Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-02
HOW TO BE A MAN.


business in New York. Being busily EN-
ployed at the time, the boy had to wait a |
little before getting an interview. Occa.
sionally the merchant cast glance at him |
as he stood respectfully at short dis
lance He was rather poorly clad, and
showed evidences of pretty hard work
but his face indicated honesty and COM
mon sense, with firm and energetic man.
illness, under the somewhat rude exterior.
A practical business man requires but
brief examination of boy to declare as
to his weight and worth of character.
When at liberty, the merchant said
"Well; my young friend, what can do
for your"
"I called sir" he replied, "to ssk you
for situation as an engineer. was told
you were having new engine built, and
want you to give me the place. I'd like
to run 1t for you"
"Are you an engineer ?" asked the gen
tleman.
"4No, sir, but 1 can be-" he answered,
setting his lips firmly together, standing
squsrely before the gentleman and look
ing him full in the face. 81 don't under
stand the business very well; l know
something of it, though. But can be an
engineer, and will be. And wish you
would give me q chance"
His modest but determined manner
pleased the merchant. He was having a
new engine built for a certain department
of his business, and could of course have
as many experienced operators as he de
sired. 1t was no object for him to take up
an inexperienced boy and attempt to
train him; no object except to help the
boy. Such deeds he was noted for, fact
which no doubt had encouraged the boy
to make his application.
quired.
"Working in a machine shop in Brook.
lyn. l have been fireman, and I often
worked the engine / think could get
along pretty well with one now, if any.
BODY will have little patience with
me-"
What wages do you getf"I
Five dollars q week, sir"
"What do you do with your money!"
"GiYe it.tn,Uvy Wath usiE1n. uumuu
humphi what does your mother do with
| itf"
| "Well, you see, there are mother, sis.
ter and me and mother takes in sewing.
But it goes pretty hard, you know. They
don't give much for sewing, and it's pretty
hard work, too. And then with the other
work she has to do, you know she cannot
get along very fast at that rate, so help
her all can. If l could get an engineers
place could get more wages, and it would
make it easier for mother"
"How do you spend your evenings?'
asked the gentleman.
"I attend the free schools at the Cooper
Institute, studying mechanics" he re.
piled. "I spend all the time l can get
studying. know can be an engineer y
"Do you ever drink iiquorP"
He looked up with an expression of as
constituent on his countenance that such
question should be asked, but answered
firmly, "No, SIR"
"Do you chew, or smoke, or go to the
theatref"
"Never-can't afford it. Mother needs
the money. And if she didn't, l could
make q better use Of it. I'd like to have
some books if 1 could only spare thf
money to get them"
"Do you go to church or Sunday
school9"
de held down his head, pretending tc
brush the dust off the floor with his foot
and replied, "No, SIR"
"Why not ?" asked the merchant, lit
tie sharply.
at haven't any clothes fit to wear" h,
replied. at taxes all the money Car
, get for US to live; and l can't have any
clothes" He looked down at his coarse
and well.worn suit. at didn't use to b.
so when father was living. l wa
= brought up to go to church and to Sun
day school. If can get to be an engi
3 neer, 1 shall go again. l know can ruI
, an engine"
Telling him to call at certain time
when he expected his engine would be i
= use, and he would talk further with hin
|. he dismissed him. "But he must hav
! that engine" said the merchant 10 frien
= TO whom he related the Circumstance
= "He will make a nan, that boy will.
= boy who is determined to do something
! who gives his mother all his money I
!, tighten her burdens; who does not uE
= tobacco and does not go to the theatres
> who spends his evenings In study aftt
\ working all day, such boy would max
man, and deserves to be helped. hay
not told him so, but shall take him an
q out him under one of my engineers unit
he is fully capable of taking charge, the
o let him have the engine. He will get
g dollars a week then, instead of five, al
+ be able to tighten a mothers burden
81 have clothes to wear to church, and br
~ books to aid in his business"
r a noble boy, though hidden amor
n hard conditions and under unattrscti'
~ garbs, will work out and show his ma
A. hood. He may not always find friends
a. appreciate him, but determined, vlrtuot
lp and willing to endure, he will in tiE
CONQUER. Mothers Journal.