Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-05

My apprenticeship Was 10 expire with
wbatI thought my despieable boyhoed.
If recollect Alright. | rather fancied that
everybody ought to have known that l
was. so near being a'full-hedged man. 1
gave my mother and sisters to understand
1t thoroughly i took a very common
and natural means of impressing them
with the fact. Though l knew that their
constant and studied care was to please
me, and that not unfrequently they did
more than they thought right in order to
conclllate me, noticed not their thought
fulness, but rather grumbled and fretted.
and found fault the more.
My birthday came at last. q The usual
honors were done to me. My friends were
there. | had the inviting of them myself
1t was day of joy and feaSting and con-
gratulations. And yet there was an inward
painful reluctance that made me feel lit
tie. sad. [ felt as if twenty-one had not
brought to me so much after ALL At the
dinner-table father took from his pocket
purse. A tear sparkled in his eye as he
reached 1t to me before all my guests.
That is your portion, said he youar
now of age, competent to think and act for
yourself Make the best of it. If you use
it properly it will set you up in business;
if not you cannot claim anything more
from me- Ta580A
His lips quivered7a little, and my
mother covered her face with her handker-
chief A cold chill passed over me. A
vacancy opened in my heart that nothing
could FILL [ felt as if was leaving home
TO wander in a foreign land forever. | took
the money and tried to smile as / thanked
him. | looked as wise and manly as |
could before my companions. If [ had
had the power should have made the sun
go back ten degrees al least upon the dial
of my life l'l-
:" was injudicious with my money and
soon got rid of it, | can scarcely tell
how was proud-spirited and father saw
my struggles and difficulties to get along
in the world. He knew that my heart
longed to get back and nestle in the peace
full, happy old home, but it could not be.
| had already flown and could not return
to the nest 1t was only after many years,
when | had struggled and 5toiled with
hardships till l seemed to be gaining
ground, that father reached cut helping
hand G. a5gt So -}a'.
" 1t is now nearly twice a score of years
since left behind me that long looked-for
twenty one. But these years have been so
filled up with cares, anxieties, crosses and
vast responsibilities that thousand times
Pm sure, when almost driven to despair, [
have looked back to the days of my boy
hood and have fervently wished with
long, deep sigh, for the return of one care
less, happy day. Only one day back in
my fathers happy home would have been
to me Paradise regained. Those days
were gone-past forever! ae .H ..
/ To-day when [ see boys impatient un-
der the restraints of school or of home,
and wishing for the age of manhood,
when they suppose they shall be so free to
think and act as they please, l feel like
| advising them to rest contented with their
happy youth. Childhood's days are the
happiest you ever will enjoy Be not i'm
patient and escape from them. When they
are gone you cannot recall them, though
you would if you could Others so free
from care and SO full of real happiness
you need not expect to find. STAY in your
fathers house as long as you can; submit
to your parents counsel when they give it,
for they are wiser than you."--N. Y. o.
S6rUer.