Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-05-10
4 GBNTLEMAE'S PRBRoGAT1VE.

The many fail, the few succeed, Is an
aphorism 50 old, that its authorship, no
doubt, had we the means At hand, could be
traced to Father Noah himself his last
utteraEce 20 the wicked world as he shut
'he door os the ark, and retired TO safety
and solitude.
Yet greater amount of success in life,
think, might be generally attained, If in
stead Of abusing circumstances. which we
nrc all ready to do, We were to endeavor TO
TT in the angles of character to the hooks
and corners Of destiny.
No one Is surprised when the ersckless and
dIssipatei come 20 4 disastrous termination
of their career. but many a one Of honma
BE instincts aud unsgllied morality falls
short Of expectation, and makes a dismal
conclusion.
There must be some reason for this, and
Z modest theory Of my oygn on thi< vexed
question Eas been. for many year, the ele-
CANT tastes. without proPortio1aJe means to
hack them, bring IS mrch tT7nbIs uroa the
p9ssesSor a. absolute want Of capacity, or
he who IS raled 81 his inclinatious. appa-
Eeh;ly harmless. in opposition to duty, VIII
make shjpwreck before lis voyage i ended.
10 matter how CALAMITY h;s vessel sails out
of port.
4 friend of my youth ! dead IIe enter
q the narrow circle Of my irti-n4tes al
boarding school, more than ;hir;y years ago,
and was the pride and glory. Of or whole
c.1ss. Even tnen he vss q most elegant
looking boy, aud became the especial pet Of
i.- teacher, wLo found HIM clever and gen
gelaal.,e, and to the rsst of rs rough
country la1s, he vas indeed 6 model OF style.
H.s father was not a rich man; indeed his
income was no larger than that Of my own
T.7ent, but a. this last was the anxious
uwnsr OF ten unruly children, he was in pro-
portion poorer than O.d Mr.. Contend, whose
oaly child vas our aforesaid hero.
50. when my coat was shabby, it was still
r5rn with noble Indifference 70 color or size ;
ny boots we're in q terrible state Of patch
eiaszz before uev ones were forthcoming,
aai as to pocket monev. my poor father,
work = hard As he could, was always behind
land with my monthly allowance. Eight
more sons at home and one delicate little
daughter ate up his smal. income with lear
i. rapiii.y Therefore grew up with very
simple ideas as 10 what vas necessary and
what superb Ious, and the sight Of Paul
tea;end's toilette apparatus. which he dis
lsyei before Us schoolboys, Z short time
after lis arrival, gave me no pan= Of envy,
although could appreciate the elegance OF
Is arrangement. Father wanted TO give
me . common, trashy dressing case, said
the young fellow. quite at his ease in dis
Playing his treasure, 'but | wouldn't have
J.. I don't ike thing any better because
/; : expensive, you know. boys, bnt think
the Jest Is always the cheapest, and | would
do without, a hundred years. rather than
start with one OF those nasty japanned things
the other fellows have So the governor
torked UP this, though It's my selection en-
trely-peFfec,ly plain and solid, with silver
tops TO everythiug-I hate shaIns.'
DO you choose your own clothes. too?'
ealI i lOoAlne AZ tLe admirable material
ana cut Of his coat; your father mpzt Be
very indulgent TO you 10 permit that
oh my father Is a regular brick. ana
never refuses ne anything necessary for
gentleman and let me tell you, he aaied
With knowing sink, that there Is not 3
fellow Of my age in New York who knows
hos 10 choose coat better than l. l am
not Dragging, he said, laughing and color-
,1g little, but its truth, every word
sv"
Er1at big lump of boy, who never
knsE his lessons, but had brains to be sauey
when he liked, ana who had not said word
I'll this moment, gave eontenptuous
saeer.
If yoa and your father are such big
'2.ks, lie said with grin, Il wonder you
ever came TO a country school At all with Us
snail sry-I voul6n't, ID be hanged first.
Do Be hanged now, Wilson; don't sand
O ane, " vas Psurs reply. 1T viii be an