River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-08

am Louis Colman, half of the firm
long and well known in the country as
COlman X Co. | want TO tell you how
| 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 Il. 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 meantime.
was with my father, who boarded and
clothed me.
A backward look over those three
years seems pleasant to me. suppose
many years during my appro nticeship
| longed for more liberty, more leisure,
and more money, or something differ
ent from what | had. / should hardly
have been an average boy if | had not.
but in the main | was tolerably content
ed.
So eighteen came. The heir of an
English estate, on the happy day when
he was to take possession could hardly,
think, have felt happier than |. Upon
the morning of the day when my in
dentures were to cease, Mr.. Lee came
To me and SAID
=" suppose | shall have to tell you
that | have no further claim upon your
time after tonight
l felt certain amount of independ-
ence as replied:
4" | know it, sir, and drew a sigh of
relief.
Come to the office after hours. he
said, and turned away.
In the office mt night met my father
who, with me, saw the writing cancelled
| then received fifty dollars, shook
hands with MIR. Lee, and turned To
leave the Office.
"One moment" said Mr.. Lee
" Have you any plans for the future ~
=" No, sir, | said, promptly ito.
morrow Is my eighteenth birthday. and
want to spend it without a thoughto of
anything"
He smiled little gravcly, 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 il was
customary among rs on such occasions
to have general handshake.
Come, Colman, can we not have
beer said several voices.
This was also customary, and | hest.
tatod moment, but something said 10
me, begin now rs you expect to go
on, y 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 tie number
remember poor Stcarns."
Stearns was a man whom Lee Ind
employed again and again. 4 week
since he had been turned away be.
cause he had come 10 his work i'm
toxicated, and We knew he had no worl,
since.
Mears' remark gave me thought
and turned quickly and said
IF tho crowd will forego treats.
! oysters, or what il may bc, well agree
to send the money TO Stearns, wife and
family
My plan took well. and was seconded
not only with words but deeds. and
we deputized "little Tom. " AZ he was
called, TO take the money to Stearns'
wife.
And mind, said Mears again.
"you give il TO Stearns' wife. else
may yet go for drink.
Then | went home aud spent the
week after in idleness. Perhaps /
ought 10 have felt guilt of waste OF
time. | do not think | did. | thor
ougly enjoyed my respite aud liberty
to be out at any time of the day. 4
curious feeling, almost like new
world, comes 70 person who. having
been shut up from the sunshine for
considerable time, is suddenly given
the freedom 10 walk, lounge, or loiter.
subject TO no hours, time nor bells.
Ny father and mother left me entirely