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During my early
schoolboy days there lived in Blackwater, with his wife and children,
in a miserable, tumble-down house, a man who was known as "Old
Hales." Many years before he was sent to prison for larceny,
and from that time he lost his character, and was treated as an
enemy of society. He lived, if it could be called living, by cadging
of one kind or another, and by doing odd jobs, when he could get
them to do, for very little pay. If hen-roosts were invaded, or
ducks and geese were missing, "Old Hales" would have the
discredit of having removed them, whether he deserved it or not.
He was, however, not so bad as he was painted. For instance, hearing
that my father wanted some stones to build a garden hedge, "Old
Hales" offered to get some, which would be got only at the
expense of very hard work, great difficulty and danger.
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At that time,
when a shaft for mining was sunk, its mouth, or the part near the
surface, for twelve or fifteen feet, was faced round with large
stones closely arranged and well mortared together. "Old. Hales"
offered, at the imminent risk of life and limb, to get from the
shafts of a used-up mine near by several cartloads of stones so
placed, for insignificant pay. By so doing, an insecure step or
blow, or a momentary loss of balance, might end in a fall of hundreds
of fathoms, and certain death. My father discouraged the undertaking;
but "Old Hales," with heroic fortitude, commenced and
completed the work, and did for a few shillings what ninety-nine
working-men out of a hundred would not, or could not do, as he did
it, for a hundred times the pay. By so doing he not only showed
ability and willingness to work, but high qualities of head, heart,
and hand.
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Not long after
he was again arrested for stealing, found guilty, and sentenced
to be transported for life to Botany Bay, and was never heard of
again. He deserved a better fate, and had fortune during his earlier
years been more favourable he might, and probably would, have become
a law-abiding and useful, if not a leading, member of our village
society. Poor "Old Hales"!
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