Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-07-14
Too Pleasant to Work.


''Do you see that fellow vagabond as
he is -
"Ges"
"Do you want to know what made
him so?"
"Y es-what?'
''IIe and | used to 60 to school to-
gether when we were boys" said a
gentleman, "and he was good scholar
when he did go. But when a good
day came, it was always "too pleasant
to study" he did not want to he coop
ed up in school such weather, he said,
SO he would dodge school, go down to
the wharves, or lounge in the fields, no.
body knows where.
At last I thought it would be mighty
fine to do as he did; so ] told my moth
er when she bade me split my wood
and be of to school, that it ''was too
pleasant to work." [ was sure it was.
Nor was this the first time Ihad thrown
out the opinion.
'Too pleasant to work - she cried :
''that is precisely what pleasant wealth
er is made for. How fast the grass
will grow to-day. How much the cher
ries will ripen. What store the bees
will lay up in their hive. Do you hear
the mill grinding corn? The MAILER [
dare say, can't keep his hopper full
Do you hear the carpenters hammer?
The house will be clapboarded before
sundown. Pleasant weather is the
weather TO work, and the pleasanter
the better. The good sun seems to say,
Il give you cheerfillness and courage;
90 on; while it is to-day"
''My mother turned the drift of my
thoughts and our wood-pile did seem
to look more inviting under July sky
than a northeast storm: and the ak
did swing right royalty to the tune Of
the robin on the cherry tree. Then my
arm felt strong, | suppose, because it
had n purpose in it.
After that, Ike had his opinion, and
! had mine. ~ You may suppose, he
left school shamefully ignorant. 4
printing office refused him on that ac
count. He was apprenticed to shoe
maker. Ike and | often met on our
way down town, he to his trade and |
to mine.
"Where now?n | asked, when he
turned off from o straight course 20
the shop.
o." lit is too pleasant to work."
Charley, was the Old answer: and in
the middle of the forenoon he was like
ly to be seen pitching cents Oh the
common, or loating on the shady side
of stable.
''When he was journeyman, and
began to earn wages, he appeared anx-
lous to do better, and make up lost time;
and his friends thought be would be
something after all.
Il met him one day dressed in his
Sunday best, driving by, not Oh his
way to business.
Where now, Ike?:" | asked.
''Eh, Charley, do you suppose I am
going to peg soles to-day? Not /,
too pleasant for that" and he was off,
"And now what is he? i finished.
hopeless, friendless loafer, eating bread
he never earned, wearing clothes he
never paid iogs sleeping no one knows
where, burden to nobody greater
than himself. Inever see a boy TRYING
to shirk his duties because S'it is TOO
pleasant to work." but | think he is
taking his first step in the crooked pash
Of good-for-nothingness, by whose side
there are so many open bars, and worst
of which is the bar-room; much Of it is
down Hill, and at last it enters into the
road to eternal ruin.
''Too pleasant to work." it is too
pleasant to be idle, truant, disobedient,
purposeless boys. Just as if the nsill-
stream should lay baskipg and stacnant
in the swamp, instead Of sweeping
through the meadows, foaminc over
The rocks, and pulling all the mill
wheels with rush and gush that set
everything ssstir.
"No, no; don't let the boys ever
think it ''too pleasant to work." if they
have work to do, and I hope they