Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-07-02
HILLSDALE, JULY 2, 1850.

pose Of surveying and engineering, aud a
you studied those sciences at school th,
same time | did. and suppose have still
correct knowledge oi both. will use my 10
hoence 20 have you appointed surveyor. Th,
engineer is already choson. aud at my de
sire, will give you all requisite instructions
until you revive your early knowledge o.
these matters. The salary Is ono hundred
dollars per month.
A shadow still darker tn an that which be
fore rested there, fell upon the face oi the
mechanic.
A las! sii, he said, have not the slightest
knowledge. It's tue studied IL, or rather
pretended 10 study it at school. out IL made
no permanent impression on my iniud.
saw 90 use in il then. and sn now as igno.
rsrt of surveying as if | had never taken a
lesson ou the subjecI.
am very sorry, Mr.. Allen the merchant
'epiied, in real concern. lfyou were good
accountsnt, | might perhaps get you into a
store. What is your capacity in this respect
ought to have heeu agood accountant,
sir, for studied mathematics long enough;
bot took little interest ia figures. and now,
although was macy months at school, pre-
tendlng TO study book keeping. | am utterly
incapable Of taking charge OF a set Of boUks.
Such being the case. Mr.. Allen. I really
do not know what can do with you. Bur
stay. | am about sending out an assorted
cargo TO Buenos Ayres. and thence round to
Callao, and want man 10 20 to superinIend
who can speak the Spanish language. re-
member we studied Spanish together
Would you be willing to leave your family
aud 90! The wages viii! DO one hundred
dollars month.
have forgotten all my Spanish. sir, did
not see any use Of IL while AT school. and,
Il made no impression on my
mind.
The merchant, really concerned for The
poor mechanic, agsis thought OF some way
10 serve him. Al length he said, can think
oi but one thing that you can do, Mr.. Al Ilen,
and that will not DO much betIer than vour
present employment. IL is a service for
which ordinary persons are employ ed, that
OF chain carrying 10 the surveyor on The pro-
posed railroad expedition.
What are the wages sit!
Thirty five dollars month.
And foundl
Certainly.
| will certainly accept II thankfully the |
ran said. Ii will be better than NY present
employment.
Theu make yourself ready AT once iol The !
:UmpdOy will start IN week.
will be ready, sir, the poor mao replied, |
md then Withdrew
la week tho company of ogineers star
ed, aud Mr. Alleu with diem as chain car.
ieT when, had he IS boy. taken the advice
II his parents and friends. aud stored up in
lis memory what they wished him ln learn.
lie might have filled the Surveyors office at
more than double the wages paid him as
hain carrier. Indeed, We cannot cell how
Ugh position OF usefulness he might have
oid. had he improved all The opportunities
tforded him ia youth. But he perceived the
se OF learning too late.
Children aud youth cannot possibly know
$ well as their paresis, guardians ard teach.
rs. what is best for them.
Men who are IN active contact with The
'orld, know that the no,e extensive their
nowiedge on all subjects, the more useful
hey can be to Others; and the higher and
lore important use 10 society they are fitted
, pe'tofri, Tie greater is the return to them
elves 10 wealth and hoDnf.