The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1885-11-12
SEEKING HIS FORTUNE.
John Rivers as n Successful Song
and Dance Artist.

Yes, that's my son The tall young
fellow dancing with the girl in pink.
Tom. that's his name. No not family
namc-purc fancy, or rather a rcminis-
cencc Of certain dark chapter in my
own career Oh YOU needn't look
startled. There are few OF Us who have
not had one time or another an advcn-
ture or experience that we prefer the
world knew not.
Toms holiday swell You know.
Look at him now. All, my young man
IL YOU but knew that your father trav-
clcd six months with u minstrel troupe!
There. the murders out. don't Won
der YOU look surprised. don't look
much like il now with my middle.agcd.
respectable yisage, but there was a day
- come up into the smoking room and
I'll tell you the story.
You see was born in New En-
gland and brought up in the strictcst
possible manner When was about
twenty my father died, and made up
my mind | wouldn't stand our little
dull town any longer. but would strike
out and try the world for myself. OF
course. had great dreams of what |
meant to do. | was to 60 into count
ing house as Office boy. and by mar
vicious combination of circumstances.
added to nv own extraordinary ability,
rise to be chief clerk In a year or so.
We all have those wild dreams when we
are young. thank the good Lord for it.
So started with a mighty slim purse,
but heart full Of hope for New York,
feeling sure that in the great city |
could find some opening into the long
road To fortune.
"Jove. when think of it now, and
OF the sublime trust and confidence |
had in my own powers, and chance of
success. and the few dollars had to
keep body and soul together, | gasp
with wonder, and yet, envy myself.
n stood that day, with my ambitions
and hopes, and the whole wide world
before me.
ii often look at INV son, and wonder
II he ever finds any more weighty duty
or care in life than leading the German
and lounging in club windows. My
faul, most likely--but the bitter days
passed make me want to soften and
swecten my childrcns' youth.
"well. 1 kept my hopes bright for
about week after reached New York.
but at the end Of the second Sunday
spent in my dingy little attic room I
own up l was nearly disheartencd.
There seemed absolutely no opening for
me. and found myself longing for home
to a degree hardly compatible with the
dignity of twenty years.
During the day was so busy going
from one office to another. now down
on the wharves hoping shipping clerk
was wanted. now to some counting
house, that had but little time to think
of home, till the days tramp was ended,
the shops closed. and the theatcrs
lighted. Then came the hard time. l
was too poor to 60 TO the play, and
many time have walked down to the
Battery to look at the moon reflected
in the river, or up the avenue watching
the carriages deposit their fair freight
at receptions and balls, and can we'll
remember. green young fool that 1
was. how i used to stand and vow that
one day i too would be great and
powerful and mingle with the
world like that. Lord! Lord! didn't
know how little there was TO find when
i reached the top of the ladder. or /
would not have struggled so hard to
climb.
"Then you see, boy-likc, had fallen
in love before left home and had
actually persuaded trusting girl to
wait until made fortune and then
we would marry. Poor innocents. how
little we knew how high the golden APP
pie Of success hung. or how many years
must pass before the fortune came.
After all. sometimes that very sort Of
thing Is the best safeguard a young man
can have. and many's the time / re-
sisted temptation in those days. because
of the remembrance Of pair Of soft
gray eyes at home.
well! ! stuck it out bravely for two
weeks and then became thoroughly dis.
couraged. There was no chance for
me. l seemed to have no place in the
big busy world that surged and swept
about me, and had wandered into .