Doig, Ivan: Work Song

Butte, Montana, in 1919 was a bustling mining town controlled by Anaconda, the “Copper King.”  Into this busy town wanders our “hero” from The Whistling Season, Morrie Morgan. Once again down on his luck, Morrie has come to this town, the site of “richest hill on earth” to try to turn his fortunes around.  He is accompanied by nothing but a satchel.  Morrie files a claim at the depot for a lost trunk, but we are left wondering if there ever was such a trunk.

Using his charm and his agile brain, Morrie quickly finds a room in a widow’s boarding house.  Morrie’s idea of finding a position as bookkeeper for the mining company was quickly discouraged by his landlady, Grace Faraday, and his fellow boarders, retired Welsh miners Griff and Hoop.  Griff and Hoop help him find a job as a “Cryer” for an undertaker who specializes in Irish wakes.  A few weeks of frequent wakes involving too much drink and late hours, have Morrie and his landlady seeing the need for another job. His search for alternative employment leads him to the local public library and while he is there he recognizes a large collection of rare and valuable books.  Morrie’s encounter with the librarian Sam Sandison, impresses the librarian and Morrie soon becomes an employee of the library.

Rabrab, a student from his time in The Whistling Season, soon shows up on the busy screen of Morrie’s life.  She is engaged to a young union leader.  As Morrie renews his acquaintance with Rabrab, he becomes secretly embroiled in efforts to curtail the hold Anaconda has on the lives of the miners. 

Union thugs called Typhoon and Eel Eyes, a student so thin he is nicknamed “Russian Famine,” and a retired ranch owner/librarian called the “Earl of Hell,” lead Morrie on adventures with the Union, the townspeople and Anaconda.  Join Morrie as he finds another way to enrich his coffers and see whom he leaves town with this time.

by Margie Gilbert (2/2012)