Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-01
Cur aluung folks.
Our Saturday Night.
WHAT a POOR BOY DID.

Our Saturday Night.
WHAT a POOR BOY DID.
This afternoon, after a weary ride in the
cacs, we rested at the house of friend,
far, far away from the great city wherein
Is our Office and principal place Of WORK 8.
We visited at the house of a friend-an
old time friend, who but a few years since
was poor boy, but is now good, pure,
honorable, home-loving man.
Nightfall. 4 cosy. neat, home-like
home, with a darling little wife who dear
~ loves the one who so dearly loves her.
As they sat and talk Of the auld lang
syne, we sat and thought, and thought. and
thought Of the days long gone and fast
going.
We love the poor boys, no matter where
they are. They make our best men-they
are the ones who will do the most for the
country-they are the ones who have the
largest hearts and the most pluck So to-
night we will tell you Of this poor boy,
and what he did
Men need not read this chapter-we are
not writing it for them. So We call the
boys from their farm chores, Office eGucat-
ing and weary labor about Us, and tell
them Of a good example.
Years ago, when we were younger than
now, a poor earnest-faced boy came TO
work with Us at the printers trade. His
early life had been spent At hard labor on
farm. He had plowed, and dragged
and moved, and stirred hay, and bound
grain into bundles, and husked corn, and
cut wood, and done all sorts Of chores.
He was a working boy.
One day his father said he might quit
farm work and 20 TO learn a trade He
came to our Office. He began with Us as
an apprentice at thirty dollars a year in
addition to his board.
We remember him very well-a bright
eyed, honest hearted lad who seemed will
ing to be taught and anxious to learn
When be worked it was with a will. When
he PLAYED II was with Zest and relish
Whatever work there was for him to DO
was done without a grumble or murmur.
One Saturday night he told Us that he
would try to be a perfect workman. Then
we sat By the open window Of the office.
looking out upon the broad river, and
talked Of the great river-of the wide
fields. green hills, lakes, rivers and stretch
es of country far away toward the ever
and the never setting sun-as there are
worlds. and works, and beauties for Us all
beyond the river Of death, if we but live
Alright and become workers here to be plan
ners Over There.
We talked of perfect workmen-of
those who work within themselves 10 gain
strength aud mastery over themselves. OF
the necessity OF keeping the office in order
of keeping the heart-that great Office
in order, with the brain az even and
proper temperature.
He told Us that be would never drink
intoxicating liquors, would never indul ge
n profaue language or conversation unfit
for a mother. or sister to hear, would new
er forget his duty to himself would never
forget to be a man. Time passed on. The
poor boy became man. OFT and oft. far
INTO the night have we set type il to lines,
sentences, and paragraphs, while working
side By side-oft have We together Won
dered where the money to pay for ife's
necessary articles was to come from. But
this much, we never stopped work to lose
time IN argument.
In time he became u skilful workman
foreman in the ofice-then supernten-
dent, then a publisher to look after the
business given into his keeping and to
watch the interests confded TO his charge.
When others played be worked. When
others dissipated he saved. In time he
had money 10 loan in little sums TO those
whose imaginary wants were more than
their real ones. He was not selfish, close
listed, or miserly. He had kind words
AID charity Of heart, speech aud purse for
all.
The Office associates learned 10 look up
on him first with respect, then with friend
ship, then with kindlier feeling. Bust
ness men with whom he had occasion to
associate noticed his attention to business
his desire to please by honest and hon
orable endeavor, and his willingness TO
battle with life rather than shirk its duties
and labors.
Then women began TO speak well Of
him. OF good character, living a correct
manly life, the girls looked upon him with
I favor, and oft mentioned his worth He
worked On. He attended to the business
of his employer, and thus TO his own. His
wages were advanced as his worth was de-
veloped. Content to do his duty, to per-
form his work well, and to be true in his
| friendship, he had more and more respon-
sibility put upon his shoulders as he prov.
e his worthiness 10 bear the same.
One day he told Us something.
He was to be married.
To Z good, pure earnest, home-loving
girl. Never did we say, God bless you
more earnestly. We saw them married.
They gave their hearts to each other, and,
united in soul-in harmony with each 9TH
er-content to live more for each other
than for others, they walked in pleasant
places, and those who knew them oft did
peak of their worth. their appiness, and
/ heir correct, beautiful living.
( We saw them in their beautiful home.
. He had earned it. No rich father had left
him fortune. lie had grown rich, not
by speculation, but by labor and economy
\ few years ago he purchased, partly for
cash, and partly on credit, little home
in growing young city in the west.
+ Oft and oft have we seen him IN the
summer time when others were idling,
working to beautify his home, setting out
shrubbery, making fence, repairing and
adding convenience to the little property
he was making his own. Not all at once
did it become the beautiful. home-like
place we found it now, but little by little,
4 - -.,,-,,- ...,t.- I5l crrnv-