St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-11-08

y
future fortunes. Such fun is risky
even for rich mems sons, whose fathers
names and purses can help them ou'
of many scrape ; but for poor boys
like you or ], it is perilous in the cx
treme. \ merchant may tolerate a
fast young man in society but never
in his counting room. There he cx-
acts sobriety, punctuality, and the
most rigid morality. You arc in a
dangerous track, Henry, and | be-
sccch you to leave it while you have
strength. You have everything to
encourage you in an honorable course
You have good looks, and those go a
good way with a clerks fortunes arc
quick and yet easy in your move
mcnts naturally at1able and polite
rctentive in memory, and accurate in
calculations. You have done we'll so
far
"And mean to do we'll hereafter
Jimmie, but as to denying myself all
youthful cnjoyments-m making an old
bach of myself before | am eighteen,
I'm not going to do it. have my
aspirations as we'll as you. | shall
yet be junior partner of this firm, OF
| greatly miss my guess, and that toe
without knowing how to parieycOu,
francois, or to read balance sheets"
A crimson flush spread over James
Scyton's handsome face, as bis rat.
Ting companion finished his last sen
tcnce, and making no further reply,
he badc him good evening at the next
corner, and they parted.
PunctualIy at half past seven, he
went to the private rooms Of Profes-
sor Molincux, and spent an hour and
half in reading French. \ brisk
walk brought him to his boarding
house, where he found the coal fire he
had kindled before he went out, now
burning brightly in the CRATE, and diff
fusing a cheerful light and warmtl
over his little bedroom. As he stoo,
before It, rubbing his hands in the rec
blaze, he held an imaginary convcr
sation in the language he had Just
been studying and corrugated half u
dozen of the most irregular verbs
Then with u satisfied look, he sar
down to one of the latest pnblica
tons Of the day, and took his rccrea
ton. Shortly after ten, he retired
first bending his knec--as his mother
long since a saint in heaven, haC
taught him, when he was little child
and reading a chapter from the Book
of Books. By eleven O'clock, his
measured breathing told that he was
sound asleep, and if we might Judge
by the quiet smile that softened about
his lips, listening to angel whispers
Before sunrise nc was up and had
bathcd and dressed. The first golden
ray found him out Of doors with his
skates upon his arm. \ walk of a
mile brought him to large pond
now frozen to CLASSY smoothness. Ii
was the work of moment to straI
on his skates, and then he started Of
on the ice with lightning velocity, and
for an hour enjoyed to the utmost the
quiet, but eXhilarating pastimc. Then
with quickeucd pulses, and crimson
checks, he returned to his boarding
housc-partook Of his breakfast, gave
half an hour to his morning paper,
studying carefully the commercial
items, and at eight o'clock, to a min.
ute, entered the counting room.
Let us turn now to Henry Dayton
and see how he passed his evening
lmmediatcly y after tea, he repaired tc
the hotel. where he had agreed to
meet his young companions. 1t was
a frosty night, and just as the sleigh
drove up to the door, it was proposed
by one Of them to take q" a drink all
round" to ward off the cold. \ bran
dy punch was prepared, for which
each one paid "a dime ; cigar was SC,
lected, for which they scverally paid
five cents. They then started, going
down the river on the frozen channel
They were q merry set, and theil
songs and laughter resounded far and
wide on the still night air. Ten miles
down, they stopped TO warm, and, as
one more reckless than the others,
said, " to liquor mp Another dime
for a punch, another five cents for a
cigar, six miles further, and they
stopped again, each one paying TWEEN
ty-fve cents for plate of boiled oys
ters, dime for another punch, anc
five cents for cigar. Turning thei
horses heads up the river, they spc,
away tleetly, till within six miles O
town, when they stopped at " llolt's,
to spend the remainder Of the eve
ming, or rather night. \ number o
cutters" had happened down from
the city, and as consequence al
impromptu ball had been suggested
The young meu flushed with thcil
three drinks, were only too read y t.
Join in the dance. A hot supper hat
been prepared to conclude the fes
tivities, of which Dayton and hi.
friends partook, as a matter Of course
paying fifty cents each for the privi
lcge. Another punch, another cigar
and they started for home.
The city clocks were Ginning five
when the young clerk reached hi
bedroom. 1t was a cold cherries
looking place in that darkest hour G
winters night, and after gropin,
about the mantle in vain to find hi
match safe, he drew off his boots an,
over-coat and tumbled" into be-
with the rest of his clothes on.
The first bell failed to waken hin
out of the deep sleep which his par
tial intoxication had scaled upon h':
eyelids. The second also, and it was
not until the chambermaid pounded
vigorously upon his door, that he raj
lied his scattered senses enough t.
know where he was. Telling her h
"was sick, and didn't want any break
fast" he turned over again and too.
new nap.
When he awoke the sun was shir