Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-30
Our Young Folks.
HOW ONE BOY FACED THE HARD
TIMES.

and you've got your own way TO make in
the world, so the sooner you begin to
do something on your own account the
better"
That was what Dwight Maynard's aunt,
Miss Samantha Dwight, said to him as
he was about to bid her good-bv and
go to New York to take a place which
had been secured for him as clerk in a
/ dry-g goods store.
NOW the words, " You've got your own
way 10 make IN the world" meant verv
dlf1erent things to the woman who used
them and the boy who listened.
10 him they were as the sound Of the
trumpet calling him to battle and to glory
and to certain victory.
To her also they meant q summons tn
battle, but it was to a single.handed CON
tiict with all the evil and sin and tempta-
ton which have beset mankind since
Adam fell. She knew that MANY a Young
hero who had started with hopes as bright
and hearts as unSullied as his had gone
down IL the strife to be heard of no more
And so 1t might be with him. 1t was
therefore with a sadness which Dwight
neither shared nor understood that She
babe him farewell and God-speed.
His first letters were filled with glow.
| ing descriptions of the great, wonderful
! city; of its crowded thoroughfares its
beautiful parks, its art-galleries, its
churches. its places of amusement; but
when the novelty of these things had
! passed away different tone pervaded
/ them.
a don't find it altogether as I expect
! ed" he wrote. Turning out of bed at
daylight to sweep the store and open the
blinds isn't what it's cracked up to be, [
tell you aunty. Then l run errands all
| day till I've nearly run my legs off, but
nobody seems to care; they think boys
haven't any feelings, suppose. But
never mind; it's the way of the world;
| they can boss me round now, and when [
grow up I'll take my turn at it. AS to the
fellows IN the store, like some of them
| firstrate and some l don't. Take them
all together they're hard lot | wonder
what the Harmony folks would say to
some Of their dOings?"
From letters like these Aunt Samantha
knew that the strife had begun, and that
making his own way in the world" was
| acquiring new meaning in the light of
experience.
This was only what she had expected,
but when year or two had passed away
a change occurred as surprising to her as
to him, and not to have been counted upon
IN the ordinary course of events.
lt.arOse from the failure of the great
firm Of Ray, Hook & Co, which had iith-
ertO been deemed as stable as the ever
lasting hills. With this firm went down
thousand others, among them the en-
| pIOyers of Dwight Maynard: so one day
he found himself wandering about the
streets of New York, friendless and al
most penniless-a "raw recruit" in the
great army Of the unemployed
Now 1t is true as a general rule that
misery likes company" but this is one
! OF the cases where company rather in
creases the misery, for the more hungry
persons there are in a community the
less likely they are to be fed, and this
Dwight proved to his sorrow.
From the marble and granite stores
| which front Broadway to the a." old clo'"
stores OF Chatham street he went, asking
| the same question
Any clerks wanted here?"
And always came back the same an
swer, "We've just discharged half our
| clerks and reduced the wages of the
rest"
Then he tried the hotels and depots,
the saloons and restaurants, but with no
better success; every situation had hun
dreds Of applicants.
Well, | must work or starve," said
he, mOurnfully, when this had gone on
week or two. Il suppose Aunt Samantha
would take me in but no, she has enough
to do to take care of herself; besides, I've
set out to make my own way in the world
and I'll do it."
Thatsame day, as he was lounging near
the market with no definite plan or ex-
pectation, cOuntryman with a loaded
wagon came driving along at so rapid
rate as nearly to run over him.
"Out the way there, yOungster!" called
the man, reigning up his horses, and
Dwight sprang nimbly aside before the
words were well out of his mouth.
Then suddenly new idea popped into
Dwight's head. He had sought for en-
ployment in the city till he was utterly
disheartened; why not 90 out into the
country and try his luck there? There
was something in the genial ring of this
mans voice and his general al of good
nature that attracted the forlorn youth
strangely, and he determined to question
him upon the subject, feeling sure that at
least he should get kind answer
So he waited till the man had disposed
of his wares and was about to unhitch
his horses, then asked, without any cir
cumlOcutiOn, for he had learned that no.
body could spare time to waste words in
those days
do you think there's anybody who
could give me employment out where
you live?'
q don't know about that" said the
man, taking in at a glance the stylish cut
of Dwights clothes and the Gelicacy of
his hands. You want something light,
easy, and gentlemanly, hey?"
Pm willing to do anytttng," said
Dwight.
"Ah, that's the talk! Can't say know
of anybody that wants help, but there's
always work for willing hands, they say.
Shouldn't wonder if some of the farmers
out in West Chester ID be glad to engage
you. I'm from West Chester myself.
Now look here, young man, can't af-
ford to hire, but I'll tell you what | will
do; I'll give you lift on my cart, and
you can go out there and INQUIRE round
among the farmers. What do you say to
that?"
q accept your offer and thank you,
too" said Dwight.
"All right. Jump up there, then. ANY
good-bys or that sort of thing?"
mo. There's my trunk, but no mat
ter; l can come back for it if l find
place"
All right" said the man again, mount
ing his cart and starting up his horses.
To them his conversation was mainly
addressed until he got off the pavements,
then putting the whip in its socket and
loosening the reins he left the animals to
their own guidance and turned his atten-
ton to his passenger