The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-14
Nothing to Do.

Coming west on a dining car on the
Fort Wayne, and Pennsylvania road, the
other morning, the passengers were put
ting in the time waiting for late break
fast, conversing on all kinds of topics
Two men were in seat talking when
one said, "Nine o'clock is later break
fast than / am accustomed to- / always
eat breakfast at T." The other man, a
splendid looking young fellow, said, after
a yawn, 81 never eat breakfast till ten
o'clock" The man with whom he was
talking said, "You must take it pretty
leisurely about getting to business" and
then the nice looking young fellow said
Business | have no business. have
nothing on earth to do, and never had.
/ never had thought of doing any
thing, and never had a care l have an
income"
Everybody that was within hearing
turned and looked at the great, strapping
fellow who had nothing on. earth to do,
and he fell away below zero in every
body's estimation. We pitied the fellow
from the bottom of our heart. Nothing
to do. No ambition, no nothing, but to
get up an appetite for the next meal by
drinking bitters, no business to take his
mind from his lazy life. Then we
studied the fellow all day, and half of
the next day. Honestly, it got so tie
passengers looked down on him, and
sneered when he passed. There were a
dozen drummers going west on business
trips, and they were full of business.
Some of them looked out for the main
chance, and the first evening we took a
little dislike to one or two of them, be-
cause they seemed to have too much
cheek. One in particular, who, in look
ing over the bill of fare, was constantly
asking the conductor if fried potatoes
went in free with such and such dishes,
seemed to be on the make and at first
we sort of went back on him, but alter
that well dressed loafer, with an income
had advertised that he had nothing to
do, and no ambition to do anything, we
felt warmed towards the free fried potato
friend, and would have affirmed he had
more soul than the loafer who had moth
ing ON earth to do. There was not a
man in the car, even the porters, but was
respected more than the we'll dressed
creature who had nothing to do.
= A man who has nothing to do is
pitiable object How can he enjoy see
ing his children eat when he knows he
did not earn by his labor of hand or brain
that which they enjoy? He is simply a
kept man. He is living on charity. Some
amlable snoozer, now dead, has left him
the money that he lives on, and all he
has to do is to draw the money and eat
drink and sleep. No eyes can brighten
with happiness when ne comes home, be-
cause he only comes home when the other
places are closed. He cannot come home
tired, and be petted and rested by willing
hands, because it would be mockery to
pet tired man who had got tired doing
nothing. Such a man simply exists and
is no good on earth. If he would wheel
a barrow, and earn dollar and get
tired, and buy beeisteak with the dol
lar and have it cooked, and eat it while
the appetite was ON that he got wheeling
the barrow, he would know more enioy-
ment than he has ever known before.
That man with nothing to do on earth
no doubt thinks that he is enjoying life,
but he knows no more about enjoymer t
than tom cat that sleeps all day and
goes out nights to play short stop to a lot
OF boot jacks and beer bottles Such
man is a cipher, and does not know
enough TO 60 in when it rains. If there
were less incomes left to lazy young fell
lows, and more sets of carpenter tools,
there would be more real enjoyment
PeckS Sun.