"The Devil's Dollar" is a story in rhyme of the experience of a young printer's helper, or devil in the early nineteenth century. He was called a "devil" because of early associations which printers were supposed to have with the darker forces. To be a printer's apprentice involved being delivered by one's parents at an age as young as eleven to the owner or master of the shop.
The master printer was charged with the care, feeding, lodging, and education of the youth. In exchange the boy would work six days a week, up to twelve hours per day, for as long as seven years. The youth was roughly thrust into an adult world. A devil became "streetwise" in a hurry. From the ranks of printer's devils came men like Ben Franklin, and Walt Whitman.
No pay was received by the youth for his services until the last year of his apprenticeship. A year's wages were paid in a lump sum at his "graduation" to journeyman printer. Most journeymen remained with their master. Some took the money and went off to seek their fortune and employment in other printing offices.
The young journeyman‚s career consisted of a period of following the work from shop to shop and city to town. In time, most would establish themselves in one shop and settle down.
A minority of journeymen enjoyed their newfound freedom and never learned to settle down. They were skilled workmen who had no trouble finding employment. Indeed, their talent and knowledge were valuable in a day before trade publications and associations. They shared the best trade tips and functioned to raise the overall level of skills in the industry. They were referred to as tramps or tourists, but without derision.
A very few of these tramps sometimes had less than honorable traits. Heavy drinking, broken promises and missing items followed their path. These few earned a sour reputation for all tramps.
The Devil's Dollar
A young devil on his way
To his job one frosty day,
Spied a coin upon the ground.
A silver dollar he had found.
The printer's tramp happened by
With a gleam of larceny in his eye.
"You've found my coin I do see,
Now there's a good lad - Give 'er to me!"
"Keep back! It is not your dollar."
"A dollar huh!" The tramp began to holler.
A crowd came to see the stir.
Someone said, "What's the trouble sir?"
"My dollar was found by this young pup,
And now he'll not give it up!"
The coin was clutched in the devil's fist.
He said, "There's a fact that the tourist missed.
In his coin there was no necklace hole.
His coin is from our master's payroll."
"T'is a lie the boy has told, you see!
My ancient mother, herself, gave it to me!
Placed it 'round my neck to give me luck
On my pilgrimage. - Gimmie my buck!"
"Give it to him!" the crowed did say.
For he had their feelings in his sway.
The devil released his grip on the prize
For all to see his big surprise.
The hole in question was never there!
All the befuddled tramp could do was stare!
- Copyright © 1998 by Frank Granger
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