St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-09-05
ST. ,Sohnsburp Galedunian.
st. Johnspury, VT. Friday. Sept. ). 1873.
A Brown Box.


Charles. has your father gone to
town! How is it that You are not Ill
your place to-day!
i left Mr.. Harley's office yesterday,
because he asked me to carry parcel.
Father is going to get me a situation.
Mother says she is glad have got some
of the old family spirit i'll me-.
We'll, Charles. am sorry your
mother wishes to cultivate the spirit
which. | gricve to say, Is a characters
tie of the Howett family to the eXclu-
sion of their honest industry. My par
ents managed very differently i'll my
case
Uncle, am sure You never carried
parcels for your employer. at least when
you were as old as am
I'll tell You my first experience i'll the
parcel line, if YOU would like to hear it,
Charles. Go in and ask your mother
to let YOU take drive with me
Charles soon came bounding down
the steps with 1.-the limbs, that looked
as if formed for just such useful oc-
cupation as the one he so much
despised, rather than standing behind
counter, or sitting over Il writing
desk.
When | was nimble-limhed boy
like you, Charley, and your grandpa
brought me to town and put me i'll an
office, was full of the family spirit. as
your mother calls it. heartily deSpis-
ed the boy who made the fires. swept
the office, and slept one knows
where-and would not cOndesceud to
he seen in the street with one Il little
Older who ran of errands. My employ
er, Mr.. Walker, was an intimate friend
of my fathers. and anxious to give me
every advantage.
One evening. when had been at my
new place about fortnight, Mr.. Walk
or called me back just as | was going
to tea and said:
'"Richard. | want You to take this
box to Mr.. Hyde, on your way home.
'"Certaimly, sill, | was about to re-
ply. when remembered that Mr.. Hyde
WAS the father of an old School-tcllow.
of whose acquaintance felt particular
lv proud. ! laid the box back on the
counter and said:
Cant John do it. sir ?"
'"N". Richard. John is out: and be
sides, have asked You to 1t" it, and
expect obedicncc.'
you must get another clerk i'll my
place, tor my father never put me here
to he an GRAND boy.
i gave one glance ut the expression
of pity and sternrSs in my employer :
face. and babe him good evening. |
had walked Il few steps. rejoicing in my
high spirits and indignant at the insult
put upon me and my family, when. to
my surprise, met my father.
80. father, am 81 glad to see You.
said {; Il have left Mr.. Walkers office.
He tried to make an crland boy of me.
and would not stand his insults. He
even asked me to carry Il box To Philip
Hyde's father. expected to walk
home, but can ride with you.'
'"Not so fast. Richard, not 81 fast.
What do ,you expect to do with Your
strong, young limbs and thoughtless
head, if You do not obey the commands
of others! | know Mr.. Walker too
well to think he would seek to dishonor
YOU"
but, father, he has NO business to
make a servant of me. and cant stand
it. He owes me an apology.
My father WAS Il mild, quiet man.
and though kind to his children. we
never dared disohey him. knew by the
expression of his eye that need hope
for no indulgence nor sympathy with
my silly pride.
'"Richard,' said he, ''you must re-
turn to your place. apologize to Mr..
Walker, and i'll future make up your
mind to obey his commands, or you are
unworthy to be my SON
/. III hi
with all my family dignity and spirit
blown to the four winds. We drove
rapidly to the office. and found Mr..
Walker had not left, and that box re-
NAMED where ! had laid it. made
an apology while my father stood by,
so that all was right; and after bidding
him good night took the package under
my arm. delivered it as directed, and
reached my lodging place IA wiser and
better boy than had left it.
My employer took no notice of the
affair. and during the six years | re
manned with him as clerk found me
willing and obedient and when | had
reached twenty-five, had the happi-
ness of seeing Walker & Howett" in
conspicuous letters on the door of the
Office
i suppose he made You partner to
get hold of the money grandmother
left YOU said Charley.
no. my boy. that money was lost be-
fore had reached twenty, and was left
with nothing but industry and enter,
prise to depend upon
If was sure of getting on as you
have done, uncle Richard, | would not
mind doing any thing
We'll, Charley, that box was the cor
ner stone of my fortune. My father
laid 1t when he took down my pride 10y
carrying me back to my employer Ii
| had been permitted to have my Owl
way should have been an idle. worth
less, purse proud boy, and IL poor man
AS it is, the carrying of that box was
the making of me, both i'll mind and il
estate. 1t is contemplate cowardict
and silly pride that makes a boy refuse
to use active limbs in service becoming
his years and knowledge. Instead o
being degraded by carrying Il box or he
ing sent on tritiing errand, make tn,
employment respectable by doing i
well, and when YOU are capable of NOR,
responsible business it will he givel
YOU
The project of robhing the climate o
the tropics and of the Pole for the bene
lit of Western Europe. as conceived by
one NJ. Bahinet. is the boldest flight o
meteorological science since the inef
fectivc scheme OF Mr.. Elliott for water
ing the plains of Kansas and Colorado
by telegraphing orders for rain. There
is vastneSs in VI. Bahinet's plan tina
is in itself attractive. Giving full credi
to the Gulf Stream for its alleged eli
mate influences. he purposes to diver
its course more directly upon the coas
of Spain and France. To this end h,
Uould construct q JiLa halnyv the las