Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-22
THE STORY.
Showing Tina Even When A.Burgling
His Lot is Not a Happy One-A Bit of
Characteristic Nonsense by the Au.
tho of tsPinafOre.o

Showing That Even When A.Burglin%
His Lot is Not u Happy One-A Bit of
Characteristic Nonsense by the Au-
thor of tsPinafore.,,
When I became eighteen years of age
my father, a distinguished begging-let-
ter imposter, said to me: 'Reginald,
I think it is time that you begu I'm to
think about choosing a profession"
4. These were ominous words. Since I
left Elton, nearly a year before, 1 had
spent my time very pleasantly and very
idly, and l was sorry to see my long
holiday drawing to a close. My father
had hoped to have sent me to Cam
bridge Cambridge was a tradition in
our family, but business had been very
depressed of late, and a sentence of six
months hard labor had considerably
Strengthened my poor fathers resources.
1t was necessary-highly necessary
that l should choose a calling. With a
sigh of resignation l admitted as much.
'.If you like" said my father, II will
take you in hand and teach you my pro-
f%ession, and in a few years, perhaps,
!. may take you into partnership; but, to
be candid with you, | doubt whether it
is a satisfactory calling for an athletic
young fellow like YOU"
II don't seem to care about it partic-
ularly." said l.
''I'm gladto hear it," said my father;
''its a poor calling for a young man of
spirit. Besides, you have to grow gray
in the service before people will listen
to you. It's all very we'll as a refuge in
old age, but q young fellow is likely to
make but a poor hand at it. Now, [
should like to consult your own tastes
on S 0 important a matter as the choice
of a profession. What do YOU say?
The army?:"
mo, l didn't care for the army
Forgery? The bar? Cornish
wrccking"
Father said I, 81 should like to be
a forgcr, but | write such an Internal
hand"
"a regular Eton hand" said he.
"Not plastic enough for forgery, but
you could have a writing-master.h
''It's as much as I car do to forge nv
own name. l don't believe [ should
ever be able to forge anybody else's."
"'Anybody's else you should say, not
anybody else's.' It's a dreadful bar
barism. Eton English"
'.No," said I, II should never make q
fortune at it. AS to wrecking-why,
you know how seasick I am"
''You would deal with wrecks ashore,
not wrecks at sea-"
''Moss of it's done in small boats,
Tn told. A deal of small boat work.
No, | won't be a wrecker. I think /
should like to be a burglar"
EYES," said my father, considering
the subject. 'Yes, it's a fine, manly
profession, but its dangerous-~highly
dangerous
Just dangerous enough to be excit-
ing, no more"
"Well," said my father, "if you've a
distinct taste for burglary I'll see what
can be DONE"
My dear father was always prompt
with pen and ink. That evening he
wrote to his old friend Ferdinand Stone
leigh, a burglar of the very highest
professional standing, and in aweek
was duly and formally articled to him.
with a view to ultimate partnership.
had to work hard under MIR, Stone
leigh.
"Burglafy is a jealous Mistress" said
he. ''She will tolerate no rivals. She
.exacts the undivided devotion of her
worshipers."
And so / found it. Every morning at
ten o'clock l had to present myself at
4Stoneleigh's chambers in New square,