The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-10-23
How to be a Man.


Not long since a boy of some seventeen years
Of age called on q merchant doing a large bust
hess in New York. Being busily employed at
the time, he had to wait a while before getting
an opportunity for an interview. Occasionally
the merchant cast a glance at him as he stood
respectfully at a distance. lie was rather poorly
clad, and showed Evidences Of pretty hard work,
but his face indicated honesty and common sense,
with q firm and energetic manlinese, under the
somewhat rude exterior. A practiced business
man requires but q brief examination OF a boy 10
declare as to his weight and worth OF character.
When at liberty, the merchant said " well,
my young friend, what can l do tor you!"
~ called, SIR he replied, q to ask you for a
situation as an engineer. i was told you were
having n new engine built, and L want you TO
give me the place. I'D like to run 1t Tor you"
Are you an engineer" asked the gentleman.
"No, sir. bat I can be one" be answered, set
ting his lips firmly together, standing squarcly
before the gentleman, and looking him fully in
the face. al don't understand the business well;
/ know something Of it, though. But can be an
engineer, and will be, and l wish you would give
me n chance"
His modest but determined manner pleased the
merchant. He was having a new engine built
FOX q certain department OF his business, and
could, Of course, get as many experienced opera
tors rs he desired. Ii was no object 10 him 10
take up ar inexperienced boy and attempt to
train him-no object except to help the boy.
IN ~ Ht N16 ON[ w. 49, "f
doubt, had encouraged the boy to make this aP-
plication.
!" What are you doing now % he inquired.
"Working in a machine shop in Brooklyn. L
have been a fireman, and often worked the en-
CINE. l think l could get along pretty well with
one now If anybody will have n little patience
with me-"
=. What wages do you get?'
Five dollars u week, SIR"
Z" What do you do with your money!
Give it to my mother, sir"
I" Give il to your mother Humph what
does your mother do with it,"
=. We'll, YOU see, there is mother, and sister,
and me and mother takes in sewing. But 1t
goes pretty hard, you know. They don't get
much sewing, and tits pretty hard work, too.
And then, with all the other work she has to do,
YOU know she cannot get along very fast at that
rate. 80 l help all 1 can. IL can get an engi-
neer's place / can get better wages, and it would
make it easier for mother"
How do you spend your evenings?,, asked
81 attend the free school at Cooper Institute
and study mechanics, y he replied :" spend all
the time L can get studying
do you ever drink liquor?"
He looked up with an expression of astonish-
ment on his countenance that such a question
should be asked, but answered firmly, No, sir,
"Do you chew, OF smoke. or GO to the theatre?"
." Neyer-can't afford it. Mother needs the
nOItE <llu ~ EbC Ae y - OeA e1eoN DSNN
use Of it. / would like To have some books if j
could spare the money to get Them"
"Do YOU go to church or Sunday schoolf"
He held down his head. pretending to brush
the dust off the floor with his foot, and replied,
80 No., SIR"
"Why not?' asked the gentleman a little
sharply.
IL havn't any fit clothes to wear" he replied.
80 1t takes all the money | can get Tor US to live,
and I can't have any Clothes" He looked down
ct his coarse and well-worn suit. 1t didn't use
to be SO when father was living. l was brought
up to 90 to church and Sunday school. If / can
get to be an engineer we shall go again. L know
that l can run IN engine
Telling him to call at n certain time, when he
expected his engine would be ready for use, and
he would talk no further with him, he dismissed
him.
But he must have an engine said the mer-
chant TO n friend, to whom he related the cir
cumstances. "He will make q man, that boy
will. A boy who is determined to be something.
who helps to tighten his mothers burdens, who
does not use tobacco and does not 60 to the the
atres, who spends his evenings in study after
working all day-such n boy will make n man,
and deserves to be helped. 1 have not told him
SO, but I shall take him and put him under one
OF my engineers until he is fully capable of
taking charge, then let him have the engine.
He will get twenty dollars q week instead of five.
and be able to Tighten n mothers burdens. have
clothes to wear to church and buy books to aid
him in his business"
\ noble boy, though hidden amid hard condi-
tions and under unattractive garb, will work out
and show his manhood. lie may not always find
friends to appreciate him but determined, vir-
tuous and willing to endure, he will in due time
conquer, and prove himself worthy of trust.