The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-06-18
How to be a Man.

eHteeu years u dSes cdlieu upon
merchant doing 4 large business il
New York. Being busily engages
at the time, the boy had to wait
little before getting an Opportunit,
for the interview. Occasionally tn
merchant cast glance at him as h
stood respectfully at a short distance
he was rather poorly clad, and show
ed evidence of pretty hard work bu
his face indicated honesty and com
mon tense, with a firm, energetic
manliness, under the somewhat rude
exterior. A practical business man
requires but brief examination of a
boy to decide as to his worth and
weight of character.
When at liberty, the merchant said:
"Weli, my young friend, what can
l do for you?"
II called, sir" he replies, "to ask
for a situation as engineer. l was
told you we're having a new engine
built, and l want you to give me the
place. Iwould like to run it for you. F"
care you an engineer2" asked the
gentleman.
"No sir, but 1 can be-" he ans
swered, setting his lips firmly togeth-
er, standing squarely before the gen
tleman, and looking him full in the
face, II don't understand the bust
ness well. I know something about
it, though. But 1 can be an engin-
eer-and l will be. And l wish
you'd give me a chance.
His modest, but determined man
ner pleased the merchant. He was
having a new engine built for a GER
tain department Of his business, and
could, of course, have as many ex>
periensed operators as he desired
1t was no object to him to take an in
boy and attempt to train
him; no object. except to help the
boy. Such deeds he was noted for
a fact which no doubt had encour-
aged the boy to make the application.
"What are you doing now ?" he
inquired.
"Working in a machine shop in
Brooklyn. 1 have been fireman and
often worked the engine. I think 1
could get along pretty well now, if
will have a little patience
with me-"
"What wages do you get?"
"FIve dollars a week, sir"
"Whst do you do with your mon
ey2"
"Giye it to mother, sir"
"Give it to your mother humph !
what does she do with it?
"Well, you see there is a sister and
me, and mother takes in sewing. But
it goes pretty hard, you know. They
don't give much for sewing. and it's
hard work, too. AMI then, with all
the other work she has to do, you see
she cannot get along very fast at that
rate. So 1 help all 1 can. If I
could get an engineers place 1 could
get more wages, and it would be cas-
ier for mother.
"HOw do you spend your even
ings ?"
81 attend the free school at the
Cooper Institute, studying meehan-
les l"-he replied. "I spend all the
time 1 can get in studying. 1 know
L can be an engineer"
"Do you ever drink liquor" ?"
He looked up with an expression
of astonishment on the countenanee
that such a question should be asked
him. but answered firmly, "No, sir.'
"DO you chew or smoke, or 60 to
the theatre ?"
"Never-can't afford it. Mother
needs the money. And if she didn't
1 could have a better use for it. I'd
have some books, if 1 could only
spare the money to get them.'
"DO you go to Church or Sunday
p
He held dowE his head, pretending
to brush the dust off the floor with
his foot, and replied, "No, sir"
"Why not?" asked the gentleman
a little sharply.
81 haven't any clothes fit to wear" +"
he replied. at takes all the money
L can get for us to live, and 1 can't
have any clothes" He looked down
at his coarse and well-worn suit. at
didn't use to be so when father was
living. was brought up to go to
church and Sunday School. If 1 can
get to be an engineer we shall go
again. l know l can run an engine"
Telling him to call at a certain
time, when he expected his engine
would be ready for use, and he would
talk further with him, he dismissed
him. "But he must have the engige,"
said the merchant to friend to whom
he related the circumstance. "He
will make a man, that boy will. A
boy who is determined to be some
thing who gives his mother all his
money to tighten the burdens, who
does not use tobacco, and does not go
to the theatre; who spends his even
iLgs in studying after working hard
all day, such boy will make a man,
and deserves to be helped. 1 have
not told him so, but l shall take him
and put him under one of my engin-
eers, until he is fully capable of ia
king charge, then let him have the
engine. He will get twenty dollars
a week then instead of FIVE, and be
able to tighten a mothers burdens,
have clothes to wear to church,
and money to buy books to aid
him in his business"
A noble boy, though amid hard
conditions and under unattraetive
garb, will work out and show his
manhood. He may not always find
friends to appreciate him but de-
termined, virtuous, and viking to en-
dure, he will in due time conquer.
The Worst of 1t.
ttno mn, -anf 70 Inv ,rv berr;as