Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-02-11
DDmt9's department.
Robert Dawson. or the Brave Spirit.

1t was in the third year Of my residence with
Mr.. Simpson, that he had engaged to DO a large
amount OF work for publishing house in the city.
Sufficient time had been given to accomplish il
without any extra effort. But one evening To-
ward the close Of job, the publisher suddenly az
Peared in the Office. He and Mr.. Simpson were
alone together some time. When the Office was
closed for the evening, Mr.. Simpson told US that
the work must be finished in three days, at far
thest; and that we must ali bestir ourselves early
enough in the morning. 1t was nv duty TO open
the Office and prepare it for work.
''Tom!' said Mr.. Simpson, al want you to get
up and do Roberts work tomorrow morning; he
looks pretty sick tonight, and must not come in
to the Office until after breakfast l had taken
severe cold.
The stranger saw and marked US both, and
heard Mr.. Simpsons directions. ,.r
"Robert, do you lie a-bed Tomorrow morning;
and Tom, by all means be up by four. Here! take
my alarm-watch and hang it up by your bedside.
Be up, sir, in good season."
"Yes, SIR answered Tom, though in no willing
tone. When we went to bed, tremendous
out. The cold was extreme, and the wind furi-
Gus north-easter. soon forgot the storm and
sunk into painful slumber, with the agreeable
expectation of laying as long as | chose in the
morning. In an incredibly short time, (asit
seemed, so profound were our slumbers.) Tom
and were aroused by the alarm watch-one--
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. it, indeed, be morn
ing!
sit is time to get up, Tom shouted I, shak-
ing his arm. sect up then:" he growled rough
~
r. 'Tsut am sick, Tom, and you remember what
Mr.. Simpson said"
No, Tom was not to be reused. He was not
going to get up such stormy morning 50 early
not he! He was net going to DO it, for Dir. Simp-
son, nor for me, nor for anybody else-not he!-
He was not going to get up, ifbe never did any
more WORK!
How many are like Tom, when demand is
made upon them for little extra effort! No:
they are not going to work so-not they!
Now it was evident somebody must get up; and
it must be, certainly, one of US. felt had no
right to sleep the night out, that lime. Besides
feared it migat be hazardous to get up, for was
in profuse persPiration, and the storm was ra-
gng violently But my own personal considera-
ton had no more effect upon my bed-fellow, than
had his masters commands. - .r.-..- 81.
'.WeIl, it must be done. Make up your mind
to do it, ana then do it courageously," thought l.
Out of bed jumped, and dressed myself rapidly,
without suffering myseif to regret the snug, warm
quarters / had left. In spite of headache, sore
throat, and cough, went bfavely on. plough
ed my way to the Office through the drifting snow,
built the FIRE, and got everything in readiness for
the workmen, long before they began to appear
Then tying the lantern before me, to see the way,
| fought with the snow until shoyeled respec-
table path from the house to the Office. Some
one beside myself was up in the house; several
times he appeared at the win low, looking out and
watching my progress. While was alone in the
office, heavy step ascended the stairs. Not
Jones, nor Toms nor Mr.. Farley's nor DIR. SimP-
sons. Lo! the publisher himself entered "He.
such ch mani up and seeing about bis business
so early!' was amazed. Our Office had done
much work for him, and we slI respected him
greatly. @
Il thought you were the boy that was not 10
get up this morning, Robert? A stormy morning
this, and tough work you have had of it," he said,
cycling ne keenly. t-at
My father always told me, sir, when we had
work to do, to go forward and do it, mindng moth
ing about the weather, or anything else" Son
" a few drops at time,' added, to myself.
Alright! right exclaimed the publisher, with
great spirit "You have had training that is
worth something--yes, worth more to begin life
with than thousands of dollars. see you can put
your hand to the plough, and not look back. The
great faultof young men, nowadays, is they are
afraid to work. They want to live too easy while
the fact is, we cannot get anything that is worth
having-rePutation, property, or any good with
out working, aye, striving for it. ! must keep my
eye on you, young man."
Upon what apparently little incidents hang
the well-being of men; | say apparently little
chance-like incidents; and vet they are neither
little or BY chance-they part Of the great
moral wool into which our habits weave our des-
tinies They are themselves the result of long
trains Of influence, and the starting points of 9TH
er. So that what so many call lucky hit, or an
unIuckv turn is in fact the true result of what the
past hath wrought out.
To some it might have been lucky hit, thst
the great publisher Of and |, an obscure ap-
prentice should have happened to meet Just as we
did, at half-past four on a stormy; in Mr. Simp-
sons printing Office, because from that time he
became my fast friend.
At twenty one was free, with good trade,
thoroughly learned
At twenty-five was master of two hundred
and ninety dollars.
At twenty profitable paper and printing
establishment, in a large neighboring town was
for sale.
show much money did you earn last year,
Robert" asked the publisher, who contrived to
meet me at this time.
aTwo hundred and ninety dollars, sir, clear"
sJust what expected. have bought the
Journal Office and furniture, and am going to set
YOU I'D in business. sec you can take care of
your own, therefore | can safely trust you with
mine You are not afraid of difficultiesi'
No; itwas not lucky hit, or any bit at all, if
| BY this is meant a chance event. The meeting
was the natural consequence of the business hab-
| its of the business man and the business boy
| And now when poer Charley Frazier, on behold