"Try again, Matt. Persistence pays, luck strays."
"But Mr. McMoshin, I can't find anything wrong with these stitches. The shoes are holding water! What should I do differently?" the young would be apprentice asked the best master shoemaker in the country.
"Absolutely nothing. I want to see another pair of shoes exactly like these, first thing in the morning." replied the tall, white haired man. His gold watch was gleaming on its chain. The leprechaun engraved upon it almost seemed to be dancing with glee in the last light of the day. With the scowl on his face, the well dressed man could easily be mistaken for a banker.
"Yes, Sir." the gangly red haired youth replied, then took the offered pair of shoes. Slowly, he walked to what he sincerely hoped would become his new quarters.
"I'll show him. I'll get this done even if I don't eat supper or breakfast." the determined young man declared softly.
Going into the arrangement, Matthew O'Shea knew that the odds of success were slim. In the many years which Mr. McMoshin had been searching for an apprentice, not one candidate had ever lasted more than three days. The old man simply expected the impossible!
Matt settled into his work. After some time, he finished the left shoe. He yawned, then glanced at the time. His eyes flew wide open. It was almost sunrise!
"Oh no!" he yelped, as if struck by a hard leather strap.
"I'll never get done in time. Then I won't be able to pay for a doctor to save Ma." he whispered, with tears in his eyes.
Despite the urge to quit, he doubled down on the work. By the time the sun was throwing its first rays through his window, the right shoe was taking shape. "I know it won't be finished, but at least I can prove that I did my best." he thought, as he fought the lump in his throat.
"O'Shea! Come to the shop at once!" boomed a voice, long before the upper part of the shoe was fully attached to the lower.
Matt lowered his head. He would wash his face in the little porcelain basin, and gather his courage. Perhaps with such an early start, he could find some work on the docks after Mr. McMoshin dismissed him.
After he dried his face, he went to collect the mostly finished shoes. To his utter disbelief, there were two perfectly made shoes. As he turned the right one over and over in his hands, he noticed a tiny ink stamp on the bottom. It was a leprechaun, dancing. An exact replica of the engraving on Mr. McMoshin's watch!
"I don't know who you are, but thank you!" he nearly shouted. Then he whispered "I won't disappoint you."
"Matthew O'Shea! Is there something wrong with your ears?!?!" boomed the voice.
He grinned, and grabbed the shoes.
"Well, they are certainly of the same quality as the last ones." Mr. McMoshin said thoughtfully, after he examined every inch of the shoes.
"Thank you, Sir." replied Matt.
Then the impossible happened. Mr. McMoshin grinned like a young boy. "Welcome to Traveling Leather, kid! I see you have found luck, but if I ever catch you depending on it, your luck ends right there! I expect persistence, understood? In the end, luck doesn't owe us anything." he said, as he looked fondly at his watch.
"Yes, Sir. I would never presume that luck owes me, I am just honored to receive it! I will work as hard as I can." he promised, and meant it.
Cover image made in Canva using their gallery
