Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-10-30
WORKING FOR A LIVING.

WORKING FOR A LIVING.
"Ruinad!"
Ralph Hartston made the exclamation
in half incredulous and wholly surprised
tone; and no wonder, for Sidney Coste
had the day before been the richest of al
that wealthy circle of which they were the
representatives.
Eyes, ruined"
s'But [ do not understand it, Coster,
said Hartston.
II suppose not"
II do not--I cannot realize it, ''persiste'
1artston.
s'You would if you were in my place,
replied Sidney bitterly.
elbow did it happen-pease explain, >
aid Hartston, lighting Il fresh cigar.
However much our friends may lose, il
seldom interferes much with our pleasures
in this world.
''Simply and naturally enough" replied
Joster, declining with a wave of ihis hand
the proffered cigar ''No, must give up
that luxury now; I have no money to
spend on cigars. [ trusted my m )ney to
ny uncle, who, by the way, is the best fell
ow in the world, and he lost it all for me;''
that's all"
II am amazed at your coolness," said
Ralph.
''No use fretting about it now; that
Won't mend the matter, OF make it any
)etter.'
''That's true enough, but very hard to
'ractice, imagine. How did your uncle,
Who, by the way, | should call a very
,harp fellow, if he had lost all my fortune
or me, lose all this money. Large sum, [
believer"
'sCool hundred and fifty Thousand" re-
lied Coster as composedly as if the sums
we're but the same number of cents, OF be-
onged to some one else"
''And he lost it?'
Eyes, that's just specializing, y inter
urted Sidney, as his friend glanced inquir-
ngly at him.
ss''And you, Sidney, what will you do?''-
'Why go to work, of course. What else
there to do?"
"Work! Sidney Coster at work! He,
he daintiest and most wealthy aristorrat
# us all, at work! Why the idea is pre-
osterous and absurd
The sneering laugh which followed these
sords nettled his listener, and reused all
he manhood wi hin him.
"And why 81 ouldn't | Work--or yor
sither, for that matter? God intended
that all his creatures should earn their
)read, and because we have always lived
md grown in the sun of pleasure, an6
'aten the bread Of likeness, is it any rea-
,on why we always should? Out upon
such ideas, | say! and away with this false
bride, that will permit gentleman to
,windle, lie, gamble and st al, and MOI
over II mself but aliases him to the
lust if he dares to honestly earn his liv-
ng. It's all wrong, and [ will not be
bound by it,
He showed by his earnest look that hi
meant it, every word. Hartston was aghas
vt such leveling ideas, and said:
"Just as you please, of course, Coster.
You are your own master. But, of course,
f you choose to put yourself down in the
lirt, you won't expect your friends to come
Town to the same level. [, for one, would
never think of associating with man who
worked for | ving"
Sidney Coster's lip curled in contempt Of
such character. Hartston continued:
'Why don't you go ahead, Old fellow,
and marry some rich girl. You are 6
yood-looking fellow, and might very easily
10 it''
"What an honorable thing that would
be, wouldn't it? [ would rather starve
han thus degrade myself and deceive 9
woman"
Gas you please. Good-day!" and one
''friend' was gone.
Coster looked after him moment, and
in spite Of his brave words he felt bitter
against the fate that had made him poor
man. 1t was pleasant life, this that he
had been leading, and it was hard to give
it up.
Ihe next thing to do was to search TOl
employment. He.possessed nothing in the
world but his clothes and a small amount
Of jewelry-reiics of his former butterfly
eXistence-and heart full of courage. HI
did not know how to work, had never at
tempted even the slightest details of bust
ness, but he set resolutely about the tasl
before him.
He walked the city for days and days
but all in vain. No one wanted him
Tnere were plenty of situations, but whel
his qualifications were asked he was forced
to tell the miserable truth and comics
that he knew iust-nothing. How bitterl
he regretted now, in his hour of need, tina
he had not spent the hours which he haf
wasted in acquiring his accomplishments
in learning something that would he'll
him in his strait Regrets were useless
and he went steadily forward upon tn
| hard path of duty.
At last he lost all hopes of finding en-
ployment in the city, and turned his fac
toward the spreading fields and shad
groves and contented, peaceful homes
Gods own land, the country. He did nc
know what he should do there; he had no
a friend in the wide world, he thought
who cared whether he lived or died. Whel
l,;a tho 11pbanou oo,,oa of his mlS