The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-08-27
HOYT & CO., Proprietors'
WORKING FOR A LIVING.

Pa1nh Harrison made the exclamation IN
half ;ncredulous and wholly surprised tone !;
and no wonder! for Sidney Coster had Dut the
day before been the richest OF all that Weaithy
circle of which they were the representatives
eyes ruined" -,
"But do not understand 1t, Coster," said
Harrison. 80
~ do not cannot realize it." persisted
Harrison. ,
CHOW did it happen-p1ease explain" said
Harrison. lighting fresh cigar. However
much our friends may lose, it seldom interteres
much with our pleasures in this world. ;. :,
s'Simply and naturally enough" rephed
Coster declining with wave OF MS nano IAN ,,, ue
profered cigar. "No, | must give up tne lux
urv now / have no money to spend upon cl-
oars trusted nv money to my uncle, who,
Rv the way. is the best fellow in the world, and
he lost it all for me that's all !"
"I'm amazed at your coolness," said Ralph.
ssNo use in fretting about it now; that won't
mend the matter, or make it better"
ssThat's true enough but very hard to prac-
tice. imagine. How did your uncle, whom,
NV The way. I should call very shabby fellow
if he had lost all my fortune for me, lose all
this money? Large sum, believe ?" :.
"Cool hundred and fifty thousand" replied
Coster as composedly as if the sum we're but
the same number of cents, or belonged TO some
one else.
sAud he lost it?''
eyes, that's just it-speculating," interrupt
ed Sidney, as his friend glanced lnqulflngiy a'
him. .,
"And YOU, Sidney, what will you do ?'
ssWhy 90 to work of course! What else Is
there to do?" -,
sWork! Sidney Coster at work He, the
daintiest and most aristocratic OF US all, at
work! Why, the idea is preposterous and ab-
surd."
The sneeriug laughter which followed these
words netrled his listener, and reused all the
manhood within him.
"And whv shouldn't I work-or you, either,
for that matter? God intended that all his
creatures should earn their bread, and because
we have always lived and grown IN the sun OF
pleasure and eaten of the bread of idleness, is
that any reason why we always should? Out
upon such idleness, say and away with this
false pride, that will permit gentleman TO
swindle, lie, gamble and steal, and not lower
himself; but aliases him to the DUST II ne oareS
to honestly earn his living. Its all wrong,
end will not be bound by it!'
He showed by his earnest look that he meant
il every word Harrison was aghast at such
leveling ideas, and said
tJust as you please, of course, Coster You
are YOUR own master. But, OF course, II you
choose to put yourself down in the dirt, you
won't expect your friends to come down TO the
same level. I, for one, could never think OF
associating with man who worked tor llV-
ing"
Sidney Coster's lip curled in contempt of
such character Harrison continued:
"Why don't you go ahead, old fellow, and
marry some rich girl? You are good look
ing fellow and might very easily do it,
"What an honorable thing that would be,
wouldn't it? would rather starve than thus
degrade myself and deceive woman !"
"As YOU pleas. Good-dayF' and one friend
was gone.
Coster stood looking after him moment,
and in spite of his brave words he felt bitter
against the fate that had made him poor man.
It was pleasant life, this that he had been
leading, and it was hard to give it up:
The next thing to do was to search for en-
ployment. He possessed nothing in the world
except his clothes, small stock of jewelry-
relics of his former butterfly existence-and a
heart full of courage. He did not know how
to work, had never attempted even the slight
est details of business, but he set resoluteiy
about the task before him.
He walked the city for days and days, ou1
all in vain. No one wanted him. There were
plenty of situations, but when his qualltlca-
tions we're asked he was forced to tell the truth
and confess that he knew, just-nothlng.- How
bitterly he regretted now, in his hour OF need,
that he had not spent the hours which he had
wasted in acquiring his accomplishments, in
learning something that could help him in
his strait. Regrets were useless, and ne went
steadily forward upon the hard path of duty.
At last he lost all hope of finding employ,
ment in the city, and turned his face toward
the spreading fields and shady groves, and con-
tented, peaceful homes of Gods own land
the country. He did not know what ne should
do there he had not friend in the wide world,
he thought, who cared whether he lived or
died. Where his uncle-the unhappy cause OF
his misfortunes-had gone, ne knew not he
only knew that he was alone, tired, and heart
sick. and discouraged, turning with longing
heart from the hot and dusty city streets, to
the fresh, green meadows of the country.
He went. For two days he tramped slowly
along, sick in mind and body. He had tried
again and again to find employment as ne came
along, but still that helplessness of ignorance
was his bane and barrier. He was sick, very
sick. and knew not where he might lay his
weary head. At last he fell, and knew no
After the long blank and darkness, he had
dreamy sense of pleasant, shaded room; of
omen vine covered windows, filled with fresh,
pure flowers; of a kind, hearty, rugged face
hat that came and looked at him, and then spoke
cheeriIy to another kind and motherly face
that hovered over him oftener, and smoothed
his pillows, and brushed back his restless fever
tossings; Of another face-an angel he dream
ed that was-younger, and so fresh and sweet s
that the very sight Of it seemed to put MN lar
on his road to health again.
This face did not come so often as the others.
1t would steal softly in for a moment with the
other faces and even then would dart out
onain in q frightened manner and as the days