St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-04-05
CHOOSING AN OCCUPATION.

CHOUS4NG AN UCCUPATlONs
''Jack ought to go into business, he is
| old enough to earn his own living" said
Jacks friends, and so family conclave
was held, and Jacks talents, capabili-
ties and possibilities, were canvassed and
thoroughly discussed.
eff his father were living, he would
know exactly what to put him to doing, y
sighed Mrs. Brown. ssHe never has
been fond of his books, and he hates to
hurt even fly; and then, too, he hasn't
the nerve to be doctor or surgeon.
and doesn't take to religion like some
boys, so I suppose he won't make a
preacher"
81 would take him with me-" said
his Uncle Frank, ''but you know. Sarah,
there is no money in the grocery bust
ness any more, our profits are cut down
so much
.'Tobacconist! No, don't think of
that; duties on both imported and home
manufactured articles in our business
have ruined us. Men did, at one time,
make fortunes in cigar-making, but that
day is past" said handsome Cousin
Steve, who deals in the weed, and to
judge by his style of dress certainly
makes money somehow.
Take my advice, and keep him out
of the retail drug store" said another
uncle; ''it is all work and small profit,
nowadays. So much competition, prices
cut down, no chance for man to make
more than a bare living"
''Dry-goods clerk! why boy of his
age only gets about two dollars week
for a year or more, and then, perhaps.
never gets to be higher than clerk
with very small salary" chimed in a
representative of dry-goods and no.
ton house.
elbow about a trade?n asked Mr..
Baker, an old esteemed friend, who had
been asked to give his opinion as to
he continued, she gets nothing at first,
but after awhile it may pay him better
than profession. Good mechanics are
generally in demand.
'tNeVer had mechanic in our fam
ily," said Jacks sister, an airish young
lady, whose gallant was a young law
yer with conspicuous sign over his of
fee door, which had not, SO far, an
swered the desired purpose-that of
drawing clients.
"Weil, replied Mr.. Baker, perhaps
it would be well to make the first ex-
ample in your family, Miss Emily. l
notice he is very handy with tools; that
bird-house is a neat job for young lad,
and the cottage for the garden around
the Christmas tree would have done
credit to any one.''
land | made my own sled, and one
for your Bob. too, said Jack; s'and
would like to be carpenter, exclaimed
the boy with his face flushed and eyes
flashing.
80 much more genteel to be mer-
chant or professional man." said
proud Aunt Jane, whose husband had
made q comfortable living with some
thing laid by each year as machinist;
but Aunt Jane coaxed him to give up
his trade, it was so common, and go
into the commission business, and Mr..
Miller had had struggle ever since to
meet the demands made upon him to
keep up the style BETTING merchant.
s'Better put him at what will call out
his talents, y was the answer to this
statement. 'tAs for my part, can not
see Why q carpenter isn't as genteel as
else, if he conducts himself
In selecting occupations for
boys" he went on to say, Sometimes
there are decided talents shown even in
very early boyhood, which should be
noticed by parents, and, if possible, cul-
tivated and considered when the time
comes for making choice of an occupa-
ton for the boy; but the average boy is
like sealed package, and time and OPP
portunities alone disclose the POSSIBLE
tiles contained therein. In suck cases,
the decision of choosing business
should be left to the wisdom of the par
ents, or even circumstances often shape
the right course to pursue
Nonsense, " said another heightened
aunt: .'those are such old-fashioned mo-
tions. Sarah. make him merchant or
send him to college, and fit him for a
preacher Wouldn't you like to be
minister, Jack2 Much easier work than
driving nails all day.
Better be good mechanic than a