Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-07-04
From the Wheeling 1ntelligencer.
THE APPRENTICE PRINTER; /;
Andthe White Cottage.


One evening about twilight, a young
man entered restaurant, in the city Of;
his hurried gait and restless manner in
dicated an unquiet spirit, while his paid
brow and faded cheek bore evidence OF
one who had passed the rugged ascents Of
life, and endured its toll and partaken its
cares; still the flashes that occasionally
emitted from his dark undimned eyes,
the benignity that beamed in his counte>
nance, and the big thoughts that strug-
gled for utterance on his trembling lips,
denoted one devoted TO q cause "that
made ambition virtue"
Yesterday he was an apprentice boy ;
to-day, mis- own master. Years had
elapsed since he had been in this restau-
rant. On apublic day he had then come
here to procure some refreshments the
room was crowded, and one of the aris.
.ocrats of the city rudely pushed him
aside, sneeringly sLigmatized him as an
Apprentice boy. and ordered him to give
place to a gentleman. All day he had
been in the apprentice procession, and
was weary and hungry, but he retired
before the proud man that had SO arro'
gantly spurned him.
On his way home. he sat down on the
marble steps of one OF the many private
residences that ornamented this city, 70
rest and to restore exhausted nature.
The badge that he wore on this noted
day denoted that he was an apprentice ;
his apparel, that he was poor; aud his
Ianguid appearance, that he was hungry
and weary. A little girl came 70 the
door, saw him, and went in and returned
to him with some food. The indignity
that had been offered to him to-day sunk
deep into his warm heart, but the fairy
form Of this little girl on her mission oi
charity revived his spirits and hopes. He
resolved that he would SO demean him.
self in his apprenticeship that it should
be an honor instead of stigma upon
him he would struggle on in life and
prove himselfthe worthy recipient Of thi'
little girls charity
AS an apprentice Printer. he mastered
all the mystery ofhis trade; he did more
he never ate the bread of idleness.'
but cultivated his mind, became a well
trained thinker and finished writer
To-day-the frs: day ofhis freedom
he revisited this house to review the past
duu W GSuCW uto E66OluStOus 44V RApSSk
into the same room, called for bottle o
wine, tasted glass of it with nausea
ting grimance of one unaccustomed TO th'
beverage. then ordered plate Of oysters
tasted them and pushed them aside, art
gave indulgence TO the thoughts that oc
cupied his mind. All he had accom-
1 plised in life recurred TO him; the indig
nifty that had been inflicted upon bin
4 years ago, in this same room, was ye
still fresh in his mind, and he felt hii
J. heart still swell with the ambition to b.
the man who would yindicate the Amerf
can Printer. The old printing office VA
!, to him the inviting field, and with hi
highsresolution and fixed purpose he re
turned 10 it and became installed in th'
/. Editorial chair. He had been an Ap
prentice, endured its tolls, lived on It
seanty rations, bore the eoutumely Of III
proud and mean and now. to reform th,
apprentice system, 10 limit the hours 9
labor, TO extend the education. 70 brini
! the mind to the relief Of the manual pow
ers, and elevate the toiling millions, ver
now his high purpose and aim. and 7
: this he devoted his energies, and apple
his talents and he graduated in the ser
= vice of the toiling millions with . nam
: and fame Of which any man might b
j, proud.