American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-14
+ ANXIOUS TO BE A MAN.

when Uncle William, who had left the
country when we were little, returned to
! pay a visit to his old home and friends. He
was always much interested in fathers
children, and particularly in me, perhaps
because I was called after him; and
ratherthink he noticed a prominent feature
in my character-One of his own, tOO-the
unnecessary anxiety to be man before the
time. When we were all together one
even ing, and after he had entertained us
4 with his adventures, he took the opportu-
/ nifty Of telling US the following story, which
doubtless was intended for my special ben
! eft: -.
''In the early part of my life,'' said he,
"just about the time when put on my first
pants and Jacket and was shodwith a pair
of top-beots, with brass toe-pieces, l was
seized with the ardent and longing de-
sire to become man. So much was said
among the school-boys about becoming
twenty -one, and so much ado was made
by parents when their sons arrived at
twenty-one, and so good and manly a
| character most of them had at the age of
twenty one-they could Sll dress well,
carry cane, smoke a cigar, chew tobac-
co, take glass; and swear professionally
that looked away forward to twenty-one
as if it stood up in the far-of distance, as
I the most desirable of air. and the only
prominent year of my life. 1t seemed to
an epoch in nay history. 1t was a year the
dawn of which would make me a man. 1t
| was to be the dividing line between the
ages of slavery and of liberty. On this
side of it I saw nothing but commands,
rebukes, and good, sound whipping now
and then, or, if it went no further, at
least some severe threatening, as Boy, do
this, and boy, do that, or will fog YOU
g As l grew up these disabilities seemed
In fpcroaSa r,ronOrtiODa feIv There xyas
the endless schoof-tasks-no escape from
them-nothing but school, school, school
and wretched schoolbooks from January
to December, till | hastily concluded that
1 was born for nothing else than to go to
school and be kept a boy for ever and
ever. Even the Sabbath itself was no re-
lease. To escape from day-selool was to
plunge into what was ten-fold worse-the
Sabbath-school. Then the tiresome ser
mon to be listened to as if l paid atten-
ton; then the text and heads must be re-
ported at home. Oh, how longed to be
twenty-one!
"Boyhood 1 thought was slavery, bond
age to ones parents. l was not master of
my own will, nor could follow once my
own desires. Did / wish to spend the
evening out among my admired COM
panions, my mother interfered, and said it
was not proper. If l wished to spend the
evening at the theater my father had the
purse. Or if, by strict economy, had
saved enough to purchase my own ticket
had to ask his consent, and that was GER
tain to be denied. Everything was so ex- |
actly measured out for me; my time, my |
work, my play, my food, clothing, compa- |
ny-all must pass under the censure Or APP
proval of my father and mother. Why so
much 1nterfering? Did / not know better
than they what suited me? And then to
think boy of seventeen is not bog, but a
nun! Quite competent to think and act
for himself, if his mother were dead; and
the wicked thought occurred,
| wish she was below the sod, then
should be free to do rs | please, without
up a daily account
Z" As l came near the year of supposed
jubilee, | became impatient. My fever
grew upon me. If at that age l had had
the clock of time under my control,
should have showed il forward just four
years. Time moves so slowly when one
hastens to be man. As it was, [ had to
bear and wait. My grievances increased.
The smallest request was an imposition.
was obedient, but after sulky sort. And
my sole comfort arose from the thought
that / should soon be free, recognized
and acknowledged young man!
" 1t was the last year of my minority
My apprenticeship was to expire with
what l thought my despicable boyhood.
L |
ought to have known that l
was so near being a full edged man. l
gave my mother and sisters to understand
t thoroughly. | took very common
md natural means of impressing them
with the fact. Though l knew that their
constant and studied care was to please
ne, and that not unfrequently they did
more than they thought right in order To
,onciliate me, j noticed not their thought
illness, but rather grumbled, and fretted,
md found fault the more.
My birthday came at last The usual
lonors were done to me. My friends were
here. / had the inviting of the m myself.
/ was II day of joy and feasting and con
And yet there was an inward ,
painful reluctance that made me feel IA lit
lie sad | felt as if twenty-one had not
,rought to me so much after all. AT the
linner-table father took from his pocket "A
,urse A tear sparkled in his eye rs he
cached il to me before all my guests.
That is your portion, said he; 'youare
low of age, competent to think and act for
'ourself Make the best of it.. If you use
properly it win set you up in business
f not you cannot claim anything more {
rom me-
His lips quivered little, and my {
mother covered her face with her handker- {
hief \ cold chill passed over me. A
-acancy opened III my heart that nothing
ould fill. I felt as if was leaving home
D wander in a foreign land forever took
be money and tried TO smile rs l thanked I
lin I looked as wise and manly as l
ould before my companions. II had
lad the power should have made the sun I