ?9K M* ( S*OOLS4 ,I 0 A
PRACTICAL MAN 9 A PRACTICAL _W4 ,AL1 ,I
/ 2LIEV$ 9 ! OLD MY?S : 7 ! H]ITAGE (!
,AM]ICAN BOY :5 ,I 0 A BOY4
  ,A CANAL BOY CD 2COME A ,PRESID5T4
,ANY BOY :O TOOK EMPLOY;T ) ANY FIRM CD1
0?RIFT1 5]GY1 & SOBRIETY1 LE>N ! BUSI;S
& RISE F POSI;N 6POSI;N UNTIL HE 0 TAK5
9 Z A JUNIOR "PN]4 ,AF T ! S5IOR "PN]%IP
0 ONLY A MATT] ( "T4 ,V (T5--S RAN ! MY?
--! BOY1 0R1SON ( 8 /1DI;S & APPLIC,N1
M>RI$ 8 EMPLOY'S DAU<T]4 ,0? "T ,I _H
BE5 5C\RAG$ 6S* FAI? 9 MYF 9 ! MATT] (
GIRLS T ,I 0 Q C]TA9 ,I WD M>RY MY
EMPLOY]'S DAU<T]4 ,"! WASN'T A D\BT ( X4
,ALL ! LL BOYS 9 ! MY?S DID X Z SOON Z
!Y 7 OLD 5\<4
  ,S ,I BADE F>EWELL = "E 6! ADV5TURE-
PA?1 & W5T \ 6! P[] PLANT ( "O ( \R
,OAKL& /REET RAILWAYS4 ,I SAW !
SUP]9T5D5T HMF1 9 A PRIVATE (FICE S F9E
T X ALM /UNN$ ME4 ,B ,I TALK$ /RAI<T UP4
,I TOLD HM ,I WANT$ 62COME A PRACTICAL
ELECTRICIAN1 T ,I 0 UNAFRAID ( "W1 T ,I
0 US$ 6H>D "W1 & T ALL HE _H 6D 0 LOOK
AT ME 6SEE ,I 0 FIT & /R;G4 ,I TOLD HM T
,I WANT$ 62G9 "R AT ! BOTTOM & "W UP1 T
,I WANT$ 6DEVOTE MY LIFE 6? "O O3UP,N &
? "O EMPLOY;T4
  ,! SUP]9T5D5T B1M$ Z HE LI/5$4 ,HE
TOLD ME T ,I 0 ! "R /UFF = SU3ESS1 & T
HE 2LIEV$ 9 5C\RAG+ ,AM]ICAN Y\? T WANT$
6RISE4 ,:Y1 EMPLOY]S 7 ALW ON ! LOOK\T =
"Y FELL[S L ME1 & ALAS1 !Y F.D !M ALL
TOO R>ELY4 ,MY AMBI;N 0 F9E & WOR?Y1 &
HE WD SEE 6X T ,I GOT MY *.E4 7,& Z ,I
LI/5$ ) SWELL+ HE>T1 ,I WOND]$ IF X 0 8
DAU<T] ,I 0 6M>RY47
  8,2F Y C G \ ON ! ROAD & LE>N ! M
-PLICAT$ & HI<] DETAILS (! PROFES.N10 HE
SD1 8Y W1 ( C\RSE1 H 6"W 9 ! C>-H\SE )!
M5 :O 9/ALL & REPAIR ! MOTORS4 7,0? "T
,I 0 SURE T X 0 8 DAU<T]1 & ,I 0 WOND]+
H[ M* /OCK HE MI<T [N 9 ! -PANY47
  8,B10 HE SD1 8Z Y YRF S PLA9LY SEE1 Y
CDN'T EXPECT 62G9 Z A HELP] 6! C>-H\SE
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,Y W RE,Y 2G9 AT ! BOTTOM4 ,9 ! C>-H\SE
YR F/ EMPLOY;T W 2 SWEEP+ UP1 WA%+ !
W9D[S1 KEEP+ ?+S CL1N4 ,& AF Y H %[N YRF
SATISFACTORY AT T1 !N Y MAY 2COME A
HELP] 6! C>-H\SE ELECTRICIANS40
  ,I DIDN'T SEE H[ SWEEP+ & SCRU2+ A
BUILD+ 0 ANY PREP>,N =! TRADE (
ELECTRICIAN2 B ,I DID "K T 9 ! BOOKS ALL
! BOYS />T$ )! MO/ M5IAL TASKS & 0MAK+
GD ULTIMATELY WON 6! [N]%IP (! :OLE
3C]N4
  8,:5 % ,I -E 6"W80 ,I ASK$1 EAG]
6LAUN* ON ? DAZZL+ C>E]4
  8,B10 SD ! SUP]9T5D5T1 8Z Y & ,I H ALR
AGRE$1 Y M/ 2G9 AT ! BOTTOM4 ,N IMMLY C
Y 9 ANY CAPAC;Y 5T] ! C>-H\SE4 ,2F T Y
M/ PASS "? ! 5G9E-ROOM Z AN OIL]40
  ,MY HE>T W5T D[N SLI<TLY &=! MO;T Z ,I
SAW ! ROAD L5G!N 2T 8 DAU<T] & ME2 !N X
ROSE AG4 ,I WD 2 A BETT] ELECTRICIAN ) K
( /1M 5G9ES4 ,Z AN OIL] 9 ! GRT 5G9E-
ROOM ,I 0 3FID5T T FEW ?+S 3C]N+ /1M WD
ESCAPE ME4 ,H1V5S6 ,MY C>E] %"O M DAZZL+
?AN "E4
  8,:5 % ,I -E 6"W80 ,I ASK$ GRATE;LLY4
  8,B10 SD ! SUP]9T5D5T1 8Y CD N EXPECT
65T] IMMLY 96! 5G9E-ROOM4 ,"! M/ 2
PREP>,N = T4 ,& "? ! FIRE-ROOM1 ( C\RSE4
,-E1 Y SEE ! MATT] CLE>LY1 ,I "K4 ,& Y W
SEE T EV5 ! M]E H&L+ ( COAL IS A
SCI5TIFIC MATT] & N 6BE SNE]$ AT4 ,D Y
"K T WE WEI< E P.D ( COAL WE BURN8 ,?US1
WE LE>N ! VALUE (! COAL WE BUY2 WE "K 6A
TEE ! LA/ P5NY ( CO/ ( E ITEM (
PRODUC;N1 & WE LE>N : FIREM5 >E ! MO/
WA/E;L1 : FIREM51 \ ( /UPID;Y OR
C>E.S;S1 GET ! L1/ \ (! COAL !Y FIRE40
,! SUP]9T5D5T B1M$ AG4 8,Y SEE H[ V
IMPORTANT ! LL MATT] ( COAL IS1 & 0Z M*
Z Y LE>N ( ? LL MATT] Y W 2COME T M*
BETT] A "WMAN--M VALUA# 6U1 M VALUA#
6YRF4 ,N[1 >E Y PREP>$ 62G980
  8,ANY "T10 ,I SD VALIANTLY4 8,! SOON]
! BETT]40
  8,V WELL10 HE ANSW]$4 8,Y W -E TM
MORN+ AT SEV5 O'C40
  ,I 0 TAK5 \ & %[N MY DUTIES4 ,AL1 ,I 0
TOLD ! T]MS ( MY EMPLOY;T--A T5-H\R "D1
E "D 9 ! MON? 9CLUD+ ,SUN"DS & HOLI"DS1
) "O "D (F EA* MON?1 )A SAL>Y ( ?IRTY
DOLL>S A MON?4 ,X WASN'T EXCIT+4 ,YE>S
2F1 AT ! CANN]Y1 ,I _H E>N$ A DOLL> A "D
=A T5-H\R "D4 ,I 3SOL$ MYF )! ?"\ T !
R1SON MY E>N+ CAPAC;Y _H N 9CR1S$ ) MY
YE>S & /R5G? 0 2C ,I _H REMA9$ AN
UNSKILL$ LAB\R]4 ,B X 0 DI6]5T N[4 ,I 0
2G9N+ 6"W = SKILL1 =A TRADE1 = C>E] &
=TUNE1 &! SUP]9T5D5T'S DAU<T]4
  ,& ,I 0 2G9N+ 9 ! "R WAY--"R AT !
2G9N+4 ,T 0 ! ?+4 ,I 0 PASS+ COAL 6!
FIREM51 :O %OVELL$ X 96! FURNACES1 ": XS
5]GY 0 TRANS=M$ 96/1M1 :1 9 ! 5G9E-ROOM1
0 TRANS=M$ 96! ELECTRIC;Y ) : !
ELECTRICIANS "W$4 ,? PASS+ COAL 0 SURELY
! V 2G9N+-UN.S ! SUP]9T5D5T %D TAKE X
96HIS H1D 6S5D ME 6"W 9 ! M9ES F : !
COAL CAME 9 ORD] 6GET A -PLET] "U/&+ (!
G5ESIS ( ELECTRIC;Y = /REET RAILWAYS4
  ,"W6 ,I1 :O _H "W$ ) M51 F.D T ,I
DIDN'T "K ! F/ ?+ AB R1L "W4 ,A T5-H\R
"D6 ,I _H 6PASS COAL =! "D & NI<T %IFTS1
&1 DESPITE "W+ "? ! NOON-H\R1 ,I N"E
F9I%$ MY TASK 2F EI<T AT NI<T4 ,I 0 "W+
A TWELVE-TO ?IRTE5-H\R "D1 & ,I WASN'T
2+ PD OV]"T Z 9 ! CANN]Y4
  ,I MI<T Z WELL GIVE ! SECRET AWAY "R
"H4 ,I 0 DO+ ! "W ( TWO M54 ,2F ME1 "O
MATURE A#-BODI$ LAB\R] _H D"O ! "D %IFT
& ANO!R EQU,Y MATURE A#-BODI$ LAB\R] _H
D"O ! NI<T-%IFT4 ,!Y _H RCVD =TY DOLL>S
A MON? EA*4 ,! SUP]9T5D5T1 B5T ON AN
ECONOMICAL ADM9I/R,N1 _H P]SUAD$ ME 6D !
"W ( BO? M5 = ?IRTY DOLL>S A MON?4 ,I
?"\ HE 0 MAK+ AN ELECTRICIAN ( ME4 ,9
TRU? & FACT1 HE 0 SAV+ FIFTY DOLL>S A
MON? OP]AT+ EXP5SES 6! -PANY4
  ,B ,I DIDN'T "K ,I 0 4PLAC+ TWO M54
,NOBODY TOLD ME4 ,ON ! 3TR>Y1 !
SUP]9T5D5T W>N$ "EYBODY N 6TELL ME4 ,H[
VALIANTLY ,I W5T AT X T F/ "D4 ,I "W$ AT
TOP SPE$1 FILL+ ! IRON :EELB>R[ ) COAL1
RUNN+ X ON ! SCALES & WEI<+ ! LOAD1 !N
TRUNDL+ X 96! FIRE-ROOM & DUMP+ X ON !
PLATES 2F ! FIRES4
  ,"W6 ,I DID M ?AN ! TWO M5 :OM ,I _H
4PLAC$4 ,!Y _H M]ELY :EEL$ 9 ! COAL &
DUMP$ X ON ! PLATES4 ,B :ILE ,I DID ? =!
"D COAL1 ! NI<T COAL ,I _H 6PILE AG/ !
WALL (! FIRE-ROOM4 ,N[ ! FIRE-ROOM 0
SMALL4 ,X _H BE5 PLANN$ =A NI<T COAL-
PASS]4 ,S ,I _H 6PILE ! NI<T COAL HI<] &
HI<]1 BUTTRESS+ UP ! H1P ) /\T PLANKS4
,T[>D ! TOP (! H1P ,I _H 6H&LE ! COAL A
SECOND "T1 TOSS+ X UP )A %OVEL4
  ,I DRIPP$ ) SW1T1 B ,I N"E C1S$ F MY
/RIDE1 ?\< ,I CD FEEL EXHAUS;N -+ ON4
,0T5 O'C 9 ! MORN+1 S M* ( MY BODY'S
5]GY _H ,I 3SUM$1 ,I FELT HUNGRY &
SNAT*$ A ?ICK D\#-SLICE ( BR1D & BUTT] F
MY D9N] PAIL4 ,? ,I DEV\R$1 /&+1 GRIM$ )
COAL-DU/1 MY KNEES TREMBL+ "U ME4
,0ELEV5 O'C1 9 ? FA%ION ,I _H 3SUM$ MY
:OLE LUN*4 ,B :AT ( X8 ,I R1LIS$ T X WD
5A# ME 63T9UE "W+ "? ! NOON H\R4 ,& ,I
"W$ ALL ! AFN4 ,D>K;S CAME ON1 & ,I "W$
"U ! ELECTRIC LI<TS4 ,! "D FIREMAN W5T
(F &! NI<T FIREMAN CAME ON4 ,I PLU7$
AWAY4
  ,AT HALF-PA/ EI<T1 FAMI%$1 TOTT]+1 ,I
WA%$ UP1 *ANG$ MY CLO!S1 & DRA7$ MY WE>Y
BODY 6! C>4 ,X 0 ?REE MILES 6": ,I LIV$1
& ,I _H RCVD A PASS )! /IPUL,N T ,I CD
SIT D[N Z L;G Z "! 7 NO PAY+ PASS5G]S 9
NE$ (A S1T4 ,Z ,I SANK 96A CORN] \TSIDE
S1T ,I PRAY$ T NO PASS5G] MI<T REQUIRE
MY S1T4 ,B ! C> FILL$ UP1 &1 HALF-WAY
IN1 A WOMAN CAME ON BO>D1 & "! 0 NO S1T
= H]4 ,I />T$ 6GET UP1 & 6MY A/ONI%;T
F.D T ,I CD N4 ,)! *ILL W9D BL[+ ON ME1
MY SP5T BODY _H /I65$ 96! S1T4 ,X TOOK
ME ! RE/ (! RUN 9 6UNK9K MY -PLA9+ JO9TS
& MUSCLES & GET 96A /&+ POSI;N ON ! L[]
/EP4 ,& :5 ! C> /OPP$ AT MY CORN] ,I
NE>LY FELL 6! GR.D :5 ,I /EPP$ (F4
  ,I HOB#D TWO BLOCKS 6! H\SE & LIMP$
96! KIT*54 ,:ILE MY "M />T$ 6COOK1 ,I
PLUNG$ 96BR1D & BUTT]2 B 2F MY APPETITE
0 APP1S$1 OR ! /1K FRI$1 ,I 0 S.D
ASLEEP4 ,9 VA9 MY "M /ROVE 6%AKE ME
AWAKE 5 6EAT ! M1T4 ,FAIL+ 9 ?1 )!
ASSI/.E ( MY "F %E MANAG$ 6GET ME 6MY
ROOM1 ": ,I COLLAPS$ D1D ASLEEP ON ! B$4
,!Y UNDRESS$ ME & COV]$ ME UP4 ,9 !
MORN+ CAME ! AGONY ( 2+ AWAK5$4 ,I 0
T]RIBLY SORE1 &1 WOR/ ( ALL1 MY WRI/S 7
SWELL+4 ,B ,I MADE UP = MY LO/ SUPP]1
EAT+ AN ENORM\S BR1KFA/1 & :5 ,I HOB#D
6CAT* MY C> ,I C>RI$ A LUN* TWICE Z BIG
Z ! "O ! "D 2F4
  ,"W6 ,LET ANY Y\? J TURN$ EI<TE5 TRY
6\-%OVEL TWO MAN-GR[N COAL-%OVELL]S4
,"W6 ,L;G 2F MID"D ,I _H EAT5
! LA/ SCRAP ( MY HUGE LUN*4 ,B ,I 0
RESOLV$ 6%[ !M :AT A HUSKY "Y FELL[
DET]M9$ 6RISE CD D4 ,! WOR/ ( X 0 T MY
WRI/S 7 SWELL+ & GO+ BACK ON ME4 ,"! >E
FEW :O D N "K ! PA9 ( WALK+ ON A SPRA9$
ANKLE4 ,!N IMAG9E ! PA9 ( %OVELL+ COAL &
TRUNDL+ A LOAD$ :EELB>R[ ) TWO SPRA9$
WRI/S4
  ,"W6 ,M ?AN ONCE ,I SANK D[N ON ! COAL
": NO "O CD SEE ME1 & CRI$ ) RAGE1 &
MORTIFIC,N1 & EXHAUS;N1 & DESPAIR4 ,T
SECOND "D 0 MY H>DE/1 & ALL T 5A#D ME
6SURVIVE X & GET 9 ! LA/ (! NI<T COAL AT
! 5D ( ?IRTE5 H\RS 0 ! "D FIREMAN1 :O
B.D BO? MY WRI/S ) BROAD L1!R /RAPS4 ,S
TI<TLY 7 !Y BUCKL$ T !Y 7 L SLI<TLY
FLEXI# PLA/] CA/S4 ,!Y TOOK ! /RESSES &
PRESSURES : HI!RTO _H BE5 BORNE 0MY
WRI/S1 & !Y 7 S TI<T T "! 0 NO ROOM =!
9FLAMM,N 6RISE 9 ! SPRA9S4
  ,& 9 ? FA%ION ,I 3T9U$ 6LE>N 6BE AN
ELECTRICIAN4 ,NI<T AF NI<T ,I LIMP$
HOME1 FELL ASLEEP 2F ,I CD EAT MY SUPP]1
& 0 HELP$ 96B$ & UNDRESS$4 ,MORN+ AF
MORN+1 ALW ) HUG] LUN*ES 9 MY D9N] PAIL1
,I LIMP$ \ (! H\SE ON MY WAY 6"W4
  ,I NO L;G] R1D MY LIBR>Y BOOKS4 ,I
MADE NO DATES )! GIRLS4 ,I 0 A PROP] "W
B1/4 ,I "W$1 & ATE1 & SLEPT1 :ILE MY M9D
SLEPT ALL ! "T4 ,! :OLE ?+ 0 A NI<TM>E4
,I "W$ E "D1 9CLUD+ ,SUN"D1 & ,I LOOK$
F> AH1D 6MY "O "D (F AT ! 5D (A MON?1
RESOLV$ 6LIE AB$ ALL T "D & J SLEEP &
RE/ UP4
  ,! /RANGE/ "P ( ? EXP]I;E 0 T ,I N"E
TOOK A DR9K NOR ?"\ ( TAK+ A DR9K4 ,YET
,I KNEW T M5 "U H>D PRESSURE ALM
9V>IABLY DRANK4 ,I _H SE5 !M D X1 & 9 !
PA/ _H (T5 D"O X MYF4 ,B S %E]LY NON-
ALCOHOLIC 0 ,I T X N"E 5T]$ MY M9D T A
DR9K MI<T 2 GD = ME4 ,I 9/.E ? 6%[ H[
5TIRELY LACK+ F MY MAKE-UP 0 ANY
PREDISPOSI;N T[>D ALCOHOL4 ,&! PO9T ( ?
9/.E IS T LAT] ON1 AF M YE>S _H PASS$1
3TACT ) ,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN AT LA/ DID
9DUCE 9 ME ! ALCOHOLIC DESIRE4
  ,I _H (T5 NOTIC$ ! "D FIREMAN />+ AT
ME 9 A CURI\S WAY4 ,AT LA/1 "O "D1 HE
SPOKE4 ,HE 2GAN 0SWE>+ ME 6SECRECY4 ,HE
_H BE5 W>N$ 0! SUP]9T5D5T N 6TELL ME1 &
9 TELL+ ME HE 0 RISK+ 8 JOB4 ,HE TOLD ME
(! "D COAL-PASS] &! NI<T COAL-PASS]1 &(!
WAGES !Y _H RCVD4 ,I 0 DO+ = ?IRTY
DOLL>S A MON? :AT !Y _H RCVD EI<TY
DOLL>S = DO+4 ,HE WD H TOLD ME SOON]1 !
FIREMAN SD1 _H HE N BE5 S C]TA9 T ,I WD
BR1K D[N "U ! "W & QUIT4 ,Z X WAS1 ,I 0
KILL+ MYF1 & ALL 6NO GD PURPOSE4 ,I 0
M]ELY *1P5+ ! PRICE ( LAB\R1 HE >GU$1 &
KEEP+ TWO M5 \ (A JOB4
  ,2+ AN ,AM]ICAN BOY1 &A PR\D ,AM]ICAN
BOY1 ,I DID N IMMLY QUIT4 ,? 0 FOOLI% (
ME1 ,I "K2 B ,I RESOLV$ 63T9UE ! "W L;G
5 6PROVE 6! SUP]9T5D5T T ,I CD D X )\T
BR1K+ D[N4 ,!N ,I WD QUIT1 & HE WD
R1LISE :AT A F9E "Y FELL[ HE _H LO/4
  ,ALL ( : ,I FAI?;LLY & FOOLI%LY DID4
,I "W$ ON UNTIL ! "T CAME :5 ,I GOT 9 !
LA/ (! NI<T COAL 0SIX O'C4 ,!N ,I QUIT !
JOB ( LE>N+ ELECTRIC;Y 0DO+ M ?AN TWO
M5'S "W =A BOY'S WAGES1 W5T HOME1 &
PROCE$$ 6SLEEP ! CLOCK >.D4
  ,=TUNATELY1 ,I _H N /AY$ 0! JOB L;G 5
69JURE MYF--?\< ,I 0 -PELL$ 6WE> /RAPS
ON MY WRI/S =A YE> AFW4 ,B ! E6ECT ( ?
"W ORGY 9 : ,I _H 9DULG$ 0 6SICK5 ME )
"W4 ,I J WDN'T "W4 ,! ?"\ ( "W 0
REPULSIVE4 ,I DIDN'T C>E IF ,I N"E
SETTL$ D[N4 ,LE>N+ A TRADE CD G HANG4 ,X
0 A :OLE LOT BETT] 6ROY/] & FROLIC OV] !
_W 9 ! WAY ,I _H PREVI\SLY D"O4 ,S ,I
H1D$ \ ON ! ADV5TURE-PA? AG1 />T+ 6TRAMP
,EA/ 0B1T+ MY WAY ON ! RAILROADS4