The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-04

times a lille disconsolaie, he never eniirel,
lost sight of,he feeling Of freedom which
inspiiis Yankee in strange place. II,
had no position 10 maintain, and anyihin.
that was honest was respectable enough
for Jonathan wilkins. The "News-boy
line" appeared 10 be the readiest opening
which offered and from retailing" extras
when he happened 10 be in want of job
Jonathan fell into the regular trade.
Having by degrees got acquainted with
the business he entered heartily into it,
Early and late he was a, his calling, and
plisd Il with industry and shrewdness.-
Not coutent with morning editions, ho made
afull days work by undertaking the even,
ing papers also; and his head soon carried
? iss ect register Of all the arrivals expect
4 ed AMI III the other excuses for exiras.''
He was,soon in spirits 10 write home a
glowing account o! his doinss and OF his
gains. Tho little Wilkinses began to fancy
that Jonathan mus, have found The wings ol
their renowned namesake Peter, and be fly.
Ing upward 10 wealth and distinction.
But Farmer Wilkin, had his misgivings.
He had heard about nsws-boys; and such
OF the villagers as had visited New York,
did net give him very faliering notion Of
their vocation. To DO sure, one literary
gentleman, who regularly read the masa-
zines, insianced one or two quite prominen,
booksellers who had risen from such be-
ginning. But they were men who had
character and stability 10 rise from any
point; and Farmer wilkins was not quite
so sure Of his son Jonathan. So he wrote
him letter full Of advice, which would no
doubt have been very good, IL The writer
had known how 70 adapt il 10 the circum.
stances Of the person whom he addressed
Quite an important person Jonathan Will
kins. began 10 consider himself.
The boy smiled as he read. His mother
had added an appropriate hor'a,ory post.
script. Jonathan had already learned that
old people were "slow." Indeed he had
a suspicion Of that fact before he left home,
but hal no, then learned 10 express himself
in the language OF Young America, upon
the characteristics Of the elders who slaSd
in young peoples way. His education was
now going forward under the mos, brilliant
auspices.
To say nothing Of the advantages which
his daily intercourse with the world and his
hopei'l young companions conferred upon
him, ho had the benefit Of cheap evening
school. He found that for shilling he
could obtain admitlance TO the temple Of
refinement, made accessible 10 the humbles,
citizen, or citizens scape-sallows son-,he
schools Of morality which certain philan-
lhropic individuals condrct under the name
OF cheap theatres. Here he saw The mirror
hold up 10 nature, and witnessed, for an in
definite numter Of nights, the Stage repre-
sen,a,ion Of wha, he saw in the streets dur
ing the day-"New York in Slices, %" Life
in the Metropolis Tom and Jerry,n and
all lha, sort of classic entertainment. The
characters Of the drama were reilexes Of
the audience in the pit and gallery, caught
with high dramatic art, and represented for
the approval and delecalion OF The originals
themselves. Like stage like audience .
And when the humor Of farce was required
10 give way 10 more intellectual entertain
meni, and Thalia mus, give way TO Melpo-
meme, the Newga,e Calendar was the Olym.
plan groupo Of the drama'isi. Highway
men and foo,pads, burglars and pirates
were The heroes whose exploits opened the
eyes Of Jonathan upon " Life," and educa'-
ed his aspiring mind 10 dwell on deeds Of
high emprise.
Many were The deleciablo lessons which
our young profcicn, caught up in such
school. Aud when the state Of his funds
admonished him 10 economy, or The drama
palled upon his TASTE, he had other equally
innocent eycitcments at command. The
Enrine Houses were "as good as aplay."
Jonathan had taken all the degrees be-
ginning at The fre.plug, and edgins up 10
the door, getting the fellows more and more
used 10 his face and figure, till al last he
worked his way in, and was admitted 10 all
the privileges of a runner" Indeed, hr
was quite an oracle with The adherenis Of
the machine. He was read up in,,he laies,
news ; and no, seldom had a copy over, OF
the las, ephems,al, which he would pro-
duce as cincher in his arguments upon
the contested merits OF different shilling
stars, pugils,s, lion-iamers, thimble.rig.
gers. fancy men, fences, and id gems omne.
Jonathan was unquesiionably" getting on"
: AS a matter Of course and Of necessity,
our young hero had no, advanced SO far in
his noviciale in city life Of The sort he had
chosen, wi,hou, making the acquaintance
Of the bottle imp. He could use tobacco in
all lis forms 5elore he LEFT home, having,
as we have already in,imaled, eally under.
taken tha, diiIicul, and soincwha, nausea'-
ing accomplishment. He was ready ior
ginger pop on the frs, day Of his city life,
and soon advanced, by an easy transition,
to ale, and then 10 porter. These introduce
ed him without difficulty 10 no, punch Of
a cold night, and then came occasional,
then daily pulls at the whole variety Of
Alcohol and company. He muslknow Tile;
and this was his introduction. /, was per-
iec,ly legitimate according to The standard
drama OF the Bowery and Calham Street.
Did no, the heroes "luaf man,lins bowls"
80 -. -.li.,. ns I,,l Sh,navJ