The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-06-28

was the gloomy response: "Idleness and
bad company. If my father had trained
me to habits of industry and selt-reliance,
had not come to this. But he loved me and
glad am that the grave has hid from him
all owle,lge of the shame and misery Of
the son, whom his ill-iudsed, shortsishted
kindness ruined. AS you know, | would
not study. l thought there was no
need for me-a rich mans Son-to do
that. | can remember how ! deSpised
the dull, plodding fellows, who are hon
ored men to-day. My fathers death put
me into possession of wealth, of which |
never earned u dollar, of whose Use and
worth I knew nothing. How it went |
hardly knew; but awoke one morning to
find myself poorer than the lowest clerk in
the establishment that my father had built
up with SO much care and labor, but which
had now passed into the hands of strangers.
My fair weather friends, who had helped
to spend my money, urging me to every
conceivable folly and extravaganza, left as
soon rs they found that there was no more
~ SptHu hHe" stDoul
money 10y honest work, but money must
have: so | turned my attention to the
various ways Of getting money without
work. The rest needs no telling"
Here the warden entered and with his
heart somewhat cheered and strengthened
by Mr.. palmer's whispered words Of
enlargement and sympathy, Jackson re-
turned to his dreary task.
The warden now took them around
through the various workshops, cells, etc,
kindly explaining to Walter all that he did
not understand,
When they visited the shoe shop, Walter
saw jackson sitting there among the rows
of busy, silent men, not one of whom dared
to lift his eyes as they passed by.
How many of these men, inquired Mr..
Palmer, as they returned to the office,
have ever heen trained to any useful trade
or business %
Not one in ten
The spirited bays in their glittering har
ness were champing their bits and tossing
their heads impatiently outside the high
walls; and Walter experienced y feeling of
relief as he found himself once more in the
pure, sweet air and bright sunshine.
How dreadful it must be to have to live
in such a pace as that" he said Us reach
ing an eminence, he gave a backward glance
at the building, which looked SO grim and
solitary In the distance.
sit is the necessity that is dreadful, my
son,--Miserable rs these men are they are
happier there where they are obliged to be
orderly and industrious, though only
through the fear of punishment, than if
they We're allowed to follow, unrestrainedly
the devices of their foolish and evil hearts"
There was silence for some minutes. Then
Mr.. Palmer said:
"Hou asked me 4 question: yesterday,
Walter, and this is my answer, Il better
answer than any words can frame. The
world calls me a rich mn and so l am. |
am able to afford you many advantages,
ali the opportunity you can ask for moral
and mental culture; but am not, nor never
shall he, rich enough to afford to have you
Idle. Strange as it may sound, | am too
rich to afford it, | have 4 MILL filled with
industrious operatives, whose living from
week to week depends on its skillful and
prudent management. | have houses full
of tenants, whose health and comfort de-
ponds largely upon whether their landlord
is just and faithful man. These and other
interests may some day be intrusted to You.
Many 4 father has learned to his sorrow,
that to have 4 boy idle is something that
rich men cannot afford to do
'' think | will 20 TO school on Monday,