Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-01-18
81 5tprg for putpllts.
From the True Flag.
CHOOSING A PROFESSION;;
THE BRoKEN-DowE MINISTER
BY OLIVER OPTIC.


."rhere, John, she is done - said Joseph
Broadley. an Intelligent, boy of fifteen, he
pointed his friend to avery perfect model of a
-and-aft schooner, which he had just COM
pleted.
The miniature vessel stood upon the work
bench in his fathers shop. The finishing
touches had just been given-to the work, and
the young artizan surveyed his work with con-
scious delight.
She is beautiful, isn't she, Joe zI wish
I could do that said John Emmerson.
Perhaps you could, if you only tried 1t
has taken me nearly ali winter to do ii. Do
you know, John, that Imean to be ship-car-
penter?a and the eye of the boy kindled with
an aspiration of future distinction as he ad-
justed the gaf of the model
Il should like to be enc. too; butI know
any mother would never consent
Why nots"
:. She says I shall be minister"
You parson, john
-. have no fancy for it,
Then certainly wouldn't do it."
Not if your mother wanted very much to
have you ~
:. 1 don't. think I would;s but my mother
= would not want me to be anything dislike.
I am sure / never could make a parson."
-.sNor | either; but mother says / can"
..You must reason her out of IT.
How 20
Show her what you can do. Make boat
as have done. / am sure you can make as
good enc as this"
Il will make ship-that would besmore
difficult still am sure | could make one y
and there was something in the eye of j Ohm
Emmerson which showed he had the energy
TO accomplish almost anything he should un-
dertake.
Good l like your spunk. You shall
work in my fathers shop, and you need not
tell any one what yoa doing, so that WI hen
you get it done your father and mother wiU
be surprised
..rll do it, Joe - exclaimed John. clap
ping his hands :. FL show them what there
is in me, at any rate. !"
{. Bravo and after dinner we viii go down
to the saw-mi1 and pick out a log for the
hull
The plan was agreed to, and before night
the log was in the shop, and some progress
made in shaping it into the required form
But the task was not easy one, and more
than once the young mechanic was obliged to
leave the shop and 20 down te the wharf to
study the build of a real ship
Joseph Broadloy encouraged hi. friend and
the work went on bravely Though John
had projected an enterprise which, if success
fully accomplished, would eclipse his own la
bors, he was not envious or ill-natured, and
did all he could to assist his young friend
without doing anything that would rob him of
the credit of his work.
We have not space TO mention all the trials
and difficulties which beset the embryo ship
builder; but at the expiration of six months.
having devoted all his spare time from school
to the work, the ship was completed There
Of ham
with every timber and every rope in the ship,
and their judgement was decidedly favorable
Everybody that knew anything about ships
pronounced the young man to be a genius,
and said that he would makea mark upon the
work
" nen everything was ready the model ship
was placed upon little wagon and drawn over
TO Johns house
tbs father aud mother were summoned to
view the handiwork of their son. Mrs. EN-
merson was IN ecstasies. and Mr.. Emmerson
rubbed his hands with delight.
Now, mother, what do you think OF nv
talent for ship-buiiding?' said John as he
pointed triumphantly to the work of his hands
e.s It is very pretty, isn't it husband?,
'.Now, mother, 1 am going to be ship
T-" A ship-builder." exclaimed the fond mo
ther, with evident horror.
:. Yes, mother; Captain Smith has Offered
to take me as an apprentice.
Nay, but my son, you know / want yol
70 De minister. You must be ready to entc
college in year more''
a. pon't bother the boy, wife let him be
shlp-builder, if he wants to. You see he ha
.aient, as well an inclination that way,
saiu hr. Emmerson, as he went into the hous
again, followed by his wife.
John bestowed the ship in the back room
and joined the family circle. -
! have set my heart on making minis
ter of him. 1t is so much more respvctabl E
than carpenter, or anything of that sort ]
continued Mrs. Emmerson.