Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-07-31
COLMAN & CO., "PER c."

lam Louis Colman, half of the firm
long and we'll known in the country as
Colman & Co. want to tell you how l
worked my way to this position. At the
age of fifteen, with my free consent, my
father signed articles which bound me to
give William r. Lee, cabinet-maker, the
labor of three years. In lieu of board
clothing, ETC., the usual equivalent given,
was to receive one dollar per week, and at
the expiration of the three years, fifty
dollars in money. My home, in the mean
time, was with my father, who boarded
and clothed me.
A backward look over those three years
seems pleasant to me. l suppose many
times during my apprenticeship longed
for more liberty, more leisure, and more
money, or something different from what
/ had. should hardly have been an av-
erage boy if had not, but in the main
was tolerably contenled.
So eighteen came. The heir Of an En-
glish estate, on the happy day when he
was to take possession, could hardly,
think, have felt happier than I. Upon
the morning of the day when my linden
lures were to cease, Mr. Lee came to me
and said:
II suppose I shall have to tell you that
have no further claim upon your time
after tonight
| felta certain amount of independence
as | replied:
81 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 father,
who, with me, saw the writing Cancelled. l
then received fifty dollars, shook hands
with Mr.. Lee, and turned to leave the
Office.
"One moment" said Mr.. Lee; shave you
any plans for the future?"
mo, SIR" l said, promptly; tomorrow
is my eighteenth birthday, and / want to
spend it without thought Of anything"
He smiled little gravely, and then
said:
"Well take week to think of nothing,
and then come back to me-"
Outside I found my fellow-workmen
waiting to give me cheer, for it was
customary among us on such occasions to
have general hand-shake.
"COme, Colman, can we not have beer?"
said several voices.
This was also customary, and l hesita-
ted a moment, but something said to me,
Begin now as you expect to 60 on" and
said:
"Three times the sum, boys, in any
thing else you like, but let us have no
drinks
"Thats SOL said one of the number;
remember poor Stearns."
Stearns was q man whom Lee had en-
plOyed 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.
Mears' remark gave me thought, and
turned quickly and said
IF the crowd will forego treats, oys-
tiers, or what it may be, we'll agree to
send the money to Stearns' wife and
family
Ny plan took well, and was seconded
not only with words but with deeds, AMI
we deputized "little Tom," as he was
called, to take the money to Stearns'
house.
"And mInd," said Mears again, "you
give IT to Stearns' wife, else it may yet go
for drink"
Then went home, and spent the week
after in idleness. Perhaps l ought to
have felt guilty of waste Of time. l 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
person who, having been shut up from
the sunshine for 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 that
week, though have since been told that
my mothers heart beat anxiously for fear
! was beginning downward path. My
father restrained her fears, saying:
"Give him his time, q week, wife; let
MN run to the end Of his rope. think
ne will begin to pull in, them
even deserted the family pew on SUM-
day. thing unheard of before, and looked
In at the different faiths around; but no