Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-05-04
A ROMANCE OF LABOR.
AN ENGLISH STORY.

The following true incident was brought
to my remembrance while listening to
the rebellious words of young man,
who could not see his fathers wisdom in
desiring him to learn trade.
''It will make common man OF me,
father, he said querulously; I shall be
as dirty as blacksmith and have hands
like coal-heaver"
"And If you think, Fred, that wearing
fine clothes and having white hands
make you a gentleman, let me tell you.
sir, that you are a very common man to
begin with. A good trade might help
you to truer notions of gentlemanhood. !"
Then | looked at the handsome young
fellow-fOr he was handsome-and I
thought just now of Steve Gaskill. Steve
had made his mark now, but many years
ago / heard just such talk between him
and old Josiah Gaskill, relative to the
young man learning his fathers trade of
wool stapler.
''It's dirty business, father" said the
splendid Steve, IN full evening dress.
sand [ hate the smelIof oil and the sight
of these men in blue linen blouses. I
hope that [ shall do something better for
myself than that"
every well, lad, what is it thou'd fain
to be?"
ga lawyer, father
"They're naught but a lazy, quarrel
some set, but thou shalt not say ever
stood In the gate. Be a lawyer, lad,
I'll speak to Denham tomorrow about
thee"
So young Steve was articled to Den
ham & Downess to study law, especially
conveyancing. He was an only son, but
had three sisters, and over them and his
mother he exercised supreme influence.
Whatever Steve did was right, what
ever he said was beyond dispute. Even
old Josiah, with all his sound sense, was
In spite of himself swayed by the undis-
puted acknowledgment of Steve's super
iority. He would not advise his son to
be lawyer, but seeing that Steve was
not afraid to be one, he was rather proud
OF the lads pluck and ambition
1t cost them a good deal. Steve's
tastes were expensive, and he fell natrr-
ally among a class of men who led him
into many extravagances. There were
occasionally awkward scenes, but Steve,
supported by his mother and sisters, al
ways cleared every scrape, and finally
satisfied the family pride by being regu-
larry admitted upon the role of her ma
iesty's attorneys.
In the meantime his father had been
gradually failing In health; soon after
this he died Most of his savings had
been secured for the helpless women of
the Gaskill family, and Steve now found
myself with q profession and thousand
pounds to give him fair start in it.
People said old Gaskill had acted very
wisely, and Steve had sense enough to
acqUlesce LII public opinion. He knew,
too. that as long as his N other or sisters
had a shilling they would share it with
him.
So he hopefully opened an Office in
his native town of Leeds, and waited for
clients. But Yorkshire men are proven
b1ally cautious; young lawyer was not
their ideal. Steve could not look crafty
and wise under any circumstances, and
that first year he did not make enough
to pay his rent.
Nevertheless. he did not in any way
curtail his expenses; and when the sum-
mer holidays arrived, he went as usual to
fashionable watering place. It hap
pened that year saw the debut of Miss
Elizabeth Braithwalte, a great heiress
and very handsome girl. Steve was at
tracted by her beauty, and her great
wealth was not a drawback In his eye
In a short time he perceived that Miss
Braithwalte favored him above all other
pretenders to her hand, and he began to
consider the advantages of a rich wife
His profession had hitherto been a
failure; his one thousand pounds was
nearly spent; his three sisters were all
on the point OF MARI iage, a condition
which might seriously modify their
sisterly instincts, and his mothers annual
income wouldn't support him month
would it not be the best plan to accept
the good fortune SO evidently within his
reach?
Elizabeth was handsome and inclined
TO favor him, and though she had the
reputation of being authoritive in tenn
per and economical III money matters, he
did not doubt that she would finally ac-
knowledge his power as completely as
his mother and sisters. So he set him.
self to win Miss Braithwaite, and before
Christmas they were married.
True, he had been compelled to give
up great deal more than he liked; but
he promised himself plenty of POSTWAR