Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-16
aaitp Arnnrbrt sournal.
BOY WANTED.

went once to an intelligent man Of
business to apply for situation on behalf
of friend of mine out of employment.
was able to give a good account of my
friends qualifications, and did so.
s'Send him along said the business
man, land let me see him, Ii he is what
YOU describe, we want him great deal
more than he wants us"
Ii does not matter for my purpose, but
as am writing for boys always like to
know how things come out, ! may as well
tell them that my friend got the situation,
and made valuable assistant.
The tact is. boys, what this business man
said is true almost always and almost ev-
erywhere. Situations are hunting for men
far more keenly and far more constantly
than men for situations. And the same
thing is true in respect to boys. There is
always boy wanted. is there 2n you
brighten up and say. "If that's so, then
I'm the chap they are looking for"
Hold not so fast. my lad Let US see.
Are you honest? Yes. How do you
know you are? You never steal? Very
good, so far. That means, suppose, you
never did steal. But there is many aud
many boy-and man too, for that matter
that never stole, who yet is not honest.
They have not had the chance, or the
temptations that is is all. Put them to the
test Alas for their virtue The question
is not simply, "Did you ever steai?n but
Would you ever?' You are sure. per-
haps but it takes time Tor US To be sure
about you. We shall have to Try you.
We want, first of all. an honest boy. lie
must be boy that would not steal. Boy
wanted.
Again, are you truthful ? D. you never
tell talsehood DID you never? Would
you never? How near can you come to
telling a lie, and not quite tell oneP Have
you done anything smart in this line p
ever deceived your mother, your brother,
your playmate, and Dragged of it? Well,
then, perhaps indeed you never told lie
outright. but you are not truthful, neverthe-
less. Did you ever hear of the gentleman
that advertised for a coachman He asked
each conner, How near can you drive to
the edge OF a precipce and not 90 over ~
One man could drive within TWO feet.
another within one foot, another within six
inches, still another would undertake to
shave along within an inch. None OF
these would suit. Finally man came
that said, 81 would keep as far away AS
/ could" You're my coachman - ex-
claimed the gentleman and he hired
him.
The boy that keeps as far from lie as
he can is the boy tor US. Boy wanted.
Are you faithful Now. modest boy
may claim TO be honest and claim to be
truthful without damage to his modesty.
But to the question, "Are you faithful P''
modest BOY can only say, TRY me. -
If you are not faithful you fail in truthful
ness. You have not kept your promise !;
and you are not honest, you have not done
right by the person whom you undertook
to serve. You did not, indeed. steal the
money from his letter. but 10y not putting
his letter in the office when you should,
you have, perhaps, done him more dam
age than the loss OF SO much money twice
over.
Are you capable ? Modesty forbids YOU
to say Yes and truthfulness iorbids YOU
to say mo" Well, keep silent; then we
shall not think the less of you Tor hold
ing your tongue.
And, by the way, can you hold your
tongue This is an important talent in a
boy--in man as well, but it is a little
rarer In a boy. Do not talk too much.
Do not brag. Do not tell long stories.
A quiet boy-one that goes about his
work and says nothing-is treasure. Do
not ask many questions. Watch with eve
and ear and keep up a terrible thinking, -
but keep close mouth. Learn silently.
Make few excuses. Do the thing. Re sure
there is boy wanted. Do you b. .Ae
boy?