Middletown transcript., 1881-08-19

When l was fourteen years Of age /
decided to become printers devil.
At the time reached this important
decision, | was serving an apprentice
ship at the grindstone, and was almost
ready to graduate. Those who have
tried it, will agree with me that turning
a grindstone is monOtonous vocation.
1 never liked it, and, frequently, it was
only after the most urgent persuasion
with an apple-tree switch about four
feet-long-that would consent to turn
the crank at all. Twas well aware that
this work was undermining my health;
in quiet sort Of way, though, so that
|, only, could notice it and, besides,
had several Water-wheels on the ad-
jacent streams, and rabbit-traps in the
thickets, that needed my almost con-
stant attention. But another thought
the gTindstOne needed me more. and.
as though that work was not enough
to undermine boys health and break
his constitution all to pieces, new
wOod-saw was brought into the family,
and was invited. may say, urged,
to learn the mysteries of its use. With
the saw came wagon-load of seasoned
hickory wood, and l saw there was
trouble ahead for me- l at once made
up my mind that 1 would resign and
be a pirate, or a clerk at seaside
hotel, before I'd undertake to saw
wood for hungry cook stove. A wo-
man and cook stove have no mercy
on boys back. had back-and l
had some respect for it, if nobody else
had and 1 said to myself, emphati-
eally, the feelings of this back, the
only one I will ever have of my own,
probably, must and shall be respected. =
When the editor of our county paper
advertised for good, industrious and
intelligent boy-one who knew Just
enough and not too much-to learn to
be printer, said, here is the thing L
want. | will become a printer, and, in
time, a great and rich editor. There
are no grindstones in printing offices,
| thought no wood-saws; no COWS to
hunt at eventide no rotten apples to
sort out for cider and no water to
carry into the meadow to lot of har-
vest hands as thirsty as a tender to a
locomotive.
called on the editor who wanted a
boy. found him seated in his Office
with pair Of scissors in his hand and
a severe look in his off eye. He had
probably just received notice from a
patent-medicine advertiser that he
could not fulfill his contract in paving
promptly at the end of the quarter. on
account of just having had to pay the
heavy funeral expenses Of his wife's
grandmother. The editor looked very
mad, but l thought nothing strange of
1t at that time, because | believed it
was natural for editors to look mad. I
believed it to be dignifed way they
had about them. In some respects /
was disappointed in this editor. In
the first place, he did not have a bald
head. Up to that time it had been a
theory Of mine that all editors were
baldheaded. This, l am now aware.
was a grave mistake. l have learned
since that only the married ones that
stay out late at night are baldheaded.
You have perhaps noticed yourselves
that late hours is conducive to badness
in men-when they are married.
After the editor had looked me over
he said 1 seemed to be a tolerably
strong sort Of boy, and he thought I'd
do. | was surprised. 1 thought he
wanted brains, when, evidently, he was
thinking only of muscle. A fearful