Polynesian., 1854-08-26
Being Somebody.
sKErcH FoR YOUNG MEN AID BoY:


"Come, William. you will go with us this after
noQn," said James Grey to his cousin.
"No, James, have already given you my rea-
sons for refusing" was the reply.
a fig for such reasons! Yon can't afford the
time! Why, manor boy, rather, for you never
will be man-what is one afternoon, that you are
so afraid of spending it"
Much very much, james. have a difficult
plan almost completed, and wish to finish 1t while
the idea is fresh in my mind"
"That everlasting plan again. Some old ma
chinery, enough to puzzle the brain of Archimedes
himself. Are you going to invent perpetual mo-
ton? do declare you are enough to provoke the
patience of a saint. Forever moping over plans,
diagrams, and models, and heathenish machinery,
that would make one think your room a pagan
temple. | expect you will apply for patent for
an improvement in the car of Juggernaut. But it
is no to talk to you, for you joined to your
idols"
81 would try to be somebody" he pettishly con-
tinued, as he turned toward the door.
"Would YOU, James 20 was the quiet reply of
William, swell | am trying to be somebody"
''You take a strange way for it though. Here
you are shut up in this dismal room, night after
night, never enjoying harmless trlck with us, or
giving yourself any of the indulgences that make
life pleasant Even holiday makes no difference
with you. One would suppose you loved the very
sight OF the tools and workshop, for you have them
forever with you"
"Don't get excited James," said William, smi-
ling, Come, be serious, now. Do neglect any
of my duties? Do | not perform as much labor
and succeed as well in my trade any of you?
And as for endowment no one loves pleasure bet
ter than do. 1 should enjoy sail with you this
afternoon very much, but my means Of improve
ment are limited, and but little of my time can
call my own"
James we are machinists, causing gross mate
rial substances to assume shapes of beauty and fit
ness, under the mysterious supremacy of our wills.
Some call this low, common business, me-
chanica operation; but it is not so. There Is a
mental power to which matter must bow, and there
is nothing higher than to elevate and ennoble our
conceptions, so to make this plastic matter sub
servient to the best interests of man. 1t is thus
improvements are mlde First the ideal, then the
corresponding outward form. In my mind there is
shadowed forth. though but dimly-"
"Save me from such learned inaictlsns," ex-
claimed James, g [ have taste for what cannot
understand. Well, William. be dreamer if you
please; am Cor active life and its pleasures.
Hurrah for our sail, and goodbye to the second
FultunrS
Poor james a mere newer of wood and drawer
of water said William, as he closed the door and
resumed his occupation.
'Where's Will p cried several voices, as James
Joined his companions in the street.
'Oh, in his room, of course, calculating how
much beetle power it will take to draw acorn
up an ant-hill'
Couldn't you prevail upon him to come: lie IS
one of the best rowers we have.'
Prevail on him? You might as well try to pre-
vail on oyster to leave his shell! | was really
vexed, and gave hlm a short piece of my mind.
| told him at length would try to be somebody
said James, lighting his cigar, and twirling his
cane after the most approved fashion.
Good said Harry Gilbert, am glad you
showed your spirit. He is good hearted fellow
if he is full of his Oddities, and it may perhaps
start him from his burrow. But what did he say:
Oh after arguing the matter awhile, he went
off into learned dissertation IN the midst OF which
I made nv escape. He will never be any body in
the world, that's the long and short Of it
James and William Grey were cousins, and
were apprentices in machine shop, where various
kinds of machinery were made. James, as may
be inferred from the foregoing conversation, looked
upon his employment n necessary evil To
him it was mere manual labor, given number OF
blows, requisite degree of heat, certain expen-
diture of strengthen word, it was toll IN It's
most literal sense.
William, on the contrary, viewed it with the eye
of an artist. There was not merely The rough
iron to be moulded into some uncared-ior machine,
but as he told James, plastic material assuming
beauty by the will of man. He studied, therefore,
not only the mechanical part of his trade, but his
inventive genius was excited Curiosity led him
to examine the uses and peculiar adaptation of the
machinery he made, till at length his active mind
suggested various improvements.
All his leisure time was employed IN the con
struction of models and his room might have been
taken for miniature patent Office. The last year
of his apprenticeship was nearly at its close, and
William had not only improved but had invented
several really useful designs.
Looking over paper one day, he read an offer
of prize of $1,000 for the best model for pecu-
liar kind of machinery to be used IN cotton fac
tory.
:IFhy should not try" said he.
He Understood what was wanted, and day after
day did he study intensely on the subject. Al
length he grasped the idea, and il was upon this
he was at work when James urged him to Join the
sailing party