American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-03
YOUR MASTER AND MY EMPLOYER

Z
YOUR MASTER AND MY EMPLOYER; );
OR, SERVING OUT MY TIME.
WRITTEN BY ROSWELL ALLYN FOR THE NEW YORK SUN.
"Iour master and n,y employer said Bill
Henderson to Arthur Appleton, one day as they
sat eating their luncheon between twelve and
one o'clock, in a cabinet-maker's establishment
in this city, some years ago. :" Your master and
my employer"
:" That don't hurt me, Bill am thankful
to have master, as you call him-especially So
good master as Mr. Williams replied Arthur
as he put the cover on his dinner-kettle. "And
| guess l know some who ought to have q
master, too, if they had what would be for
their good" .nsa sH ...#,.s ...
"Well, that may do for such as you, but
don't believe in having masters. am going to
be my own master! I'll accommodate my boss
if he'll toe the mark-that's my doctrine" said
Bill, as he gave half reckless, have impudent,
devil-may care look at Arthur, and clapped the
lid on his kettle with u crash that sounded all
over the shop. I'm as good as he is, and
shan't put up with it." ......, .ss.r..g.
Bill and Arthur were felow-apprentice in
the establishment of Mr. Williams, an amiable
an excellent man, who carried on considera-
BILE business in the manufacture and sale of
| furniture and cabinet-ware. A man of sound
Judgment of strict integrity, and professor of
religion, he united growing business reputa-
| ton with true regard for the feelings and
interests of all with whom he dealt. Kind and
sympathising, he added to the responsibilities
| of the employer that admirable trait-a gem
| tlemanly and kind department towards the
| persons in his employ. He endeavored always
to remember that he had been an apprentice
and journeyman, and he knew their feelings
and acted under the influence of true regard
1 for their interests, at the same time that he
consulted his own. There was in his conduct
towards his hands none of the petty assump-
| tions Of 90 brief authority" which, while it is
| realizing profit from the labor of another,
seeks small opportunities of playing the "mas-
ter" or the tyrant, by unreasonable or OPP
pressive treatment of the laborer. While he
was strict in his requirements, his regulations
were such as promoted the joint interests of
employer and employed. He took no opportu-
nifty to impress his workmen with the idea that
they were dependent upon his humor for their
situation, or the chance to earn their bread
and he never had been known to use any abu-
sive language towards his hands, even though
when, by carelessness and inexperience, they
"spoied more stuff than their time was worth. "
He took other than abusive means to remedy
these annoyances and the result of his course
was the admiration and respect of all the work
men IN tne lThue, anu no pluCe was nOTe lTc-
quently visited in search of work than that Of
Mr. Williams. lie took particular interest in
his apprentices. He felt that his responsible
ties did not end with paying wages, but that
he had in some large measure moral response
bility to the boys and young men whom he was
fitting by his instructions in their trade to
make place in the world. He therefore dis
couraged by his advice any thing like the Sab
bath-breaking and theatre-going amusements
of so many Of the young men of New York.
The train of follies and vices growing out of
these, he faithfully set before his apprentices,
as occasion offered, and he sometimes inquired
so kindly into the manner of spending their time
that they could not avoid the influence Of his
counsel.
Bill, however was not of this humor. He
had no notion of having his "boss" ride over
him and tell him what he should do out of the
shop. As long as he did his work, that was all
the "boss" had to do with him. 1t was none
of his business where he went evenings, and he
should do as he pleased. As to Sunday school,
he was too big for that and he wouldn't 90 to
church because his boss told him to-he was
old enough to be his own master, and he
wouldn't put up with it. He wouldn't be domi-
neered over"
Bill Henderson had fallen into the notion
that democracy" or the free principles of our
government, meant the entire absence OF every
thing like government of any kind. "Tm as
good as he is" was remark which he often
made when reminded of some piece of counsel
given by Mr.. Williams, and the I" old man." or
" the old woman" rs he called his father and
mother, found Bill very hard subject to handle,
and a disrespectful and unkind son. Bill had
fallen into the habit of spending his evenings
and Sundays in the company of a club of young
men, some of whom were older than himself
aud from them he caught those sentiments of
nsubordination and disregard for authority
which he prided himself on showing whenever
he had an opportunity. In fact Bill knew that
he was only boy in years, and to get over this
difficulty he endeavored to be a man before
his mother" or even before his father could
possibly suspect such thing Being free of
sthe old man." or ." the old woman's apron
stings,' was a sure sign of manhood in Bills
apprehension-and many Of the young men, and
gomg 'comen too, Of our time not only do many
wicked things to show their freedom, but many
very ridiculous things-and what is worse, often
plant their pillows with tborns, and their death
beds with anguish, while they send the gray
hairs of heart broken parents to the grave.
Arthur Appleton was every way dissmilar in
his character. He felt it privilege to have 80
excellent and kind an employer; and instead of
thinking that Mr.. Williams exercised an undue
authority over him. he followed his advice--he
always had acted in obedience to the instructions
given him by his parents and his teacher, and
he felt pleasure in meeting with dozen