Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-04-19
TWO WAYS AND TWO ENDS.

TWO WAYS AND TWO ENDS.
Two boys, whom l shall call James
and Charles, occupied the samo desk
at school, ana -recitcd in the same class.
First, they studied book keeping, then
navigation, then something else, but
nothing pleased tho indoIcnt James.
One day they were studying survey
ing, and James began to mark on his
slate as he had done before, saying:
80 dear, l am tired Of these links
and chains, and squares and trianglcs.
What use will this ever be to me?
Aud besides, can't understand it,"
"I know" replied Charles, {" it is
hard study, and 1 don't SEQ what use
it will ever be to me. But my father
knows more than do, and he set me
to study surveying, and am going to
study it, whether it will be of any use
to me or not. And as for unders and
ing it, never saw any study could
not understand if put my mind to it.
should be ashamed to be conquered
by links and chains, or any thing else
] find in surveying. You don't
catch me- me- playing tHa'too till my les
Thus sat these two boys side byy
side. The orc studied and tho other
played. The one always had Ills les
son we'll learned the other missed
or, if he could do it, be would deceive
his teacher ty looking in his book at
recitation. AID there they formed
their characters; when they left
school and went to business, they car
:ried away the same habits. Charley
took for his motto, "Busincss first, and
then pleasure;" and he was always ap-
plying what he had learned at school
to some useful purpose. But James
found business as ,jiresome as his stud.
les. lie was always intent on ANU
sing himself, and instead cf making
his employers business: li' own, he
was always Studying how to do rs
little as he could and keep his place,
and always glad when fhe storo was
ehut up, that he might SEEK amuse-
;;menJ.
Charley rose rapidly in the esteem
and confidence of his employers, and
lin due time became head clerk, and
then partner, and at length became
wealthy merchant owning ships and
stocks in railroads. He was.a direc-..
tor in bank, and'preshent of rail.
road company.
But James did not plase his employ
,ers, and never stayed long at one
place. After a whilo bis father set
him up in business, but the Same hab-
its followed him. He neglected his
business, and spent ifs time in :idle'
,amusements. In a little while he
failed. Again his faber set him up
and again he failed: And this was re
peated till he had Pept his: estate,
i WHICH fell to hm at his fathers death !;
and seeing grim poverty staring him
in his face, he. thought Of his friend
Charley, of whose prosperity. he had
heard. He determined togo and see
If he could give hin, something to do
Charles.was very glad to see his old
~ mate, and shook himyery cordial.
D. she hand, no. seeming TO notice
the mean,appearance Of his garments.
After a friendly chat, Charles said to
him: "Well, JAMES, is there anythiug
: I can do for you I" James hung down
his bead and teld him his want Of
:: success in business, and the straits
into which <hTbsd been driven, and he
80 he should be, glad of some employ
HIT that would give him al1iving.
swell, my good friead,v saidsthe
merchant, q Am glad yon baye come
just at the right time. T. remember,
: that, ,yon and sendied. bookkeeping
Q Stogsther. Wans d 81 BOOK, ,keepsr.
The salary is $1,000. :
..,sAgain;James hung dowb his head,
J and said I" ~ never understood any
thing Gabont boak keeping when we
studied togetheF,p and i have: never
sbeep used soit., IL can't keep a'ses,of
boeks." Fa &szSsJ