Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-07-24
Miscellany.
COLMAN & co., "PER c."

/ AN Louis COlman, half of the firm
long and well known in the country as
Colman x Co. | want to tell you how I
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 II. Lee, cabinet-maker the
labor of three years. In lieu of board
clothing, etc, the usual equivalent given, I
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-
\ backward look over those three years
seems pleasant to me. | 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 l. Upon
the morning Of the day when my linden
lures were to cease, Mr.. Lee came to me
and said:
4 suppose l shall have to tell you that
have no further claim upon your time
after tonight"
| felta certain amount of independence
rs | replied:
q know it, SIR" and drew a sigh of
relief.
Come to the office after hours" he
said, and turned away.
In the Office at night | met my father,
who, with me, saw the writing cancelled. |
then received fifty dollars. shook hands
with Mr.. Lee, and turned to leave the
office
"0ne moment" said Mr. Lee; 'haye you
any plans for the futureg'
No, sir" | said, promptly; tomorrow
IS my eighteenth birthday, and | want TO
spend it without a thought of anything"
lie smiled a little grayely, and then
said:
We'll, take a week to think of nothing,
and then come back to me-"
Outside | found my tellow-workmen
waiting to give me cheer, for it was
customary among us on such occasions to
have a general hand-shake.
Come, Colman, can we not have becr?"
said several voices.
This was also customary, and | hesita-
ted a moment, Int something said to me.
Begin now as you EXPECT to go on and
l 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 a 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 a thought, and
| turned quickly and said:
III the crowd will fOrego treats, ovs-
ters, 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, and
we deputized "little Tom" as he was
called, to take the money to Stearns'
house.
And mind" said Mears again, "you
;yIFe u TO Stearns' wife, else it NAV vet 20
f)r drink"
Then | went home, and spent the week
'dter in idleneSS Perhaps | ought to
have felt guilty Of waste of time | do
not think | did. | thoroughly enjoyed
my respite and the liberty to be out at
any time of the day. \ curious feeling,
almost like seeing new world, comes to
q person NnO HdNlnS Deen smut up from
the sunshine for Il considerable time, is
suddenly given the freedom 10 walk,
lounge or loiter, subject to no hours,
times, nor bells. My father and mother
left me entirely TO myself during that
week though l have since been told that
my mothers heart beat anxiously for fear
| was beginning downward path. Nv
lather restrained her fears, SAYING:
Give him his time, week, wife. LEI
MN run to the end of his rope think
he will begin to pull in, then"
even deserted the family pew on Sun.