Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-05-30
aisreIlaneons.
CARRYING Bundles.

IldricS HOWARD SUOOO Oh lle lTOuI pltiL
"a of his fathers elegant mansion, leaning
upon the railing in a sort of nothing to do
attituded, when his Uncle Philip drove uT
before the door, and said:
"Charles has your father gone down
town? How is it that you are not in youI
place to day."
q left Mr. Harley's store yesterday, be-
cause he asked me to carry a bundle. Faith
er is going to get me another situation
Mother saws she is glad 1 have some of the
good old Howard spunk in me-"
"WelE Charles, / am sorry your mother
wishes to cultivate the spunk which grieve
to say, Is a stronger characteristic of the
Howard family, to the exclusion of their
honest industry. My parents managed
very differently in my case"
"Uncle Howard, am sure you never
carried bundles for your employer; at least,
when you were as large as | am
"I'll tell you my experience in the bun
die line, if you would like to hear it, Charles.
Go in and ask your mother to let you take
a drive with me-"
Charles soon came bounding down the
steps with little limbs, that looked as if
formed for some Just such useful occupation
as the one he so much despiscd, rather than
standing behind the connter, or sitting over
a writing table.
'When l was a nimble-limbed boy like
you, and your grandpa brought me to this
city and put me in a store, | was full of
Howard spunk, as your mother calls it. As
| stood behind the counter dressed in fine
suit of blue cloth, showing laces and silks
to the ladies, l heartily dcspised the boy
who made the fires, swept the store, and
would not condeScend to be seen in the
street with one little older, who ran errands,
though assure YOU no one in this great
city dare despise them now My employer,
Mr. Putnam, was an intimate friend of my
fathers, and anxious to give mo every adj
vantage. l had been chosen from among
a large number of applicants, and eonse-
quently felt considerably inflated by my
new position. I pitied the boys who were
forced to soil their hands in working their
way up to fortune, and prided myself on
the snug portion left by my mother, which
was to be my own at twenty-one. One
evening, when 1 had been at my new place
about fortnight, Mr.. Putnam called me
back just as l was going home to tea, and
said:
"Richard, 1 want you to take this bundle
to Mrs. Hyde, on your way home"
"Certainly, Sir" 1 was about to reply,
when remembed that Mrs. Hyde was the
mother of an old school-mate, of whose ac-
quaintance 1 felt particularly proud. 1
laid the bundle back on the counter, and
said: "Can't John do, it sirp
"No, Richard, John is out, and besides, I
have asked you to do it, and expect obedi-
ence."
"Then, sir" said I, coIoring up with gen
uine Howard spunk, 'you must get another
clerk in my place, for my father never put
me here to be errand boy"
l gave one glance at the expression of
pity and sternness in my employers face,
and bade him good evening 1 had walk
ed a few blocks, rejoicing in my high spir-
II, and indignant at the insult put upon me
and my family, when, to my surprise, met
my father We lived a few miles out of
the city, and he had driven down on bust
ness, and was on his way to call and sec me
at the store before returning home.
30, father, l am glad to meet you," said
I; have left Mr.. Putman's store. He tried
to make an errand boy of me, and | would
not stand his insults. He even asked me
to carry bundle to Philip Hyde's mother.
1 expected to walk home, but I can ride
back with you"
"Not so fast, Richard, not so fast What
do you expect to do with your strong young
limbs and thoughtless head, if you will not
obey the commands of others? Do you
propose to go into business for yourself.-