Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-12-03
u smALl-Do As : LIKE.


Inere were two lads walking
home together, and cOnversing
about the change that was soon to
take place in their circumstances, as
they were shortly after to begin life
as apprentices. One of them, the
only son of prosperous lawyer,
was going as an apprentice to &
manufacturer. The othel. lad was
going 10 learn a mechanical trade,
and he was to maintain himself IS
well as he c0uIc. on his small wages
Each had much to say about his fu-
ture career. The poorer lad was tel.
ling his companion how earnestly
he meant to apply himself to his
trade, lind how resolute he was in
his determination to become skill
fui in every branch Of il. The 9TH
er, who was more concerned about
the opportunities he should have
for enjoying himself, exclaimed,
81 shall do as like!"
The month passed rapidly, as did
the succeeding weeks which neces-
sarily transpired before our two
young friends were duly settled in
their new homes. The difference
in their circumstances were even
greater now than they had been be-
fore but the old schOOlboy attach
ment drew them into occasional
communication, and at irregular an
distant intervals the two lads met.
81 told you ! ment to do as l like
Frank" said John RaynOr, one
evening as they We're walking in
company. 1--WE got to know jol-
ly set Of fellows, and they have
learned me to smoke tirSt-rate.
Look here" he added, producing
cigar, which he proceeded to light
and smoke; 81 couldn't have done
that at home, old boy, even If / had
dared"
Poor lad! Like many others he
had strange ideas of what constitu-
ted true manliness. and, in seeking
to stdo as he liked, he was rapidly
paving the way To become a slave
to a vile and injurious habit.
But John Raynor was not content
with becoming slave himself; he
wanted to drag his old schooltellow
into the same course. More than
once he had tried his persuasive
powers, but without avail, until one
evening he reminded Frank that
the morrow was the first anniversary
of his (Frank's) being bound APP
prentice, and there could be no bet
ter time for turning over a new
leaf" as he described it. "Come,
Frank" he said, ''make up your
mind, and try. your hand at a cab
bage leaf cigar tomorrow"
For awhile Frank seemed disposed
to resist. but before the companions
separated he closed the argument
by saying. "Well, l think L will
allow myself Just one cigar day."
"BraVOv exclaimed RaynOr.
'That's right, Frank be a man,
and do as / do. You know L al
ways told you / meant to do as
like"
When once in a while the two for
mer schoolfellows met, the inter-
view was brief, though friendly |
enough. John generally wanted
to know how Frank got along with |
his one cigar day, and was assur- |
ed that the allowance was adhered |
to, but never exceeded.
al never see you smoking, old fell |
low" was Raynor's remark on one |
of these occasions.
"WeIl, you see," was the reply, |
with smile. 81 prefer to keep my
cigar to myself at home. l can on
ly afford one, you know, and like |
tO.make the most of it,"
So years passed on, ana the APP
prentice days were ended. Young |
Raynor had formed eXtravagant |
habits, and was heavily in debt.
These things have grievously often
ded his father, who refused to risk
his money by affording his son the
means of entering into business for
himself, and from that time forward
John -RaynOr led an idle, useless
life, consoling himself with the
thought that his father would not
live forever and that sooner or lat
er the money must become his own,
when once more, she would do as
he liked"
One day he CHANGED to meet his
old schoolfellOw near Franks lodg-
ings, and was invited to enter and
sit while. In the conversation
that ensued Frank told him of his
circumstances, which seemed far
more promising than his own.
ST am sort of foreman" said he,
Gin one of the departments of the
factOry-the same / have been in
all through. l mean to qualify
myself for the post of manager and
perhaps may some day get part
nership."
"But what do you do with all
those books ?" asked Raynor, point
ing to some we'll filled shelves upon
the wall.
"Oh, that library is my 'One cigar
a day." was the response.
"What do you mean ?'
"AIean? Just this. When you
bothered me so about being man,
and learning tosmOke, I'd just been
reading about a young fellow. who
bought books with what others
would have spent in smoke, and
thought I'd try and do the same.
You remember | said / should al
low myself just one cigar day ?"
Eyes"
swell, 1 never smoked. 1 Just
put by the price of twOpenny cigar
every day, and as the money accu-
INFLATED I bought bOOksI the books
YOU see there"
''Do you mean to say that those
books cost no more than that ?
Why, there are pounds and pounds
worth of them?"
Eyes, 1 know there are, l had
six years more Of my apprentice
ship to serve when you persuaded
me to be a man. / put the money
/ have told you of, which, of course
amounted at twopence day to e3
0s. f0d. a year, or Els IS in six
years. keep those books by them
selves as the result of my appren-
ticeship cigar money; and if you'd
done as l did you would by this
time saved many, many more than
that, and been in business besides"
Each of these youths "did as he
liked" The difference was that
one liked self indulgence, and the
other liked to be careful, studious
and industrious.
Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee TO see;
And what do in anything,
To do il as fol Thee.
/