Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-04-06
To A TOUGH BOY.

lOunt man, Il uaft Na''Ht' y" -"
unqualified admiration. The iirsi time
my eyes beheld you. ! saw At glance
that the aim and object Of your existence
was to be a tough boy. and you have
since been my daily study. aud each day
has added to my dsligh, in Observing the
npid strides you are making toward your
high aud ~ennobling IDEAL.
l am pleased with the mariyr.like de-
yo,ion with which you struggle with the
cigar Al which your face psles. your head
reels and your stomach iremble'. bu. to
which you adhere; nevertheless. With q
more than Spartan hfmness.
Again am I made happy at the tne'
manly i~ns,ine, which leads You 10 minsle
choice slang aud elegAn, profanity with
your improving conversation. aud feel
certain tha, the ladies. whom You ate
naturally proud 20 have a. auditors,
mus, wish ihA, you were their own Oh.
spring. OF a, least ,ha, their boys could
have the benef. Of your exemplary COM
panionshiP.
presume that you arc up TO the taste
Of liquor also. for | cannot ihink that
one 80 unmi.iaklbly and prAisewofihily
tough ss you appear can have neglected
80 important an slemen, OF ,~oughness as
to take a drink now and then. aad posi-
bly, occasionally 10 gei iiFsy. or course
you DO no, like the taste Of liquor. any
more than you delight in the flavor OF
tobacco. understand that perfectly.
and honor you all the more because Of
your seli.dsnisl. No worthy object can
be achieved without more OF lees OF dis
comfort, and | make sure ihA, q day
you will be a great destroyer OF tobacco
and a compeisn, dunkA'd.
Young man. the path which you have
marked out for yourself In lie Is perhAp,
no, wholly wiihou, iis rough and rugged
places. but |, Is fall o. promise for your
.elf and for others alec.
The rudy glow In your cheeks which
bs,ny. your Jouih-of which a. = tough
you are naturally AshAmed-~ili shortly
turn TO the li,id hue which marks the
Man, With the capital NJ. aud your elias
,e step will after a time mAisrialifs into
an elegant SLOUGH Of that ~aPoiheosi' oi
the tough boy. tie Dead Beat. Your
pearley teeth will long ere then have
turned 10 a beautiful amber. o. s,ill more
beautiful lei. Il. indeid. you have mol,
succeeded In casting them from you as
reminders Of childhood. and therefore "a
worthy u - ifAnscendeni a character as
yourself.
Ia that happy day you will have n'en
above tie few w~eaknsssss -hleh admire
20 YOU You will have Overcome the
foolish pride ~hish caa'e' you 10 wash
your face every Gay q your ~ nd
-hich lead. you 10 war clo'hing fash
,onAbl, Ia cat add devoil Of %iai,fis. You
will also have uien above The : idd am
biiion Of securing a name and . place Ia
the World, 20 u feaehing that station Of
sHasnes u which in your childish mo
menis you it'll DE m. In a woo,
you Nil become the psif,ei bsins. TIE
butterfly u ~h.eh you are a. ~ ~ bes
your ~pardon) ba, the ugly grab.
And then the good you are destined %
accomplish In is~ yssr you will
have % TAT succeeded ia dsmo'aliling
your stomach. and rlekins your nerves,
aud wearing on, your heart. aud. N
short. knocking out your entire physical
system. that you vii be the mlkins Of
the fortune, Of = half a 'coie q doctors ;
and should you succeed IN hnding a
young womAn fool enough 20 marry you
and should you have children. Il will be
your proud satisfaction 70 know that your
greatness shall live after you. add that
yoIr children. Thank, 10 their parent.
ioushns,s. shall in their turn greatly all
in making the medical profession a prof
table one. 90 long-or, rather, 30 short
"A, they shall live.
les. young man. you are a roole efeA-
iurr. Keep on in your glorious career
ard when your epiiaph Is written. a few
year. hence. le, !, consist Ct only these
simple bu, proud words: ale was a
toush."-Bo,ion TrlNsorpt.