The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-04-18
Plain Words for Big Boys.


may want to take part in them. The Big
Boys are not all dead vet. True some OF
them have turned into gentlemen before
their time; and there are Others who will
look off in another direction if they bear
anybody called boy" 1t is DO disgrace
to be, or to have been boy; and the male
human being who tries 10 jump into man
hood, skipping the boy Of bis existence, is
sure to make silted entrance into sort
of foppiSh gentiity, in which the fine gen
tleman is SO much thought Of that the true
man is forgotten.
"wHAT ARE YOU GOOD FOR 2"
was talking to rich man about his
son who bad asked me to get him a stu
alton as clerk. The old gentleman seemed
incline4 to say very little about the lad. but
remarked: "He won't suit-he won't"
Anxious TO know why he wouldn't suit, |
asked what was the matter with him
'Matter!' said the old gentleman, whats
the matter with him! Why, he isn't good
for any ything-that's what's the matter with
mIn; and | tell you | wouldn't give SIX
pence for a wagon load of such fel ows.
Humiiiating as il wes for the grutf old man
to growl out such description of his own
son, 1t was a perfect photograph of the
youngsters character. Good for nothing.
Educated to look for a fortune at bis IA
theirs death, but not raught the first parti-
Gle Of duty as TO managing it, so as to make
himself useful with it, the idle fellow was
so good for nothing chat no decent business
man would care about having him in his
establishment. But was he not good for
anything at all Yes-he was a customer
to the dealer in fine boots, hats, aud cloth
ing; to the sellers Of tobacco and perhaps
OF fancy drinks" to the men at whose
billiard tables he spent his fathers money.
He could dance nicely; he could take the
girls who had no better sense than to 90
with such an empty head, to church, TO the
opera, and to va K along the street He
could gracefully wear stove pipe hat,uicey
fitting clothes of most fashionable cut, and
shiny boots of such an exquisite fit as to
pinch his toes and raise a larger corn
crop on his tender feet than ever he will
raise by hard work in tilIing the earth, or
brain work IN directing others 10 agricul
ture. Some day his father will die, and
some stupid girl who Is looking out forarich
husb sband, will marry this inefficient bit OF
humanity, and then they will either live
happily all their days or else not.
Another case of good-for-nothing. This
morning | heard feeble, heSitaling rap at
my study door, ike the rap Of beggar, or
a man who wants TO buy old clothes. As
soon as | SAID come in" a shabby, gen
teel-lookIng young man stepped meekIy lu
and handed me a weI-worn paper. The
paper was from a distinguished clergyman,
aud certified that the bearer, son of de-
deased clergyman, was out of occupation.
and, as he unfortunately had never been
taught ira or any means OF earning
livelihood, was now, with his family, de-
pendent on the Kindness of those who
might give him work, or otherwise contrib
ute to his support. "What kind Of work
can YOU do?" "WeIi, nothing in particular"
What do you like to dol" Il don't know"
is there any kind OF business you under
stand 2" No" Poor fellow v ife and
two or three children dependent on ~his
exertions." Mechanics, copyists, laborers,
skilled and unskiiIed, needed at wages, in
every department of industry but no place
vacant for the Lan who don't know how
to do anything. Away be goes on his
weary rounds, with his thumbed paper, a
saunterng monument to the neglect of his
parents TO teach him, or to his own negIi-
gence in falling to learn something to make
him selfsupporting member of society.
Hardly anybody will turn him away with
out giving him, at least, a little aims; but
what a pity it is that young man that
might be doing something useful, can not,
just because he don't know how"
These two cases are widely different but
the result is the same. One yong man,
probably little dissipated, with the pros
pect of being considerably more 50; the
other pious, and, yerr likely, doing the best
be knows how to do Put ship load of
such folks on an island, 10 matter how fer
tile. and the whole company would soon
starve to death and become food for the
more energetic carrioD crows.
Now, boys, are you good for something
useful! What can you do! What are YOU
looking forward to! 1t may seem fine TO
be born with a golden spoon in your
mouth" :" but if you indoIentIy sit with The
spoon there neither you or the spoon will
make any useful stir in the worI,t, and the
world will be no better for your having BEEN
born into it. 1t is favorte notion of sorle
very large-sized boys that in our free coun,
try one boy has as good chance Of being
President as the next boy; which is a cor
rect notion; it is also true that the boy
who Deglects advantages and duties in bis
early life will be the man Who even If ar-