The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-02-09
Being SOMEBODY.
A sXRTCH FOR YOUNG MEN AND BOY

noon, said James Grey TO his cousin.
No. james, have already given you my rea
sous for refusing was the reply.
"A fig for such reasons! You can afford the
time Why man, or boy, rather. for you will
never be man, what is one afternoon, that you
are SO afraid OF spending it? 2
'Much, very much, James. have difficult
plan almost completed, and wish 10 finish it while
the idea is fresh in my mind
THAT everlasting plea again. Some old ma.
chlnery, enough to puzzle the brain oil Archime.
des himself Are you going to invent PerPetu-
al mo'on? do declare you are enough to pro-
woke the patience of saint. Forever mopipg over
plans, and diagrams, and models, and heathenish
machinery, that would make one think your room
pagan emple. | expect you will apply for
patent 70: an improvement in the Car ofJugernaut.
But 1t is use to talk 10 you; for you joined
to your idols. ! would try TO be somebody he
peltishv continued, as he turned towards the
door,
'Would you James 2 was the quiet reply Of
William; we'll, am trying to be somebody
You take strange way for it though. Here
you shut up in this dismal room, night after
night, never enjoying a harmless trick with the
rest ofus, or giving yourself any ofthe indulgen.
ces that make life pleasant. Even a holiday
makes no difference with you. One would sup
pose you loved the very sigh, of The tools and
workshop, for you have them forever with you
Don't get excited James,, said William, smiI-
ing. Come, be serious now. Do | neglect any
of my duties Do not perform as much labor
and succeed we'll in my trade as any of you !;
and is for enjoyment, no one loves pleasure better
than do. | should enjoy sail with you this
afternoon very much, but my means Of improve
ment are limited, and but little OF my time |
cal ny own.
James, we are machinists, causing gross ma.
terial substances 10 assume shapes of beauty and
fitness under the mysterious supremacy Of our
wills. Some call this low, common business, a
mechanical operation; but it is not So There is
mental power TO which matter must bow, and
there is nothing higher than to elevate and enoble
our conceptions, as TO make this plastic matter
subservient TO the best interests Of man. 1t is
thus improvements made. First the ideal then
the corresponding outward form. In my mind
there is shadowed forth, though but dimly-'
Save from such learned inficuons,' ex-
claimed James. | have no taste for what can
not understand. Well. William, be dreamer if
you please am for active lie and its pleasures.
Elurrah, for sail, and good bye to the second
Fulton
Poor James a mere hewer of wood and draw
er of WATER said William, as he closed the door
ard resumed his occupation.
Where's Will 2 cried several voices, as James
Joined his companions in the street,
much beetle power it would take to draw an acorn
out OF an ant-hl'
'CouIdn't you prevail on him to come! He is
| one Of the best rowers we have.
Prevail on him You might as we'll try to
prevail on an oyster TO leave his she'll | was
really vex"d, and gave him short piece Of my
mind told him a length, | would try TO be
somebody said James, lighting hi. cigar and
iwrIing his cane after the most approved fashion.
! .-I.l
showed your spirit. He is a good hearted fellow,
if he is full OF his oddities, and it mny 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
made my escape. lie will not be anybody in
the world, that is the long and short OF it,
James ard William Grey were cousins, and
they were apprentices in machine. shop, where
various kinds of machinery made. James,
may be inferred by the foregoing conversation,
looked upon his employment as a necessary evil
TO him it was mere manual labor-a g ven num-
ber of blows, requisite degree Of heat certain
expenditure of strengh-in word, it was toll in
its most literal sense.
William, on the contrary, viewed il with the eye
of an artist. There was not merely the rough
iron to be moulded into some uncared for machine,
but. he told James. plastic material assuming g
Oeduty ny Tue OI SluUIe1 therefore,
not only the mechanical part Of the trade, but his
inventive genius excited. Curiosity led him
TO examine the uses and peculiar ada ptation Of the
machinery he made, till at length his active mind
suggested various improvements.
All his leisure time employed in The con.
structon of models, and his room might have been
taken for miniature patent-office. The last year
of his apprenticeship nearly at its close, and
William had not only y improved, but invented sew.
eral really useful designs.
Looking over paper one day, he read an offer
of prize Of $1,000 Tor The best model for a pecu.
liar kind OF machinery to be used in a cotton fac
tory.
Why should not try ? said he.
He understood what was wanted, and day after
day did he study intensely on the subject At
length he grasped the idea, and it was upon this
he was at work when James urged him to join the
sailing party. .a-.....
Laie at night his cousin returned, weary with
pleasure, and found him sitting The table, seal
ed package before him, his cheeks flushed an un-
usual brightness in his eye, and peculiar express
sion on his countenance.
About a week after this, gentleman knocked
at the door. Ii opened by James, who was
alone. --.-.
Il wish to see Mr.. Grey said she stranger
gancing with smile at the peculiar decoration
OF the room. r. .-.-.. ia ~e-e
My name is Grey returned James, placing q
chair for The guest. ..s ..,s.-..a 3ag..s-qs ,
ALLOW me 10 congratulate YOU on your success