Wilmington journal., 1873-07-04
COLEMAN & CO., "PER c.

OULE MAN u w., FEn y,
I am Louis Coleman, half of the ne,
firm long and well known in the coun
try as Coleman Co. I want to tell yo,
how l worked my way to this position
At the age of fifteen with my free con
sent, my father signed articles whicl
bound me to give to William r. Lee
cabinet-maker, the labor of thre
years. In lieu of board, clothing, etc.
the usual equivalent given, 1 was t,
receive one dollar per week, and a
the expiration of the three years, fift,
dollars in money. My home, in tn,
meantime, was with my father, wht
boarded and clothed me.
A backward look over those thre,
years seems pleasant TO me. I sup
pose many times during my appren
tieeship l loEged for more liberty
more leisure, and more money, o.
something different from what I had
1 should hardly have been an average
boy if 1 had not, but in the main
was tolerably contented.
| So eighteen came. The heir of al
English estate, on the happy day OIL
which he was to take possession, could
hardly, 1 think, have felt happier than
/. Upon the morning of the day
when my endentures were to cease
Mr.. Lee came to me and said:
81 suppose I shall have to tell you
that have no further claim upon youl
time after to-night?''
[ felt a certain amount of independ-
ence as I replied:
"I know it, sir" and drew sigh OF
relief.
"Come to the Office after hours" he
said, and turned away.
In the Office at night, I met my faith
er, who, with me, saw the writing can
celed. I then received fifty dollars,
shook hands with Mr.. Lee, and turned
to leave the Office.
Zone moment" said Mr. Lee; "have
you any plans for the future? 60
''No, sir, said promptly, ''to-mor-
row is my eighteenth birthday, and !
want to spend it without thought OF
anything"
He smiled little gravely, and then
said:
"Well, take a week to think of moth
ing, and then come back to me-.
Outside found my fellow-workmen
waiting to give me cheer, for it was
customary among US on such occasions
to have general hand-shake.
Come, Coleman, can we not have
beer?" said several voices.
This was also customary, and 1 hest
tated moment, but something said to
me, "begin now as you expect to go
on" and said:
''Three times the sum, boys, in any
thing else you like; but let us have no
drinks"
''That's So" said one of the number;
remember poor Stearns."
Stearns was man whom Lee had
employed again and again. A week
since he had been turned away because
he came to his work intoxicated, and
we knew he had no work since.
Mear's remark gave me a thought,
and turned quickly and said:
eff the crowd will forego treats,
oysters, or what it may be, well agree
to send the money to Stearn's wife and
family"
My plan took well, and was seconded
not only with words, but deeds, and
we deputized 'tLittle Tom" as he was
called, 10 take the money to Stealn's
house.
ohll hcdES dgilu, YOU
give it to Stearn's wife, else it may yet
go for drinks"
Then l went home and spent the
week after in idleness. Perhaps I
ought to have felt guilty of waste of
time. 1 do not think [ did. /
thoroughly enjoyed my respite and the
liberty to be out at any time of the
day. A curious feeling, almost like
seeing new world, comes to a person
who having been shut up from the
sunshine for a considerable time, is
suddenly given the freedom to walk,
lounge or loiter, subject to no hours,
times nor bells. My father and mother
left me entirely to myself during the
week, though l have since been told
that my mothers heart beat anxiously
for fear l was beginning a downward
path. My father restrained her fears,
saying:
Give him his time, week, wife;
lot him run to the end of his rope. L
think he will begin to pull in then.
L even deserted the family pew on
Sunday, a thing unheard of before,
and looked in at the different faiths
around, but no comment was made
Until the appointed time, 1 had actrl-
ally taken no serious thought of the
futurc Punctually then, but with a
sigh, / presented myself to Mr.. Lee.
My father was also there. Mr.. Lee
smiled as I came in, and said {:
"Well, Louis, what do you call your
last weeks work %
"Relaxation," [ promptly replied.
''Does it pay?' he asked.
cit has so far, was my response.
But l suppose you expect to go to
work some time ?" said he.
The satisfaction of returning to my
everyday work came suddenly to me
then, and l said with animation
Il do, indeed, and am here hoping
vou have work to offer me-.
He looked pleasant and gratifed.-
So did my father, Mr.. Lee said pres
emily:
Il have to offer you my Office work.
If you will engage with me for another
three years, [ will give you $500 per
year, and at the end of that time an
additional 500, making it 81 600 for
the three years work. What think
you %
My father then spoke
Louis, the decision is your own
but the offer is fair. If you choose to
take it, your board at home is just to
pay mother for extra care, say 81 per
week and if you do well, | will cover
Mr. Lees $100 with another 500 the
day you are twenty-one. Can you do
better?"
I knew could not. [ said SO. SO
again I was back III the familiar place,
with three years before me, but they
proved uneventful, save as the first
links which connected me with the
firm of Coleman Y Go.
The first duty assigne! me i'll nay
new position was the opening of some
letters, and the first letter I opened
Haunted with the bill head <Cn[eIaan
& Co." My own name Just 50,
some dayI shoul(l ss,.l out large sheets
aud bills with just such a heading =
SO | raised an air castle. But this
letter contained, besides the order,
some referenc to superior casket,
and slip from paper making public
announcement that the decease OF
Coleman, of the firm of Coleman & Co,
would not alter the business arrange
ments of the firm. It would still be
carried on at the old stand, with the