American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-26
UNCLE JOHN;
OR, THE ROUGH ROAD TO RICHES.
concluded


tured to hint that he should like to be articled
The master stared-the clerk remained 81
lently awaiting his answer
care you aware, /" inquired the former, "that
the expense of the stamp, &C., is one hundred
and twenty pounds?"
Uncle John was aware of it, and he was pre-
pared with the money. He had saved it out OF
his miserable salary.
The master stared still more But, after q
short time, he consented to article Uncle John,
and to continue his salary during the term of
his articles Uncle John was in ecstacies, and
so far forgot his usual prudence that evening
as to indulge in half pint of bad port wine
TASTE by the way, which he has retained to
this day.
He was now happy man. Every thing was
sin train" now to make him one day gen
tleman by Act of Parliament'-as attorneys
are facetiously termed. 1t would certainly re-
quire something more than even the omnipo-
tence of an Act of Parliament to confer the
character on some of the fraternity.
During the first year of his articles the man
aging clerk died, and Uncle John was promoted
to that Office with salary of two hundred n
year. Here was indeed rise in life-from
seven shillings week to two hundred year
Happy Uncle John! But you deserved it all
for you had plenty of the courage which is pre-
cannot conquer.
Long before the five years Of his articles had
expired, the clerk had made himself so abso-
lutely necessary to the master, that the latter
could scarcely have carried on the business for
month without him. Therefore, when the
time arrived ut which he ceased to be q clerk,
and became himself an attorney, Uncle John
limited to his master that he was going to leave
him. Cunning Uncle john You had no such
intention but you knew that your master
would take alarm, beg you to stay, and offer
you partnership Of course-and he did so.
Uncle Johns path in life was from henceforth
comparatively smooth. He was the working
partner in business which was both profitable
and of good quality Within n few years his
partner was foolish enough to quarrel with him,
and to demand a dissolution of the partnership.
Uncle John readily consented, and all the clients
knowing well who was the man that understood
the business and transacted it, followed him
| and he became an attorney with practice of
two thousand year, and no partner to share
the profits.
His economical habits never forsook him. He
married and kept decent table, but save in n
love of good wine, (or at least what his unedu-
Gated taste considered so,) he had nothing but
the ordinary necessaries of life. How much he
saved each year who shall say? He had no
wants stood still, he became what he is nova
prosperous and highly respected old gentleman
1t is the fashion of the old to point out such
| men as models for the imitation of the rising
generation. The young, on the contrary, make
them the subjects of their ridicule for their bad
grammar and worse manners. Let us see If we
can find out the truth, unbiased by either par
ty. Uncle John is now rich man, an honor
able man, n hard-working man, and, in the
main, a sensible man. He has attained his po-
sition in life by patience, perseverance and in
dustry, favored also by little of that good luck
| to which we first referred. But Uncle John is
deficient in many of the characteristics which
adorn human nature Is it not natural that he
should be so? Where was he to learn the gen.
| tier feelings of his kind-affection, sympathy,
benevolence? In his garret, alone and un-
friended? He is mean and parsmonious. He
is worth forty thousand pounds, and his de-
| ceased brothers child is starving with his wife
| in a suburban garret. Uncle John will not aid
him with penny. Who aided him2 Did he
not live in garret, and save money too? Was
he such fool to marry before he could keep a
wife? Uncle John was guilty of no weaknesses
in those days; he cannot forgive them in another
His only brother dies, leaving large family
and a widow-unprovided for; for the children
have eaten up all he could ever earn. Uncle
John does not like the widow, (perhaps because
she had so many children,) but he gives her
ESQ year. His own income is about four
thousand.
His only sister is also left widow without a
sixpence. Uncle John gives her ESQ year.
People should not marry imprudently. lie
can afford no more; he has great many calls
upon him." Perhaps so; but the answer to
such calls is always, "not Mt home"
lie has many clerks now. He makes them
all work twelve hours day. Why not lie
worked twelve hours day.
He has articled clerks, too. They must work
twelve hours day also. he did it. True, Uncle
John; but you had your salary for it; while
they, on the contrary, pay you for the privilege
of working for you.
There is an old adage that slave makes the
worst tyrant. Uncle John exemplifes it. Be-
cause he suffered poverty and privation, he
thinks that every youth should suffer the same
Because nature had given him the constitution
Of horse, he thinks that every one should have
a similar one.
Such men MS Uncle John are striking exam
Piles Of certain qualities; and of those particu-
lar qualities which conduce to success in life.
Their highest praise (perhaps there is no higher
praise in the world) is their unfinchng integ-
rity. But we cannot bring ourselves to think
them-on the whole-models for imitation. Af-
ter all, there is sel6shness Mt the bottom of their
first motives, and this quality grows with their
growth, and strengthens with their strength,
till in their old age they are impatient at all
the enjoyments of youth. The hardships Of
their younger days are not only to be pitied,
but because they have closed upon all the
avenues through which the gcntlcr nobler, and
more generous sympathies of our nature find
their way into the heart. Their want of edu-
cation has not been of the mind alone, but Of
the affections; and as it is ten thousand times
more difficult to learn language or science
in old age than in youth, so it is infinitely more
difficult (if it be not impossible) to teach the
science Of the affections, and the language of
the heart, to the old man whose youth has
known nothing of either. Afliction and adver-
sity teach sympathy and benevoence but to