Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-05-22
I Wish 1 was a Man.

Chs. W. had been conversing very earn
estly with ms lathor, and when fhev' kepaf.
ated, casual observer would hardly have
failed to note the disappointment and dis
content expressed in his countenance. The
occasion of this was his fathers refusal to
allow him to skate that day upon pond, a
little way from the village, the iayoriie win
ter resort of all the fun-loving boys in the
neighborhood. There had been several
days of weather so warm that his father
Judged it imprudent for him to venture up
on the ice. Charles stood, for some min
utes, striving in vain to bring his mind to
acqulesce IN his fathers decision. lie was
generally and obedient boy, and ready to
acknowledge that his father knew best what
was for his good; but, in The present inst
ance, his desire for the forbidden pleasure
proved too strong for the spirit of fhal ODE
dIence; and, though in 0ufoard act he
was obedent to the unwelcome decision, in
spirit he was rebel against parental au-
,hori;y.
| wish | was man, for then | could
have my own way, said he, as with an I'M
patient gesture, he moved from the spot
where he had been standing.
This remark though uttered aloud, was
not intended for any ones benefit, but only
as a vent to his own chafed and irritable
feelings, yet it reached the ear Of his uncle
james, who, at some little distance, had
been an attentive observer of the scene
Approaching his nephew, he said
As YOU have been disappointed in your
plans for the day, suppose you take walk
with me-
Charles was not IN mood to be very
much pleased with anything, yet, as his un-
Gle James was great fayorite with him, he
did not feel disposed 10 decline an invita-
ton, which at another time, he would have
delighted to receive. His uncle, after con-
verslng with him in his own pleasant way,
until the cloud had quite cleared from his
brow, Observed
| accidentally overheard you make re-
mark this morning something to this effect,
that you wished you were a man, Tor then
you could have your own way. Now, my
dear boy, as the fact is that an man,
and therefore must necessarily be much bet
ter Informed in regard to all that pertains
TO the state OF manhood than yourself, al
low me TO correct your error, and assure
you that if you expect TO have your own
way when you become man, you will be
grIevousy disappointed
Why uncle, you surprise me- thought
men always had their own way, and did lusl
as they chose
If you will reflect a little on the sub
ject, you will see that this is very wrong
conclusion. | very much question if you
will find any one, whatever be his age OF
station, who has things more as he would
wish them to be, than a boy of thirteen
blessed with kind afiectionaie parents, who
delight To grant every reasonable wish. II
you have your own way as you call II,
when you are a man, as much as you now
do, your experience will difer from that Of
most men,
always supposed SAID Charles, that
when | became man | should have moth.
ing to oppose my wishes.
Ii Is true that when you become man,
parental authority will not interfere with
any of your plans but you will find your
plans thwarted, and your wishes opposed by
many circumstances aud events which you
cannot control or alter, and dIsappoint-
ments will be strewn much more thIckly in
your path than they now are. Does the
man who sends his ships, laden with mer-
chandize, TO some foreign port, and hears
that his treasures have found place Of de,
post III the great slore-house Of the oceans